God Speaking

“I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust”” (Psalm 91:2)

Poll surveys are always fascinating to me and the most recent survey that caught my attention was conducted to find out which professions people considered to be the most trustworthy. I was surprised to find that firefighters topped the list. I was not so surprised to find that used car sales persons were way down on the list and politicians were somewhere near the bottom. As I pondered these results, I began to reflect on whom or what are we able to trust in this modern world.

Can we trust the wild claims flashed across our T.V. screens? “You can lose 10lbs in a week without giving up your favourite food” or “Earn a university degree by enrolling in our 6 months course”.

The obvious outrageous claims are easily dismissed. We shake our heads when we read of people handing over money, having been tricked into thinking more money will come, but whom or what can we trust to be true when we are confronted by such a plethora of information via radio / newspapers / internet?

Society has become cynical about being able to trust anybody. “Trust me” has become a flippant reply that nobody takes at face value. It has also become increasingly difficult to trust statements even when they come from reputedly, respectable institutions. Think back over the confusing information that has been reported about dieting. The Atkins Diet, The South Beach Diet, The Zone. The mind boggles at trying to decipher all the information and then deciding which one to trust.

We have so programmed our children not to talk to strangers; we have given them wary natures about trusting anybody. One of the reasons B.C. Transit gave for carpooling not working here in Vancouver, was people not trusting strangers to share their cars.

The ever increasing divorce rate seems to indicate that we cannot even trust those who profess to love us.

So is nothing trustworthy today?

Scripture holds the answer to that unsettling question. Just as millions have done before us, we can find solace in that those timeless words have spanned cultures, ages, trends and are just as applicable today as they were when they were written.

Jesus speaking to John in Revelation 21:5 assures us,

“Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Within these trustworthy words we find a trustworthy God. We don’t have to second guess his words and, as we learn to trust him, the benefits of trusting him overflow into our lives.

The book of Psalms has dozens of verses entreating us to trust in the Lord. Imagine the beautiful mental picture this verse conjures up in our minds

“But I am like an olive tree. Flourishing in the house of God. I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever” (Psalm 52:8)

Or for those times when circumstances are so bleak and frightening we feel as though we are in a dark cloud.

“Let him who walks in the dark who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God” (Isaiah 50:10)

What a wonderful foundation we can give to our children by exposing them to the word of God. The world is indeed untrustworthy. We are wise to be wary of strangers and to test everything we read in the media, but armed with the knowledge of a trustworthy God and his trustworthy word we can assure our children they don’t have to live a life shackled by suspicion and fear. They can live like the words of this very old hymn.

“The heart that trusts forever sings,

And feels as light as it has wings

A well of peace within it springs”

Related articles

• We have a Stronghold in the God of Jacob (preacherwin.wordpress.com)
• Wednesday, November 9, 2011 @ Psalms 128-130 (phyllisbenigas.wordpress.com)