Trust God

When things are going well the idea of trusting God sounds logical. But when a loved one dies, when we suffer a terrible loss, when we see some of the horrible things that God allows to happen in this wicked world, we think.

"Isn't God all-powerful? If He is all powerful, he could have kept this from happening."

How can we explain that an all-powerful all-wise God allows bad things to happen? How can we trust a God that allows such things?

When you think of a being who can create and keep track of this complex universe and yet who knows the number of hairs on each of our heads, realize that God is far beyond our puny understanding. Remember that he cares for us, but don't expect to understand him.

Isaiah 55:6-9 Seek Yahweh while he may be found; call you on him while he is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to Yahweh, and he will have mercy on him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," says Yahweh. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Micah tells us what God requires of us.

Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

God cares about us, but we must be humble when we approach Him.

1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time; casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.

Sometimes good people die when we don't think they should, this is a real challenge to our faith. There may be the temptation to get angry with God and do or say something we shouldn't.

Isaiah 57:1-2 The righteous perishes, and no man lays it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil. He enters into peace; they rest in their beds, each one who walks in his uprightness.

It is all right to say "Why?" to God so long as we remember to remain humble. Job and Jeremiah complained. King David, a man after God's own heart asked God "Why do evil men prosper?"

Psalm 10:1-5 Why do you stand far off, Yahweh? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? In arrogance, the wicked hunt down the weak. They are caught in the schemes that they devise. For the wicked boasts of his heart's cravings. He blesses the greedy, and condemns Yahweh. The wicked, in the pride of his face, has no room in his thoughts for God. His ways are prosperous at all times. He is haughty, and your laws are far from his sight. As for all his adversaries, he sneers at them.

David tells us what to do when God allows "bad guys" to win.

Psalm 37:1-10 Don't fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither like the green herb. Trust in Yahweh, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture. Also delight yourself in Yahweh, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to Yahweh. Trust also in him, and he will do this: he will make your righteousness go forth as the light, and your justice as the noon day sun. Rest in Yahweh, and wait patiently for him. Don't fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who makes wicked plots happen. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don't fret, it leads only to evildoing. For evildoers shall be cut off,

Later David says more on the topic. It may appear that being good doesn't pay when God allows the "bad guys" to win.

Psalm 73:13-19 Surely in vain I have cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocence, For all day long have I been plagued, and punished every morning. If I had said, "I will speak thus;" behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children. When I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me; Until I entered God's sanctuary, and considered their latter end. Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction. How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors.

Christ promised that his disciples will have trouble or oppression in this world.

John 16:33 I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have oppression; but cheer up! I have overcome the world."

Christ taught us to expect persecution and to rejoice when it comes.

Matthew 5:10-12 Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. "Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Instead of worrying and fretting about everything, we need to put our trust in God and not worry.

Proverbs 3:5-8 Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don't lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Don't be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil. It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.

God, the creator of the universe cares about his children, us. We need to quit worrying and trust him.

Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

We don't understand many things, but we can place our trust in God, who will work all things for our good, if we will follow him.

Romans 8:28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.

God will empower us to do his will. He won't let any temptation be so strong that we can't resist it.

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Even when things were terrible, Habakkuk trusted God to work it all out. That is what we need to do.

Habakkuk 3:17-18 For though the fig tree doesn't flourish, nor fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive fails, the fields yield no food; the flocks are cut off from the fold, and there is no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in Yahweh. I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! Yahweh, the Lord, is my strength. He makes my feet like deer's feet, and enables me to go in high places. For the music director, on my stringed instruments.

Because of the wickedness in our world God allows things to happen that we just don't understand. Innocent children are abused, poor people are exploited, natural and man made disasters happen. Bad things happen to good people. We don't know why. But we do know that God cares about us, that He is strong, that He is wise, that He is faithful and like the song says: "Behind a frowning Providence, He hides a smiling face." So when what appears to be terrible things happen, we need to humbly trust God and to pray for help and guidance and be faithful to him no matter what happens.

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