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For most individuals, this would seem to be a rhetorical question. However, when this question is posed spiritually, it really relates to the difference in trusting yourself and trusting God. There is a very obvious difference between these two axioms of trust. When difficult situations hit you in life, as a Christian, your proper response is to rely on your Heavenly Father for help and guidance through this circumstance. But is this your initial reaction or your final action? Here is what I mean. In a storm, you have to react suddenly and decisively. There seems to be no time to ponder and wait for a divine answer. Because of all the clutter in our brains most of the time we can’t even tell if God is speaking to us or if we are just completing a thought we just had. Sometimes the simplicity of God’s love, care and devotion to us gets lost in this fast-paced world we live in and causes our personal lives to get caught up in a whirlwind of confusion. But God wants us to wait patiently on him for an answer. We, left up to ourselves can not handle the chaos in our lives. We don’t have the strength to fight our spiritual battles alone. Our sole source of refuge is our trust in God’s ability to work out our situation. We must discipline ourselves to first seek God when trouble arises and allow him to calm our spirit and speak to us. This requires quiet time with God. In a word, intimacy. Away from the cares of our busy lives which are filled with overflowing inboxes of email, crying children, persuading friends…(you get the picture!) Trust in God is developed over a period of time. Time in which you the individual exercise your faith daily in his capability to handle ALL the storms in your life. One of my greatest joys in being a father is my ability to provide for my family, especially my children. When I see them in need, I lavish the opportunity to provide for them. I also love to experience their gratitude for my help. I have to admit that on the other hand, I am nonetheless disappointed when I hear, “Never mind Daddy, I can do it, I don’t need your help.” I believe that our Heavenly Father longs for us as children in the same way. He longs to help you and “show up” in the storms that life throws your way. But so often it seems as if we as children push Him away and tell him “I can do it myself, I don’t need your help, Daddy”.

Lord I pray today that you show me how to trust in you. I don’t want to fight my battles by myself anymore. I realize that you can handle them if I begin to trust you in every area in my life. In Jesus name, Amen.

Suggested readings: Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 121:4-8; Hebrews 11:1-6

"'Winging It" from Stan Smith

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