The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.
Proverbs 19:23 (NIV)
There were 2,000 people crammed into the auditorium, but I was oblivious to anything except the performance on stage. Souled Out, performed by Victory Church’s youth drama team, was a captivating performance. Of course, I was a little biased. I had two children in the production.
Through various skits, the message persuaded others to be “souled out” and completely trust God. I was proud of the youth and marveled at their devotion and concentrated focus that seemed so unusual for their age. They worked relentlessly over the last several months to convey a timely message of God’s faithfulness in the midst of difficulties. When the altar call was given, many went forward to receive salvation or rededicate their lives.
Afterward, my husband and I hosted a party for the cast at our house. It was a delight to see the kids enjoying themselves. After they left, and I the cleanup was finished, I plopped down into my leather wingback chair. Even though it was late, I spent about half an hour in the wee hours of the morning reflecting on the events of the evening. Finally at about 2:00 A.M., I decided I better get to sleep. As I laid my head on my pillow, I heard God gently say, “Trust me.” Somehow, I knew that this was not a soothing reminder of comfort, but rather a warning of impending danger. But I was too tired to be alarmed and soon drifted off to sleep.
Webster’s Dictionary defines trust as a firm reliance on the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing. We wouldn’t need to trust if we never faced challenges beyond our control.
And God had appropriately forewarned me.
About three hours later, my daughter randomly woke up when she thought she heard someone in the kitchen getting a drink of water. As she wandered down the hall, she discovered a shocking surprise and came screaming into our bedroom, “Mom, Dad, the house is flooded!”
The cause: A broken pipe.
The cure: Trust Me.
I wish I had a picture of us sweeping water out of the house! But the cool thing is, amid the chaos, I was amazingly calm. I was untouched by trouble.
We may not be able to control our circumstances, but we can control our responses. Whenever things look messy, remember—you can be untouched by trouble if you determine to trust God. And there might just be a blessing around the corner…I got new floors!
Prayer: Lord, when situations appear out of control, help me to remember that you are in charge. I pray that when life’s circumstances appear frightful that I will resolve to rest content, focus on You, and remain untouched by trouble.
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from which cometh my help, my help cometh from the Lord which made Heaven & Earth. The Lord is the Good Shepherd, I do not want. God is my refuge & strength, a very present help in the time of trouble. God is my keeper, he will not suffer my foot to be moved. God is my shade upon my right hand, the sun shall not smite me by day, nor, the moon by night. The Lord preserves me from all evil, he preserves my soul, the Lord preserves my going out & my coming in.
THERE IS NOTHING TOO HARD FOR GOD!!!!!!!!!!
Love yah, Marta
I experienced a similar event back in 1971. We had just moved to Cols., OH to pastor a church there. One of the deacons was an insurance man and called my husband to ask if we wanted extra flood insurance on the house we bought. My husband commented that knowing our kids we would probably need it. On Christmas Day three of us developed a 24 hr. virus and couldn’t eat the big dinner I prepared. That night I finally felt like getting up and cleaning up the dishes. I put the portable dishwasher on and went to bed. Early the next morning I awoke to dripping and went to the bathroom to see if the kids had left a faucet on. No. I then went to the kitchen and walked barefoot on the indoor/outdoor carpeting which squeeshed under my feet. The spray hose on the sink was old and burst from the pressure so for 6 hours we had water going everywhere. It soaked into the living room (behind the kitchen) and dripped into the basement den where all the paneling was hanging. My piano was there and other items were damaged. Thankfully we were covered with insurance and I got a new kitchen and den out of it. I got to do some things I had envisioned in both rooms and these updates sold the house for us when we moved on a year later to another church.
Right now, I am trying to sell my deceased mother’s house. It has been on the market over 2 years and every potential sale keeps failing. The Lord has been telling me to trust Him. It has been hard because I need to close the Probate and move on with my life. I can’t do that until the house sells. In the meantime I have been delighting myself in the Lord. I have been enjoying reading the Word and have gained new insight into Jesus’ words in John. I can hardly wait to read each day. I have always had my devotions each day but this time, it is different. I am more interested in this rather than life’s events.
This morning I got a call from the Realtor. She is bringing a new contract on the house. I believe this is the one because God’s Word says, “Delight thyself in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” Praise His Name!
Awesome Linda. Thanks for the testimony. I’m believing with you for a good contract and smooth sale!
God’s speed Linda. You keep holding on!!! My husband & I have had several pipe burst & floodings in different parts of our home. Our den, laundry area, (which, caused damage to the living room & kitchen area) We have also had damage done to our main bathroom. Each time, they occured while someone was here, hence, not as much damage. Like you & Christy both testified to, I always got a new blessing out of each mishap, which, takes me back to my first blog, “GOD IS ABLE”.!!!!!!!
Marta
He is able and for a lot more than just floods!! Marta, just wanted to let you know how much I love you!!!
Christy
Over the years I’ve learned to listen to and trust those words that God speaks to me about things that are already happening or things to come. Anytime I’ve sensed it’s God’s voice and not just my own reasoning, God always has affirmed it!
As it says in Isaiah, “His ways and thoughts are higher than ours”
though he gave us all a mind to think and reason, there are things were just not aware of, and so it’s God’s way of looking out for us
in those words of warning, caution or encouragement.
And he really is concerned that “all things work together for good” for us, in bringing good out of our trials and crisis times.
We will always hear his voice. . . if we’re listeningf
Christy: In my college class we had to write an article on trust. I thought Oh, great the teacher is going to use psychology on us because TRUST is a huge factor in a lot of lives especially mine. Do I really trust God? Do I really take him at his word? Yes, I feel I do, but yet I do have issues of trust in my life because of things in the past. I believe the enemy will throw and bombard us with issues to keep our eyes and our natural mind so engulf with the natural that we can’t really see what God is trying to teach us. I want to run away sometimes and tell God just let me rest a little while. Give me a reprieve just for this moment in time. I then weep before the lover of my soul and lay down once again the issues that have tried to keep me from moving on. Getting out of the rut you spoke about, moving on in life. Achieveing all that God wants us to achieve. Believing and standing on his word and declaring the power and might of the cross. Issue’s they can make us or break us. We decide what we will do with them whether it be broken water pipes, illness,loss, finances, loss of dreams whatever we have to decide and choose to stand strong mighty in power
knowing that we are the chosen generation being groomed daily to fight the fight that sometimes we as God’s chosen must forge and perserve through. We will stand before the red sea and God will part the waters. We must never give up hope, we must believe God’s word, for it is true. His word states that “God is not a man that he should lie neither the son of man that he should repent, behold I will do a new thing and shall it not come to pass? To TRUST is to believe Gods word and take it at face value. Either he is the almighty or he is not. When Christ said “IT IS FINISHED” the battle is over that was forever. Christ paid the price for us to have joy and peace and to live abundantly daily in his word. ——I do so much enjoy your scripting. It is delightful, joyous and uplifting to read what God speaks to your heart. You radiate God’s peace, love and joy. I do have to laugh with you when you talk about whiny. Thank you for the time you share with us.
This was a real encouragment to me! God is usually doing something when we are going through something tough. I never grew in the Lord on easy street! By the way have I told you I love your hair cut! Blessings and Increase, Tina