Trusting God In Times Of Uncertainty

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“God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Numbers 23:19

As I drove toward the sun, the sight of a rainbow caught my attention. The colors were definite but there was no full arch, only a small marking in the sky. I waited for the car to round the curve to see if I could spot the remainder of the promise in the sky. It appeared to me as one half of a set of quotation marks.

The rainbow was the sign of promise that God placed in the sky reminding Noah of His promise to never again destroy the earth with flood. (Genesis 9:13-17) So each time that I see the rainbow, I smile remembering that God is the God of promise. It is His sign in the sky to bring to remembrance all He is and all He has promised.

Now a couple of days later, I am still reflecting on the one quotation mark in the sky. As we know, quotation marks enclose direct statements, words or phrases. The mark puts emphasis on what was spoken.

It’s as if the sky was declaring: God said, “______________

The truth is what God says is complete but we wait for the fulfillment. We can only see in part, but we believe even though we cannot see. Isn’t this what faith is?

On this journey of faith, we often wait for what God says. We stand in the middle of uncertainty and we don’t know what God says. We know His answer will come, but we must wait until He speaks. By faith we wait to hear Him, but until we hear what He says, we live on His promise.

God’s promises don’t always appear to be true. They feel open ended, incomplete, unfulfilled. Just because I couldn’t see the full rainbow did not mean it wasn’t there. After “Googling” for information about rainbows, I saw the truth rise to the top. Here is what I found.

“Theoretically rainbows are always created in complete circle, but how you see a rainbow depends on where you are standing.” (Quota.com)

“If you could get up high enough, you’d see that some rainbows continue below the horizon seen from closer to sea level. Mountain climbers sometimes see more of a full-circle rainbow, though even a high mountain isn’t high enough to show you the whole circle.” (Earthsky.org)

The way we view the promises of God is dependent on our standing. We have to get above this earthly thinking and look up to His face. We need to be mountain climbers looking for the eternal instead of the temporal.

So what do we do when life is uncertain and all we can see is a partial rainbow, part of the promise? We do what Abraham did. We refuse to waver in unbelief. We stand on unshakable ground which is God’s word. We don’t fill in the gap with our own thoughts, what if’s or wishful thinking. We fill in the unseen with what we know God has said.

God had told Abram that he would be the father of many nations and yet he was childless. God told Abram that he would inherit all of the land that he saw, but God did not give him any details concerning how He would deliver on the promises. Abram trusted the Word God spoke to him. He believed. And eventually it all happened just as God promised. (Gen. 15)

Let’s stand in faith believing God. Uncertainty can have the power to manipulate us and tempt us to doubt and to take matters in our own hands. We can quickly fill in the blanks instead of trusting God. Ask God for faith to wait and believe with great expectation that God of promise always fulfills.

Promise Starters:

God said,

“I will never leave or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

“I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

“I will deliver you.” Psalm 50:15

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Isaiah 43:2

“When you pray, I will answer you. When you call to Me, I will respond.”

The Lord said, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” Jeremiah 31:3

Love Came Knocking

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“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called the children of God; and that is who we are.” 1 John 3:1

The knock came at the front door. I really didn’t want to answer, but felt obligated. The friendly ones stood on the porch asking to come in and chat for a while. I swung the door wide and before I knew what I was saying, I had agreed for them to join me at the kitchen table for coffee and sweets. There we sat like we had been best friends forever. I found myself agreeing with everything they were saying to me when all of a sudden they slid a document across the table inviting me to join the team. It was presented like one of the time-share offers that was only good today for a few hours. I took the shiny gold pen and felt honored to sign on the line. I deserved to be a part of this elite society that had been offered to me. Besides, I could keep the gold pen.

There was a slight problem. I didn’t read the fine print telling me that I had just signed away all of my peace, freedom and joy. You see, the two I sat across from were named Embarrassment and Shame. They came knocking ever so persistent until they entered my heart and quickly took up residence. I was snared by their smooth words and promising future.

I suddenly felt imprisoned because they knew so much of my past. They told stories that I had long forgotten and enticed me to scoot my chair closer to hear their whispering words. Before our meeting was over, the whispers had turned to loud accusations. I sat humiliated, embarrassed and full of shame. The stories they told were all so true, but I had never known such a grip of shame and condemnation.

Once the papers were signed and the gold pen slipped into the expensive velvet bag, they walked out of the front door as quickly as they had entered. But something had changed. I had come into agreement with them and no longer knew who I was. Though the pen was a free gift in exchange for my signature, it was very costly. It was forever a reminder of the agreement I had made. I was secretly held by the events of my past and held in the vice of shame and ridicule. There would be days that I would think I was breaking free, but the signature wooed me back.

It seemed to color everything about me. When I was invited to be a part of any gathering, my contract with Shame and Embarrassment hindered me from being real and vulnerable. There were moments when I could feel the possibility of love and acceptance surrounding me, but the shouts of Shame and Embarrassment led me back into hiding.

I often told myself, “If they really knew me, they would never love me. They wouldn’t invite me to lunch. They would not really want to be my friend.” When relationships became too close, I inched my chair away from the table and quickly returned home to the all too familiar table. Although I hated the company at this table, it was familiar and awkwardly comfortable.

But one day a new knock came tapping on my door. It was a gentle knock. It seemed non-challenging. The One who stood there never pressed or pushed to come in, but the presence that stood in front of me was overwhelming. I somehow knew his name was Love before He ever spoke it. I wanted to invite Him in. My desire opened the door wide and when He entered everything seemed brand new.

As soon as He stepped over the threshold, His eyes pierced me and I knew that He knew everything about me. I didn’t even have to tell Him. Suddenly all of my shame, guilt, and embarrassment seemed to disappear. I quickly invited Him to the kitchen table for sweet fellowship. This was a different table than the one I had experienced for so many years. Instead of recalling my past, He told me of His past. He slid a contract across the table and showed me where He had already signed it with His blood. His blood signature bought me a place at His family table.

A new family? With new friends and companions?

Many new friends surrounded this table. Their names were Love, Acceptance, Forgiveness, Freedom, Joy and Peace. Oh, I don’t want to forget No Judgment sat there also. What a privilege! Words of encouragement and blessings freely flowed at this new table.

I’m learning to not walk away and to be comfortable with these new companions. I admit that it’s taking some time to trust these new voices, so I hold on tightly to the side of the table to keep myself from running.

I wish I could tell you I never heard from Shame and Embarrassment again, but that’s not the truth. They often knock on my door. I recognize them quicker because they always thrive on the past and focus on my failures. They travel with a bag of lies and will quickly toss them into any little crack in my door or window. A daily watch over the entrances of my heart is necessary to keep them far away from my new table.

Besides, they would be very uncomfortable with my new companion. He doesn’t allow any shame, condemnation, guilt or embarrassment at His table. I am so thankful for the new contract that Love made with me. He is bound to me, keeping His covenant for a thousand generations.

“Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.”

Deuteronomy 7:9

When Love comes knocking at your door, dare to believe He is faithful and true. He promises much more than a gold pin. You can trust Him. I have enjoyed feasting at His table for many years and He has never broken a promise. He is Faithful Friend.

Childlike Prayers

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Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14

My granddaughter, Sadie, who is now thirteen, came into this world with a desire to talk. Before she could form words, chatter spilled from her lips. She was full of life and wanted to express it any way that she could. She would look up at me and tell me an entire story without words. She loved for me to just look at her, nod, laugh and encourage her conversation. She would go on and on and on. Even when she didn’t have my full attention, she would fill my ears with delightful stories.

And then came the books. She would bring the books and climb up on my lap to read. Before I could finish the book, she would flip the pages and chatter and laugh as if she were reading every word right back to me.

When her words began to come, they were precious. She talked all the time. I treasured every word that she spoke. Of course there was a favorite word for me. It was “boo-ti-ful.” She seemed to love the word also or maybe it was the reaction she received.

“Nana, look at boo-ti-ful tree. Nana, sky is boo-ti-ful. Thank you God for this boo-ti-ful day.”

As every Nana knows, it melted my heart. I could listen to her forever.

As she began to talk, her words became clearer, but “boo-ti-ful” remained the same for quite a while. I remember the day that she said it grown-up. I think I cried because I loved her words more than the mature ones that she imitated.

As I gathered with a group of friends today, we circled around tables to talk to God. As I announced that we would be praying together, I could sense an uncomfortable feeling in the room. I knew that the enemy’s lies had permeated some hearts. They are lies that hinder us from praying. The lies sound something like this:

“You don’t know how to pray. Don’t pray out loud, you will sound foolish. Your words are so simple and childish. Just remain quiet and listen to the others.”

And so year after year, we sit in circles and pray silently. We don’t participate because we think we don’t measure up. We miss being a part, because we believe the enemy’s lies.

When a prayer is sincerely directed to God, it is never worthless.

I say to any of you that know what I’m talking about: “No more! No more listening to the lies.”

As precious as Sadie’s baby chatter and baby words were to me, I believe our voice is a delight to God. He longs for us to climb up onto His lap and pour out our hearts. It doesn’t matter if we bring childlike chatter and simple one word prayers. I wonder if He is somehow saddened when we learn to pray bigger words and longer phrases.

I’ve always heard that prayer is conversation with God. So start where you are. Don’t miss out on this glorious privilege that we have been given.Pour out your love to Him. He bends over to hear you. Your heart is boo-ti-ful to your heavenly Father.

“I love the LORD because He hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because He bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!” Psalms 116:1-2