A faith that trusts
This fresh set of Daily Devotions is being provided for our LCA/NZ family, friends and visitors to help us to keep our eyes on Jesus as we face unsettling times. They can be used by families and individuals as part of the LCA/NZ’s Church@Home resources to encourage us and build trust in our Heavenly Father during this season of uncertainty and physical isolation.
by Pastor Kevin Bell
This is the third in a set of four devotions on the theme of Trust, published approximately weekly.
Click here for your printable verse to carry with you today.
So then, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message comes through preaching Christ (Romans 10:17).
Sometimes our troubles and tragedies in life are hard to understand. Recently I was asked to pray for a lady whose husband broke his hip in a fall and was admitted to hospital for an operation. She had been caring for her aunt, who is in the same hospital as her husband. In the midst of all this stress, her mother is dying.
In order to trust God we need to recognise that so much of the indecision, the uncertainties, the pain, hurt and fear we have in life doesn’t make sense. So many of our dark times are inexplicable from a human point of view. The apprehensions we might have about the future cannot always be divorced from uncertainty. Trust in God, then, is seeing our circumstances, our decisions and our reasoning through the eyes of faith. But how do we get faith? How do we receive faith so we can trust God?
Faith to trust God in all circumstances comes through the word of God alone. Only in Scripture can we find the beautiful words and promises of God that describe to us how God understands, and is involved in our hurts, tragedies and ordinary problems.
‘The Lord is near to those who are discouraged; he saves those who have lost all hope’ (Psalm 34:18). Only in Scripture do we come to know that our God through the Holy Spirit can make his word come alive in our hearts and create faith. St Paul writes, ‘I want you to know that no one who is led by God’s Spirit can say “A curse on Jesus!” and no-one can confess “Jesus is Lord” without being guided by the Holy Spirit‘ (1 Corinthians 12:3).
So, faith is not simply willpower or a decision; it is a creation of the Holy Spirit. We are dependent on God for a faith that trusts. He is waiting and willing to give us that faith.
Heavenly Father, grant me a faith that trusts your promises that you are near. Amen.
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