Do You Trust Me?

Here we are. Another week, another blog post. This one; however, is actually a continuation of last week’s story, so if you haven’t read “Let It Fall”, go ahead and hop back over to take it in.

I ended the writing with very little thought or commentary regarding the lesson Abraham may have learned from his ordeal. Open ended questions with zero answers. This was purposeful.

In the time we live, the practice of contemplation and analyzation, are becoming rusty, relics. This cannot be dear friends! One of the greatest gifts given to the human race is the ability to assess situations, which come in many different forms, and develop an ideology based on the musing and pondering that occurs. The very soil under our feet, is a direct result of men and women who fearlessly decided freedom of religion, thought and idea was worth braving the unknown, unchartered seas and new lands.

We must stop allowing the loudest voices on Tick Tock, to dictate how we think. Listen to all the facts, take everything into consideration, ask really good questions, process it all together and then form a conclusion. The Thinker would be proud.

The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

The purpose of this blog was never to shape your theological ideology based on mine, but to challenge you to reflect on your faith journey and adjust areas where the Holy Spirit may highlight. I desire us to become strong, confident sons and daughters of the King, who have an unshakable faith, not because someone else “said so”, but because you have a firm foundation of biblical truths studied on for yourself.

Now, let’s discuss some points of interest from last week’s post. I have always been struck, from the times I have heard a pastor preach on the passage of Abraham and Isaac, how the material is presented in such a way as to assume Abraham did not wrestle with God’s command.

I understand this point of view, due to how the scripture is written. God gives the command for Abraham to sacrifice his son and literally the next scene we read is in verse 3 of Genesis 22, “So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac.”

It reads as if there was zero emotion or struggle. God said it, and Abraham did it. No questions asked, no negative thoughts, only blue sky above. Shame on us, if we don’t respond the same as this great man of the faith!

When I was studying this passage several years ago, I saw something slightly different, and was inspired to write the piece you read last week. As a mother to a son, I promise you there would be emotion.

I know men tend to show less feelings than women, but I can also assure you, if my husband were given such a command, there would be internal struggle. Those we read about within the pages of scripture, are just as human as we today.

Yes, we can learn from Abraham’s obedience when asked to complete such an incredibly difficult task; but please remember when studying the Word, these stories are about real flesh and blood individuals. If we were to face a similarly hard command from the Lord, we should not feel “less” of a christian when emotions, thoughts, fears and doubts begin to rise; simply because we have a misunderstanding that Abraham was unwavering in his thoughts or emotions regarding the matter.

I am not trying to add to scripture, but I am trying to remind us of the humanness that has existed since the Garden. The picture I hoped to portray, was one we can relate too and learn from. Similar struggle of thoughts and warring emotions, when asked to step out in a way that makes no sense; yet all the while, putting one foot in front of the other in forward momentum of obedience, because we know God is faithful and can be trusted.

I believe that is the greatest lesson the Lord was trying to teach Abraham, one He still instructs today- Do You Trust Me?

Faithfulness is one of the core attributes of God. If we, as His children, do not comprehend to the core of our being He is never failing, we will be as scripture describes, “children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” (Ephesians 4:14)

We will also be vulnerable to the storms of this life, when they come… and they will come. Knowing the steadfast, rock of Jesus Christ will not be moved, understanding what He says does not change, and clinging to Him as your sole source of constant stability and strength; these are fundamental for an unwavering faith. It is this type of confidence that allows the doubts to creep in, while at the same time, your hands and feet are moving to fulfill the assignment, pushing the lies to the back burner.

Father God schooled me on this lesson several years ago, and it marked me in a tremendous way. My husband had received a job promotion out of state with the company he was employed. We prayed and believed God was telling us to accept the position and relocate our family. The company agreed to house us in a hotel for 8 weeks while we tried to find a new home and sell our old one.

Let me just pause and say, living in a hotel with two toddlers at the time, is no picnic and actually quite maddening. 10 out of 10 do NOT recommend. You cannot get away from chaos in that tiny room and by the end of our long stay, the last thing we wanted to do was eat out and watch TV, but I digress.

The housing market seemed to be dragging at the time, and my phone wasn’t ringing from our real estate agent as I wished. I remember vividly the day we finally received an offer. I was relieved when our agent told us he expected the numbers at any point, because we only had three weeks left of company paid “housing”.

Thirty minutes later my phone rang again. The offer was received and it was disastrous. A lowball, good for nothing bid, we turned down immediately. We didn’t even try to counter, because the family stated they could do no more. I was crushed and panicked. There was no way we could afford two house payments and fear began to grip my heart.

I went to the only place of privacy a girl could go in a hotel room. Closing the toilet lid, I plopped down and began to sob. Full on ugly cry and whined to the Lord. I’m sure you know…. I’m not the only one.

“God, we know you told us to move. What are we going to do? You know we cannot afford two house payments. We only have three weeks left of housing money.” Blah, Blah… Blah.

In the middle of my tears, I heard a still small voice; not audibly, but within.

“Why are you crying?”

I paused, caught by surprise.

“Well, God, you know our situation and we need to sell this house, so we can find a new house here. We are running out of time….” The voice interrupted again.

“Do you not think I can sell your house?”

Quiet again before I responded.

“Well, of course you can. You are God.”

“Then why are you crying?”

I sat on that toilet seat for a moment and processed His words. I realized, I was sinning. Immediately I repented for my unbelief and lack of trust, and determined from that moment on, to truly place the entire situation in His hands and let go of the control I thought I needed. Dear friends, my offense against the Father was grave and something I feel we do not talk enough about in our christian circles.

When our actions convey unbelief, we are calling God a liar.

*Selah

Deuteronomy 7:9 “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.”

Psalm 36:5 “Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.”

Psalm 119:90 “Your faithfulness endures to all generations.”

Lamentations 3:22-23 “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

1 Corinthians 1:9 “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He Who calls you is faithful, Who also will do it.”

2 Timothy 2:13 “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.”

Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Numbers 23:19 “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 and fulfill it?”

Do You Trust Me?

This is the test Abraham was given, to grow his faith and understanding of the Almighty.

This is the test I was given, which grew my faith and understanding of my Lord.

The question may be simple, but the answer is complex. I pray you encounter Jesus in such a way, as to remove all doubt of His sincerity. An experience that will transform your thinking, so when you are looking up a mountain you really do not want to climb, you begin the upward ascent anyway.

I ask the Lord to give you a moment that sears His faithfulness into your heart and mind; so the next time you lift that knife in obedience, your confidence in the power of God Almighty will be unwavering.