thoughts out !oud

a Christian’s news, views, opinions and occasional poetry …

When have you simply just trusted in God?

Posted by Mathew | 25 September 08

This post of mine is nothing overly profound. But I read a post over at Dead Theologians that discusses the topic of fakeness - the ability to be someone in one instance, but then be able change your spots in another circumstance. In his post he mentions waiting nervously for the guest speaker who was running late and had not contacted the church that he was running late. Not knowing whether or not the guest speaker was going to turn up, and not having a backup plan in case things go pear shaped, is quite a pickle to be in. I’ve been in that situation a couple of times, which is what I’ll share here, and I believe it be one of those moments when you simply just need to trust in God and in His faithfulness.

Having been a member of a small church, I was on a rotating roster to run every alternate Sunday service during our pastor’s leave. We were given a program of guest speakers and of who would be speaking on what days, etc. On one particular morning where I was in charge of proceedings the scheduled speaker called me up an hour before service sounding somewhat a little worse for wear. He profusely apologised; he was too ill and was not able to fulfill his commitment that morning.

A number of things go through your mind at points like these. Some of those things probably aren’t fit for print, but they infiltrate and percolate in your mind regardless! All I could do with this poor, sorry man on the phone was assure him all was fine and thank him for letting me know; I promptly hung up the phone and took a deep breath.

So. In a little under an hour’s time, I’d be opening our Sunday service with prayer, with the knowledge that I have no guest speaker to deliver our bible teaching message. Since it was a small, small church, there was no resource pool from which I could draw from in an emergency like this - but I tried anyway and called up the other elder on duty. While I was explaining the situation to him and hearing him air some of the complaints that had filtered through my own mind a moment before, a strange calmness came over me and I knew what I would do.

I would deliver the bible message myself - totally on the fly, with no prior preparation or study.

Being somewhat an introvert by nature, that’s a horrid thought. I put down the phone, picked up my bible an headed off to the church.

Our guest speaker truly did not turn up that day; but in hindsight, I’m glad he was crook. It gave me the opportunity to re-learn a few things - that it pays to be prepared and it pays to be well versed in scripture to meet any and every circumstance and, most of all, it pays to simply trust in God.

It pays to rely on Him and to lean on Him when you have not the strength to do so and when prevailing circumstances are totally out of your control.

Talking through an outline of a sketchy message to the steering wheel of my car while on my way to the church and then jotting down some very hasty notes on a piece of paper when I reached the building was all that I could do for preparation. Everything was taking shape for the teaching message, but my knees were jelly. I just wanted the morning to be over and done with. It wasn’t long, however, before I took to the lectern and just stared back out at the congregation who, quite like me, were probably wondering what on earth I was going to deliver for the next 30 to 40 minutes.

It was probably the best bible teaching message I had delivered with just a fraction of the time and effort I would have otherwise have put into such a message.

The relative ’success’ had nothing to do with me; more so, I believe it was just my willingness to let go of the anxiousness and worry that was threatening to well-up inside me; it was the quiet moments that I stole to submit myself and the situation in prayer and supplication at the foot of the Cross of Christ before the service. Ultimately, it was God’s faithfulness to me that took me through; otherwise, I am at worst both unfaithful and uncommitted at times and at best someone who is complacent and lazy.

God showed me that His strength is all perfect in my human weaknesses and failings.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Cor 12:9).

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Eph 4:13).

When was there a time where you were reminded to simply trust in Jesus and in His faithfulness and strength? I would love for you to share your story.

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