“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
Isaiah 26:3, ESV
What fun to get to care for two of our grandkids while their mom and dad went off to the hospital to welcome child number three. An exciting time—and an exhausting one. Two children normally quite active became even more so as they anxiously awaited the homecoming of their new little brother.
When are they coming?
Why aren’t they here yet?
Is it time yet?
Are they coming soon?
Why aren’t they here yet?
Throughout the day we heard questions like this from four-year-old Anna—again and again. How do you explain to a four-year-old why the birth process took so long? To my brief—very brief—explanation that having a baby just took a while, she replied, “But I’ve already been waiting so long!”
It can be hard to wait. Hard to believe that what you’re hoping for will eventually come. Hard to trust.
This special occasion took me back to when we cared for grandchild #1 while his parents were at the hospital welcoming their second child. Simon was two at the time, so it was harder to explain the birth process to him. But then again, I didn’t need to.
He awoke in the middle of the night and called for Mom. Something he’d likely done on a regular basis. But this time, Mom didn’t come. And Dad didn’t come. Instead, a strange lady appeared at his bedside. Someone he hadn’t seen very often. Someone he didn’t really know.
He looked up at me from his crib with questioning eyes, and I reached in, patted his back, and told him: “Remember? We told you Mommy and Daddy were going to get the new baby. They’ll be home soon.”
And then, with no crying, no fear, no more questions from his mouth or eyes, he lay down and went back to sleep.
I wish I had a photo of that look of complete trust I saw on his face. Better yet, a video.
This is what trust looks like.
This is what trust is.
Resting. In spite of apparent circumstances. In spite of any fears.
Do I trust God as this child trusted me? Can I remember God’s words to me and then rest in him? When I’m questioning what’s going on. When I’m a little bit afraid. Or a lot. When I’m confused. Can I look to God and listen to him reminding me of the promises he’d already made? And then can I lean back and rest in him?
This is the kind of trust I pray we will all grow to have in him. This “perfect peace” we receive when we keep our minds and hearts focused on God. When we hear him whisper to us: Remember? I told you . . .
Soul Refreshers for your week:
- What promises of God are a comfort or have been a comfort to you? What promises of God do you turn to when you’re feeling unsure about things? Will you share them with us in the comments and let them comfort us as well?
- To remember what God has said, you have to know what God has said. How about picking out a verse to memorize this week, one that will bring comfort to you and help you to trust in him?
- “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NIV).
- God comforts us so that we can comfort others. Be alert this week for times when you can comfort someone by sharing with them one (or more) of God’s promises.
- Maybe you can even now think of someone you know who needs a word of comfort.
- Who is it?
- Can you call them? Meet with them? Send them a card or note?
- What verse or verses can you share with them to encourage them or comfort them?
- Here are a few of my favorite promises of God, promises that encourage me to trust God:
- “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7, NIV).
- “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4, NIV).
- “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20, NIV).
- “If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31b, NIV).
- “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given you” (James 1:5, NIV).
- “We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27).
- My prayer for you this week and always: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13, NIV).
The Lord is completely trustworthy and proves it to us over and over.
Amen to that!