“For You are my hope; O LORD GOD, You are my Trust and the source of my confidence.” Psalm 71:5

Letting Go

 To trust: to depend on completely and to have confidence in. To be secure and hope in the Lord, no matter where the Lord is calling me, no matter the discomfort or opposition. This is our place of refuge. This is our promise as Christians.

Recently we went snowshoeing. We had chosen a trail off of the regular path, but it was close to the highway so I felt safe that we wouldn’t get lost in the snowy woods. But while following my husband, he veered off the trail and I panicked a little at first. I started thinking about trust, and applying this venture to trusting the Lord. The Lord was speaking to my heart and I had an ah-hah moment where I could let go of my fears and follow. My husband was confident and had his bearings in the direction we were going. We had a great time!

How much more does the LORD know the direction He is taking me in life! So why do I argue and fail to trust Him in the adventures He takes me on? I do trust for a while, but when I realize we’ve veered off the expected or comfortable plan, I panic. I’ve read several devotions recently that have emphasized trusting and keeping our eyes on the LORD through difficulties, losses, and trials. I understand in my mind I need to embrace these times as growth opportunities and submit to my Shepherd’s tests and refining instead of panicking and drawing my own conclusions or turning to earthly pleasures. How can I make trust my first response?

King David was a wonderful example in the Psalms of running to the Lord, crying out in desperation, and confessing God is his refuge, strength and shield. When I pray this way, as David did, I know God hears my prayers because I’m praying His Word. I can let go and completely trust in Him no matter the heartbreak or discomfort. Also, the Lord uses this to reach others because when I’m trusting and relying on Him, His peace pours out. I can confess with King David: “The LORD is my strength and my (impenetrable) shield; my heart trusts (with unwavering confidence) in Him and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I shall thank Him and praise Him” (Psalm 28:7 AMP).

The more I read and am saturated with His love and goodness through these words and the Holy Spirit’s guiding, I can practice responding in trust in the day-to-day things, that when the hard things happen, trusting the Lord is a natural response. I can rejoice with King David and declare: “The LORD is my (unyielding) strength, and He is our fortress of salvation…” (Psalm 28:8 AMP).

Dear LORD, thank You for the growth opportunities You give us to yield to You and to trust. I pray that our first response would be to look to You and seek Your refuge, peace and wisdom through each venture in our lives. Amen.