Saturday, July 18, 2009

That's trust

"O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in You."

Today when I was sharing with the little girls who came to the one-day afternoon girls camp that my littlest sister and I hosted, the Lord led me to give the girls different illustrations of what trust was. We talked about meeting someone somewhere - "Meet me in the kitchen at three o'clock and I'll have something special for you." Then, about hanging off of a cliff and reaching out to grab the hand of your rescuer. Then, about trusting a chair and sitting in it. Then, tonight, when I was looking through pictures of time spent with my church in Dubuque, I saw this picture, and it hit me:



That's trust.

Little Fifi, jumping off of the wood platform 30 feet off of the ground, attached to the wire by her little waist belt and a rope. Trust comes in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes it's like jumping off into the air with nothing but a safety belt to hold you. It's crazy. People around don't understand it. (I don't try to understand why people literally do that, like Fiona did.) :) But it's knowing that sure, everything will be fine because the one you trust won't let anything happen to you that will hurt you.

But it goes farther than that, at least one step. This next picture is one of my favorites of all time:



This was taken just a moment before the first picture. Fifi's expression is TRUST personified. Quiet, happy, ready to take the leap, not a fearful thought crossing her mind, just waiting and then going, full out. She didn't make a big deal out of it at all. She just did it. And then she was happy. And she did it again and again.

This morning I was starting to worry about money and relationships again, and the song crossed my mind:
"Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him,
How I've proved Him o'er and o'er..."
So true! I serve a very well-proven God! He is so trustworthy.

I fear pain. So much. The thought of being emotionally torn up again makes me recoil like I've seen a snake. But that isn't trust. Sometimes the path of trust does lead to pain. But as I sat out under the stars tonight, I decided that it was worth it, and I would keep on praying big prayers and trusting my big God to answer. I would keep on following His lead because even if it is uncertain, it's way better than failing when I follow my own wisdom.

It's all over the psalms.
"Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust."
I want to trust my God. So here I go again. I'm taking the leap.

3 comments:

Linda/Dale said...

Ms Elizabeth, Thank you so much for sharing honestly. I appreciate it so much! I have been and will continue lifting you up to the one who loves you completely!

Anonymous said...

Love you so much dearie!!
The Father never disappoints a trusting, seeking heart. His answers
are surprising many times but oh, so
much better than what we could or would plan for ourselves. Keep trusting!! Auntie

Emily Bray said...

Thank you, Lizzie. I woke up and turned to the Psalms immediately - because I have a fearing heart this morning... and that word "Trust" *IS* all over the place... and I asked myself, "what does it mean to trust?" and remembered you posted something on your blog and read it... oh, I'm such an Israelite - God parts an entire sea, and three days later I'm doubtful. Whoa is me. Oh for a heart that trusts our faithful, dependable, never failing God! Love you!