Our relationship with God is a faith relationship. We relate because we trust each other. Satan constantly tests and tries the quality of our trust.

“Wait a minute! I understand that we must trust God, but God trusting us sounds strange!” We generally refer to our trust as obedience (we do His will), though there are times when trusting God requires no specific act (such as believing God is there, God creates within us, God forgives an evil action, God keeps all His promises, etc.)

Yet, God also trusts us! He trusts us with His name, His reputation, His message, His will, etc. Those are not small things! Paul once wrote to some who claimed to represent God, “For THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU,” just as it is written. (Romans 2:24, NASV) It is an enormous matter to suggest God says when actually we say, or to suggest, “This is God’s way!” when actually it is our way. To claim to represent God when we actually represent our desires is a huge mistake! Beware of willfully harming God’s reputation!

One of many ways we declare confidence in God is to trust that God knows how to care for us in each situation. That is not a simple confidence to have! As long as God physically cares for us in the way we wish to be cared for, it is easy to trust God—like a child trusting a parent. However, that is an extremely complex trust! (1) Do I trust God to seek my highest good when I do not physically wish to go there? (2) Do I trust God to care for me when I suffer because of the consequences of others’ mistakes? (3) Do I really trust that spiritual realities are above physical realties? (4) What if my trust in God results in physical suffering? (5) What if I do not understand how what is happening is in my best interest? (6) What if I see ungodly people physically better off than I am?

“Thank you, God, for Jesus! No one at Jesus’ cross thought You were winning! Yet, You took a death on a cross and made a Savior for us! Help me look, reflect, and trust!”