Trusting God is something hard to do. He's given us many reasons to trust, and shown us in many ways His Love. However, we still find it a difficult task. Consider Peter who, upon seeing Jesus approaching the boat, first desired a command to come out of the boat. When that command was given, he then dutifully climbed out of the boat and onto the water! He was following the command and had the power to follow given to him during his obedience. However, he then looked around and saw the waves and doubt crept in. It was this doubt that felled the command and caused him to fail in following. But, one good thing to remember is that if he hadn't asked for, received, and followed the command to begin with, we wouldn't even have that piece written in Scripture. We wouldn't be encouraged ourselves to at least try something with God's strength. And we definitely wouldn't be encouraged that when doubt creeps in and we fall, that God wouldn't reach out "immediately" and save us.

These things we must remember as we have been given a command to live differently in a world full of waves and wind. If we look at the culture around us we are drawn to fear almost everything. But when we focus on Christ and who He is, we find ourselves on a solid rock; a foundation which cannot be shaken even when a storm rages against us. Daily we have a choice to make. Will I trust the world and all I'm told to fear, or will I trust the solid foundation of the One who is above all that can be feared? He is our rock, our foundation in all things. In Him will I trust!

Two things:

One. I've always had an issue being really down on myself. I've pondered the verse that says loves your neighbor as yourself. That's hard to do when you don't love yourself. Although I've made a lot of progress in this area over the last few years, something profound happened the other day. I was driving along and thinking something negative about me. Something like, you were stupid to do that. What were you thinking? God stopped me. He told me, don't say anything to yourself that you wouldn't say to someone else. That's stopped me in my thinking footsteps many times already. This will change me.

Then, a few days later as I was pondering this He told me, don't think anything about someone else that you wouldn't say to Me. wow. I need to change. Profound.

Two. As I was driving home today I was thinking of what a rough year it's been. Not only for us, but for many others I've talked to. I was thinking through a list of all the difficult things that have happened this year when it hit me that God has been no farther away through all of this. Then I realized that no bad thing came from him. It hasn't been a bad year because of him - it's everything else. He's still been faithful, loving, right nearby. He's been good and kind. He's answered prayer. So, it's been a hard year. But it hasn't been so because of Him. In Him, it's still been good.

Something I came across recently that I wrote awhile ago.


What does it mean to know your fulness, Oh God?
What does it mean to know you all?
What does it mean to be in you?
What does it mean to be known by you?

Show yourself.
Show yourself to me.
Help me to know all of your being.

What does it mean to know your grace?
What does it mean to know your mercy?
What does it mean to know your peace?
What does it mean that you'll live within me?

Show yourself.
Show yourself to me.
Help me to know
all of your being.

Show yourself.
Show yourself to me.
Help me to know
all of your being.

What does it mean for me to surrender?
What does it mean to be your servant?
What does it mean to fall into your love?
What does it mean that love's neverending?

What does it mean?
What does it mean?

It means that you are my forever king.
It means that you will never leave me.
It means that your promises are always true.
It means that I can be friends with you.

What does it mean that you are my Savior?
What does it mean to live eternally?
What does it mean to see your heaven?

What does it mean?
What does it mean?

Show yourself.
Show yourself to me.
Help me to know
all of your being.

Show yourself.
Show yourself to me.
Help me to live
with you as my king.