History is never bereft of troubled times, especially for believers. In every age and time, believers in Christ experience various trials of faith. In some instances, the unflinching trust of some mark them out, in other cases, it is different. An example: “In the mid-16th century the missionary Francis Xavier (1506–1552), wrote to Father Perez of Malacca (today part of Malaysia) about the perils of his mission to China. He said The danger of all dangers would be to lose trust and confidence in the mercy of God. . . To distrust him would be a far more terrible thing than any physical evil which all the enemies of God put together could inflict on us, for without God’s permission neither the devils nor their human ministers could hinder us in the slightest degree.” That is the resoluteness of trust in God.
Isaiah chapters 28-31 starts with the word, “WOE”. If you say “woe” to someone you mean that something unpleasant would happen to them if they do a particular thing. In Isaiah 31:1-3, God declares “woe” to those who trust in Egypt for help. Egypt stands for the world. Those who put their trust in the world’s system, end up in shame and disappointment.
“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, And rely on horses, Who trust in chariots because they are many, And in horsemen because they are very strong, But who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, Nor seek the Lord! Yet He also is wise and will bring disaster, And will not call back His words, But will arise against the house of evildoers, And against the help of those who work iniquity. Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; And their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the Lord stretches out His hand, Both he who helps will fall, And he who is helped will fall down; They all will perish together.” (Isaiah 31:1-3 NKJV).
Unflinching confidence in God makes a difference in times of adversity; it separates those who trust God and those who do not. God said to Ebedmelech, the Ethiopian, “‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Behold, I will bring My words upon this city for adversity and not for good, and they shall be performed in that day before you. But I will deliver you in that day,” says the Lord, “and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. For I will surely deliver you, and you shall not fall by the sword; but your life shall be as a prize to you, because you have put your trust in Me,” says the Lord.’ ” (Jeremiah 39:16-18 NKJV).
Great blessings await those who put their trust and hope in God. Trust make us flourish like trees before God. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8 NKJV).
Though our trust in God may fail and falter occasionally, because of temptations, unanswered prayers, the sufferings and the frustrations of life, yet like Peter who denied Christ, God is always willing to restore us in the faith and to renew and strengthen our confidence in Him (Hebrews 10:32-38). pastoracukachi@gmail.com
