Trusting God is Hard

Trusting God is hard. As a young pastor, I was informed about a family in need in our rural community. I must confess the hardness of my own heart at this time about benevolence. We had been peppered with requests, some from as far as 30 mile away for help. Many of these people were just calling churches wanting money and were not interested in Jesus or spiritual things. Let's just say I had been burnt one too many times. So I was a bit cynical going into this home.

As I went in the home was clean. The children well behaved, with good manners. I sat down and talked with the wife and older kids, there were six and one of the youngest had a rare syndrome. We talked for over thirty minutes and the topic of need or aid never came up. I found this odd. Usually those wanting help came to that point rather quickly. Finally I asked, "Ma'am, I do not mean to pry, but I undertood there was a financial need." The mother then began to tell me of their real, urgent, and many needs. Our church rallied around the family and we got them through a difficult season in their lives.

A couple of weeks later, I was still cynical about helping folks, but in walked the mom and all six kids into church on a Sunday. I thought, well that is nice of them to come and thank our folks, but then they came back the next week and the next week. When they soon joined our church, the mother looked at me and said, "I have never told you the whole story have I?" I told here, "No, what do you mean?" She went on to tell me that she was really desperate. They were about to be evicted from their home, they had no money, and little hope. She said while her kids were at school. She got down on her knees in the middle of her kitchen floor and cried out to God, "I need help!" She said, "You came the next day."

I often think of this lady and her family. They moved out of our area about the time I moved to a new call. Through the wonders of Facebook I have kept up with this family seeing a post here or there. But often when I am in or see difficult situations, I think of this mother on her floor praying to God and God being faithful to hear. I remember God being faithful to deal with his cynical pastor. I am reminded that trusting God is hard. Yet that is exactly what he has called us to do.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths." -  (ESV)Proverbs 3:5–6