Total Trust

Given October14, 2008

On day two of our recent trip to China to visit our son, we ventured out into the streets of Hong Kong with our tour-guide son to eat and see the sights.  We had previously had his help in navigating the trip from the airport and we felt confident in his hands.  As we hailed taxis, ordered meals, dealt with store clerks, and followed his lead in the city, I realized something profound.  In that strange city and culture, my wife and I were almost totally dependent on our son to survive.  We were definitely out of our comfort zone and we felt it.

A question came up inside me, “Could you depend on Me in this situation to get you through?”  It floored me!  I considered myself to be one who trusted God for everything but I had to answer, “I don’t know, Lord.”  I realized I wasn’t as far up the trust ladder as I thought I was.  I know God was with me, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5, but I just wasn’t ready to put my total trust on Him that day.  Am I a bad person for that?

But then as I repented and asked forgiveness, I thanked God for providing my son to help us in this situation.  Then it hit me; God sent His son to show us all how to survive in any situation and part of that was letting my boy fill in while we were here in China.  What a great God!  “Even when you’re old, I’ll take care of you. Even when your hair turns gray, I’ll support you. I made you and will continue to care for you. I’ll support you and save you.” Isaiah 46:4 (God’s Word Translation).

You know, in the United States, in our home towns, we are in our comfort zone and it’s easy to trust God.  But sometimes, even here, we get in an uncomfortable place and God wants us to trust Him for deliverance.  Being in China made me appreciate God’s love.  I have moved up a rung on the trust ladder.