Do You Have Issues with Trusting God?

Do you have any issues with trusting God? Does it come hard to really, truly put your life in God’s hands? Is it a daily struggle? Do you succeed sometimes and find it difficult at other times?

I believe there are two very important reasons why we struggle:

1. We may not have entrusted our lives to Jesus for salvation.
2. We may want to keep control. Basically, we fear what might happen, if we completely trust God.

They’re legitimate. Let’s face it, if you don’t know the Lord, there’s no way you’ll trust Him. And, if you’re scared, you won’t trust.

Let’s take these one at a time and see what Scripture says. 

1. Jesus loves us so much that He paid for our sins on the cross with His own blood. He said, Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). Jesus also said, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already (John 3:16-18a). How can you be saved? For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13). Have you believed? Have you called upon Him for salvation, trusting Him to wash your sins away? Have you asked Him?
2. God really wants the best for us. Jesus said, I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10b). And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). He even knows what the best is. The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him (Nehemiah 1:7).

I love these verses: Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct (make straight) thy paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

I know you’ll enjoy reading these Bible verses about trust. They’re only a selection of the many in the book of Psalms:

• The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower (18:2).
• As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him (18:30).
• O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee (25:20).
• In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness (31:1).
• Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! (31:19)
• How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings (36:7).
• Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass (37:5).
• And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him (37:40).
• Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust (40:4a)

Just like the psalmists, we can trust God for His leadership and protection. We don’t need to fear. Since God is God, He sees everything—and without time limitations. He sees past and future and present. He knows our needs and promises to meet them. He is all-powerful, too.

When you need to know how to trust, turn to the Psalms and read a few chapters. They'll challenge you to trust more fully and with a better understanding of our great Lord.

Why It's Not Time to Boycott Disney

Social media is alight with calls to boycott Disney. “Disney has crossed a line,” they say. I certainly understand the sentiment. The “special relationship” between the new Beauty and the Beast’s Le Fou and Gaston and their same-sex kiss mark a first for a Disney movie.

But, let’s not fool ourselves into thinking it’s a first for Walt Disney Company. Since 1991, Walt Disney World has held “loosely organized” Gay Days every single year.

Hollywood has been cranking out gay-friendly movies for many years. Brokeback Mountain may have smashed stereotypes with its gay cowboys, but little gay-friendly moments, even kisses, have made their way into Hollywood fare for many years—going back to the early 1900s. Has anyone called for a boycott of Hollywood films? I haven’t heard it. Did Christians boycott Oscar Awards night? I have no idea, but I didn’t hear anything, though many of the films up for awards feature gay relationships.

Let me propose a different idea. It’s not a boycott of everything Disney. Rather, it’s switching from harmful Disney to the Disney that’s fun, moral, and wholesome. For most, this means going back a few years and enjoying the classic films, those that actually teach something positive. (We could start with Pollyanna. Who can forget Haley Mills’ blockbuster performance and her “Glad Game”?) Some of these are better than others, but all of the following Disney movies are basically clean and entertaining.* (Dates shown are the dates of release. They’re listed in order.)

• Snow White (1937)
• Pinocchio (1940)
• Dumbo and Bambi (1941, 1942—both sad for little people)
• The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)
• Treasure Island
• Cinderella (1950 Walt Disney’s personal favorite movie, and one of mine, too)
• Alice in Wonderland (1951)
• Peter Pan
• 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
• Davy Crocket, King of the Wild Frontier (1955)
• Wild Frontier (1955)
• Lady and the Tramp (1955)
• Old Yeller (1957—sad for little children)
• Darby O’gill and the Little People (1959)
• The Shaggy Dog
• Kidnapped
• Toby Tyler
• Swiss Family Robinson
• The Parent Trap (1961)
• The Absent-Minded Professor (1961)
• 101 Dalmations
• In Search of Castaways
• Big Red (1962)
• Son of Flubber (1963)
• Miracle of the White Stallions (1963)
• The Incredible Journey
• The Three Lives of Thomasina (1963)
• The Moon-Spinners (1964)
• Mary Poppins (I love this one! Ask my kids.)
• The Ugly Dachshund (1966)
• The Happiest Millionaire (1967)
• Charlie, the Lonesome Cougar (1967)
• The Jungle Book (1967)
• Never a Dull Moment
• Blackbeard’s Ghost (1968)
• The One and Only Genuine, Original Family
• The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit (1968)
• The Love Bug
• The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
• Robin Hood (1973)
• Herbie Rides Again (1974)
• The Strongest Man in the World (1975)
• The Apple Dumpling Gang (1975)
• No Deposit No Return
• Gus (1976)
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977)
• Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (1977)
• The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again
• The Fox and the Hound
• Beauty and the Beast (1991)

I firmly believe that if Disney found that no one was buying their new films and that many people were looking for the old ones, they would produce more family-friendly movies. Demand is important! We can make a difference!

By the way, that goes for Hollywood, too.

 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

 (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

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*Disclaimer: I have actually seen the movies on this list at some point in my lifetime. I remember them as “good,” though there may be elements that are not, especially dress choices, drinking of alcoholic beverages, smoking, etc. This is by no means an endorsement of every movie, only a list of suggestions. Please read good Christian reviews before ordering.