"Trust Without Borders"

Photo by: anankkml

I saw the phrase “trust without borders” in a pretty, lettered sign. It’s also the title of a new missionary book. I’d like to take this phrase and go in a different direction. I’m not talking about physical borders like countries and provinces. 

I’m talking about trust because of Who God is.

In the Disney movie Aladdin, the title character often says, “Trust me.” At the opening scene, he’s stealing. Should Princess Jasmine trust him? Of course not! But, sometimes she does, and in true Disney fashion, in the end, they swoop off on a magic carpet to live happily ever after.

But, we’re not talking Disney, and we’re not talking fairy tales. We’re talking about normal Christians and their God. 

Why is it that we fear trusting God completely? 

Is it:

• That we’re human and therefore limited? So, we think of God in human terms?
• Because we lack an understanding of God--of who He is and how He works?
• Because we’re naturally doubters? We’re skeptical and cynical, even about God. 
• That we have been burned in the past, and we’re afraid to trust anyone again?
• That we don’t know how to trust with a hands-off kind of trust?

I believe it’s a combination of these for every Christian. Sometimes we limit God. Sometimes we don’t understand His greatness or how He works. Sometimes we doubt. Sometimes our past hurts keep us from trusting. And sometimes, we just don’t know how to take our hands off.

How can we trust God “without borders”--completely? 

I’m working on this myself--a lifetime of living and learning--but I can share some Bible verses that will help you to trust God fully. They will help you take your hands off. They will help you to trust.

I’ll begin with my favorite and go on from there: 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). This gives several clues for successful trusting: 

1. It needs to be with all your heart, a decision of the heart, the heart’s response to God and His sovereignty.
2. We’re not to lean on our own understanding. So many times the ways of God are nothing like our own. (Isaiah 55:9)
3. We must get to know God. The word acknowledge means to know and understand God. This can only be done through reading the Bible and looking for what it tells us about God.
4. Then, God’s the One who directs our paths. We let Him do it for us. We let Him show us. This is trust!

There’s an old illustration about a chair. 

Question: Do you see this chair? 

Answer: Yes. 

Q: Do you think that’s a good chair? 

A: Yes, it looks like a good chair.

Q: Do you think you can sit on that chair?

A: Yes.

Q: Do you think it will hold you up?

A: Yes, I think so.

Q: How can you prove that to me?

A: I could sit on it.

The person answering then proves his trust by sitting on the chair. It holds him up. He has put his faith in the chair. He's acted on his faith.

The same goes for our faith in God. We actually prove our trust when we “sit on the chair,” spiritually. We put all our “weight” in God’s hands.

This goes for all of our spiritual life--salvation, growth, and trusting Him.

Psalm 119:105 says, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Do you want to trust? This verse is so rich! Let’s read it in detail.

What is the lamp? God’s Word, the Bible. If you want light on your path, you have to know the Word. Think back on the lamps in the times of the Bible. What did they look like? Well, they were little oil lamps, made of clay, and they lit a room much as a candle gives light. The image in Psalm 119:105 is of a person who’s walking. It says, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet. A lamp--think candle--gives light for the next step. Isn’t it interesting that God doesn’t say, “Thy word is a sun that lights half the globe”? 

It’s because God wants us to trust Him for the next step. He wants us to be totally dependent on Him for each tread. He doesn’t illumine the whole length of the path on purpose! (He could, you know! He made the sun, moon, and stars in one breath! Genesis 1:14-18) God desires that we live our lives depending on Him--step by step.

 . . . and a light unto my path. God shows the way!

When we trust God to guide us, we’re trusting the Greatest Person in the world! 

God is:

• good (Matthew 19:17; Mark 10:18)
• faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9; 10:13)
• true (John 3:33)
• powerful (Matthew 28:18)
• present everywhere (Psalm 139:7-10)
• the Creator (Genesis 1:1)
• all-wise (Proverbs 2:6-7)
• love (John 4:8, 16)
• wanting to bless (Psalm 37:4)
• understanding (Hebrews 4:15)
• caring (1 Peter 5:7)
• strong (1 Samuel 2:2)
• forgiving (1 John 1:9)
• eternal (Deuteronomy 33:27)

We can trust an all-powerful, always there, loving God! We can trust Him “without borders” because He is Who He is.

Let’s get ready to plop on that chair!