Psalm 71:5 For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth.

I made my commitment to follow God when I was just a child. I had great trust in Him and believed His word without question. I was happy to share and defend what I believed. (I could sing with gusto about how He brought me through ‘trials and dangers’ because, in reality, I had never experienced any!) Life was good!

As I grew older and my walk with Him deepened, I began to experience real trials and at times questioned whether I could walk this walk.   I found out there were issues that required spending time seeking His direction. There were days when I would long for an answer and His reply would be “not now”. I went through many moments of wondering where God was when I needed Him. There were times I wondered whether I had made the right decision and whether I should have ‘lived my life first’ and then become a believer afterwards … There were many reasons to give up.  At least, that’s what I thought.

At the height of a personal crisis, I came across Psalm 71:5 and decided to take stock of where I was and how I had gotten to this point. It began to dawn on me that:

  • God had not changed. He is the same God I met in my childhood and He will be the same God when I meet Him face to face at the end of it all.
  • Unless I decided to trust Him with childlike faith, I would spend time wandering in the proverbial desert when I could have been on my way to my destiny.
  • The choice to trust Him is all that – it’s a choice. The ball is in my court.

If I say that everything is going according to plan and that life is coming up roses that would not be a true representation of where I am. I can say though, with all certainty, that God has never forgotten me and that He’s taken me through enough painful experiences for me to realize that there is nothing impossible where He is concerned. I can trust Him with everything I have and I have discovered the importance of being honest in sharing my disappointments, frustrations and regrets.

I am learning to sing like a child again. For one, He has brought me through a lot. For two, He has never left my side. There are still moments when I feel like He’s far away but I choose to believe He’s with me and that He will work all things in His perfect timing.

I pray that you would be reminded today, that God has not changed.  I pray you would remember the times He brought you out of situations that seemed impossible. I pray He would give you clear directions for the questions you ask and that if He says “no” or “wait”, you will seek Him for grace and peace to go through this leg of your journey. He is your hope.

Father, I thank You for being my hope and my confidence. When I revisit events in my life, I can see how you have led me and I’m grateful that You never gave up on me even when I walked away from You. You are all I need and so much more.  Today I build an altar as a reminder of Your unfailing love and Your guidance in my life. Sure, I can look at all that remains to be done (in my eyes), but I choose to look instead at all the joys and blessings You have brought me. I choose to believe that You are indeed the Faithful One and that Your plans for me are perfect.

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer” Psalm 19:14

Amen

Blessings,
ann

Toni R
(c)

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Posted by in Christianity, Devotional, Reflections, Reminders, Trust