Trust God
Special Guest Eric Gilmour
January 2, 2022
Read John 14
Are you looking up or are you looking ahead? By looking up, you shift your focus on the One who is coming and who holds all the power. When you look ahead, you are only focusing on what is coming next. The difference between the two is that by looking ahead, you are constantly allowing yourself to be in a state of worry, but by looking up, you focus on the One who commands you not to worry.
Luke 12:22 says, “Then Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.’” God does not want you to worry about tomorrow or what you will eat or drink—He wants you to trust Him wholeheartedly.
WE CAN TRUST OUR GOD
There is nothing more comforting than the serenity and peace that you find in God’s presence. When moments of chaos and trouble arise, you are not worried because you know that you serve a God who will work it out. He has seen every single thing and knows exactly how it will happen. This is why you should never be afraid about your future.
John 14:1 says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” Further in the chapter, this same verse is repeated. John 14:27 says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” When something is repeated, it signifies that it’s something that requires attention. God is showing you that all you need to do is trust Him because He holds the power to work everything out for your good.
Do not let your heart be troubled because He has already worked everything out.
LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED
The word troubled means showing distress or anxiety. As you saw earlier in John 14:1, God desires for you not to be troubled, but rather, He wants you to believe in Him. The moment anxiety comes over you, it means that you are trying to solve your problems within your own abilities. The moment that you hand it all over to God, you accept his sovereignty over everything in your life, and you show Him that you trust Him wholeheartedly.
Think of a pool that is so still that you can check out your reflection. Not only can you see your reflection, but you can also see exactly what is above. This is what God is calling you to do. He wants you to be so still that your focus will only be on Him and His power. The moment the water is troubled, it cannot reflect what is above. In this same way, if your heart is troubled, you lose all focus on who is above and what He can do in your life.
If you fill your heart with trust, there will be no space for anything but heavenly tranquility. If you put your heart directly on God, you will begin to see that everything is settled in Him.
TRUST WHO HE SAYS HE IS
When you fully understand who God is, you understand that worry is a foreign concept to Him. He shows you time and time again that He is worthy of trust. Think of every single time you worried about something. Did it help solve the problem faster? Did it make you feel any better? Worry only serves to disturb our peace and doubt the power of God.
In John 20:24-29, doubting Thomas refuses to believe that Jesus has risen unless he sees the nails in his hands and can touch those very scars. Unlike man, God does not get angry at Thomas, nor does he react in a foolish way. Instead, He shows Thomas why he needs to believe. John 20:27 says, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
You may not have the same experience as Thomas did. You may not be able to actually touch God in person and feel His hands in order to know that He is there with us. But every time you overcome a battle, you ought to know it is only because of God. He is always working on your behalf, even though you may not be face to face with Him.
John 20:29 says, “…Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” When you see how God has worked out your situations, this in turn can cause others to believe. Your life should always be a reflection of who God is and what He can do. Instead of placing the focus on yourself and your situation, shift your focus on the vastness of God.
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
How do you show God that you trust Him? Are you taking Him at His word?
What are some of the things that are troubling your heart today? Have you given them over to God?
