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Trust and Obey

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by Brian Waple

“Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

John Henry Sammis (1887)

By the very sound of the word, obey has negative connotations. It’s as though in certain situations we’re being told we have to suspend our free will and submit to a power over which we have no control. You have to do as you’ve been told. Growing up, you obey your parents. You have to pay your taxes. I remember in Air Force Basic Training, you had to obey the Military Training Instructors. Throughout my Air Force career, there were regulations and orders that I had to obey. It wasn’t something I enjoyed, but I knew that in the long run, obeying the regulations and the orders of those appointed over me ensured the success of a mission and maintained a necessary degree of order and discipline.

Then there’s the word trust. Now that’s a word I can embrace, but it’s a lot harder to always see the outcome that you’re expecting. You trust the sun will come up in the morning (except in the Pacific Northwest). You trust that if you do the right thing, a good outcome will result. And doesn’t God tell us to trust in Him? On our money, it says “In God We Trust,” right?

Many years ago, while serving in the Air Force, our family was living in Naples, Italy. One of our sons got into some trouble at school . . . serious trouble. So serious that there was a good chance he would be sent back to the United States. We felt that the best course of action would be for him to obey the school superiors and tell the truth as to what happened. I trusted in God’s sovereignty and my sense of fair play, believing that by obeying the school and military officials and telling the truth, our son would be shown leniency. Our son told the truth . . . and he was sent back to the United States (actually, it was our decision, as the military officials would have made it difficult for him to stay). I was devastated and confused. Doesn’t God tell us to trust in Him? And doesn’t He say that He wants only the best for us? How is our son being sent back to the United States the best for him and our family? (As I write this, it takes me back to a not-so-happy time.)

I struggled with this for a while, but I came to see that obeying God and trusting in His Word isn’t always easy. As Pastor Steve was saying Sunday, “Being a Christian doesn’t mean you won’t have problems . . . in fact, you may have more.” Your prayers won’t always be answered the way you want them answered. Healings won’t always take place. You will lose. You will be hurt. And you could even be separated from your kids. But, by obeying Him and trusting in Him, through faith, you can believe that even though you may not see it at the time, God is working.

Trusting and obeying God doesn’t mean we’ll always be happy. But it brings us comfort knowing that even in the darkest of nights, morning is coming. And as we trust that the sun will rise, trusting in Him also means that we have the assurance that God is in control.

Are there any areas where you have difficulty trusting and obeying God’s call on your life? Where do you sense God is working in these situations?

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Joy in the Midst of Uncertainty

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by Brian Waple

(NOTE: This Last Word would not have been possible without the help of my wife, Cindy Waple!)

The past few days have been a real blessing in that we’ve had some warm weather, which helps me anticipate the coming of spring and the relief from a harsh winter. I can imagine it’s not unlike the joy the early disciples felt in Jesus’s presence and in being partakers in His ministry, seeing Him as the One who would free them from the oppressive Roman occupation. However, I have witnessed enough springs in my lifetime to know that today’s warmth and sunshine can easily change to clouds and rain tomorrow, maybe even snow. And in a few weeks we will remember how the disciples’ joy turned to despair and uncertainty as they watched the One they had placed their hope in die on a cross.

Anticipating their uncertainty, Jesus went out of His way to tell His disciples what was coming. He prayed on their behalf (John 17). Knowing what was coming and knowing how they would react, He told them several times what would happen to him (Matthew 16:21; Mark 10:32–34; Luke 9:21–22; John 12:23–33). As I’m sure it was hard for them to understand and believe, I have my moments in which uncertainly leads to unbelief. But during times of uncertainty, I know it is only the truth of Jesus’s words that keep me focused on Him and give me a measure of joy.

In addition, Jesus cast a vision for the disciples that through Him, they would be accepted into a new kingdom. This new kingdom would be a place of eternal joy in His presence. As I sit in my uncertainty, I recall the words of John as he describes this new kingdom in Revelation:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.” (Revelation 21:1–7)

Reflecting on that, I can look at my uncertainty with new eyes, knowing that my present reality is not God’s reality.

What uncertainty are you facing today? What is causing you feelings of anxiousness and worry? Where do you see your belief slipping into unbelief? How do Jesus’s words of hope comfort you in your uncertainty? In Christ, we have reason to experience joy, even though we are not completely certain what is coming. In the not knowing, we can accept through faith His promise to us.

May we all enjoy the sun and warmth of today and trust that tomorrow’s rain and clouds can never take away the joy of Jesus’s eternal promises of hope, healing, and renewed life.

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God Is Always There!

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By Kendrick Gilli

As Christians, we know that not everything in this world is rosy and wonderful. All sorts of things will happen to us, some from our own misguided making and some as attacks from the devil. Satan wants us to be demoralized and to lose hope and our faith in the Lord. He wants us to turn our eyes from the Lord and to doubt God’s sovereignty. However, God knows that we will face those trials, and He has provided us many examples from His word to give us hope. Just take a look at the book of Psalms. Often David cries out during times that seem hopeless, but he also always chooses to turn back to the strength of God.

The day before “snowmaggedon,” Janna was called into her principal’s office and told that she could not teach anymore due to her certificate being expired. In fact, they told her that it had been expired for 4 years, according to OSPI (Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction). “How could this be?” she wondered. She had thought that she had done everything that she was supposed to have done. Her first instinct was to panic. Without her job, how would we be able to survive monetarily? How could God let this happen? Didn’t He care? It was so tempting to wallow in despair and doubt. But then, the Lord reminded me of a verse in Psalm 23 (Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.). Even in the darkest days, the Lord will be right beside us and will not leave us.

            There are going to be times of hopelessness and despair in our lives, and when we are in the middle of these tough circumstances, we often cannot see how God will help us through it. These are the times when I like to look back on the past, when God has helped my family and me through some very deep waters. I might not be able to see out of my present situation, but knowledge of my Heavenly Father loving me and leading me through past hardships helps me trust in His plan for my future. How many times has the Lord helped guide you through “impossible” situations?

            During those days of snow, OSPI was closed. It seemed to just delay the inevitable. Janna leaned on my hope in the Lord. That is fine, because there have been lots of times when I have leaned on Janna’s faith. In the end, after many days, things were worked out in Olympia. It was just a glitch in the system. Annoying! But it helped remind us of how our Heavenly Father is with us. Sometimes we need a reminder. We need to keep our eyes on the Lord.

            There is a lot of change coming down the pike in Elim. Martin is leaving. We are moving toward a new senior pastor. And we wonder what direction the Lord is taking our church. Is our faith firmly planted in the Lord? Is our hope strong that God will lead us in the right direction? Are we feeling a little apprehensive for the future? Let’s take our own look back at when God walked with us through difficult times and maybe read a few psalms.

Lord, put on our hearts and in our minds that You are walking with us through the good and the bad, the tough and the easy times. Amen.

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Grasshopper

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By Brian Sharpe

Personal care is something we all need to work on, but I am not sure we always understand what that means. I know when I am living in my head, it usually doesn’t end well. I didn’t understand why until this past week. Tomina and I were sitting in some teaching sessions while at our district’s pastors and wives retreat. The speaker was Dr. Gary Oliver, and he was talking about fear and anxiety during one of the sessions. He gave us four easy steps to worry. First, observe a situation. Then, interpret the situation. The next step is to exaggerate the situation. The fourth is grasshopper.

He used the example of the spies going from the desert to Canaan. God had told them in Numbers 13 to go to the land that “He would give them.” The spies didn’t trust what God said. They went into the land, observed the people, and then exaggerated the situation and told everyone that there is no way they could go into the land God that God promised them because the people would devour them. They said they were like grasshoppers compared to the people in the promised land, which led them to worry and not trust what God told them.

I see this happening so often in my life. I won’t ask questions about something because I believe I already know the answer. I will assume the worst because I have observed the situation, interpreted it, exaggerated it—and then grasshopper. When we go down this path of worry, it tears us up inside. It hinders our ability to have relationships with others and leads us to loneliness. How I—and ultimately all of us—can combat this is by doing the following:

  • Giving people the benefit of the doubt
  • Not assuming the outcome
  • Having conversation where there are hurts
  • Trusting what we know to be true from the Word of God

When I do these things, worry will melt away and freedom comes. It is when I am not willing to deal with the exaggerations in my life that I am in bondage to circumstances. God has given us freedom through the work of Christ on the cross. He has given us the truth we can live by in the Word of God. One of those truths is that we need to live in unity with one another. Philippians 2:1-4 says,

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Let’s choose to deal with the grasshopper effect by dealing with the exaggeration that comes in our minds while going through life. We need to choose to give people the benefit of the doubt, not assuming we know the outcomes, dealing with hurts between us and others, trusting what we know to be true about God from Scripture. If we do this, we can limit the effect worry has on our lives as well as build up our community of faith and, ultimately, our faith in the Lord. Let’s pursue emotional and relational health together. Grasshopper.

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All Things

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By Larry Short

Lately I’ve been thinking about, and discussing, and quoting, Romans 8:28 a lot. As a result, it’s one of those key verses that I never intentionally memorized, but that I can now quote by heart:

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

The great thing about this verse is that it’s all God, and it’s one of those truths that really does require an investment of faith from us. In the face of seemingly impossible odds, we simply have to accept its truth on faith! God said it, and we have to either believe it—or not.

I think this was demonstrated dramatically during last week’s worship service, when Jacoby and Gretchen Miles shared their incredible journey. Many tears (mine included!) were shed.

I don’t know about you, but the thought of breaking my neck and being paralyzed is one of those things that is simply too horrible to fathom. Roger asked the question that has burned in my heart for years: How can we approach Jacoby and interact with her as we know we should, in light of her devastating disability? I’ve often thought about simply walking up and saying, “Hi Jacoby! I hope you know we care about and are praying for you . . .” But one of my fears is that my fear itself would show on my face and I wouldn’t be able to push back the dread (not at Jacoby—I think she’s beautiful and fantastic—but at the mere thought of her terrible paralysis) that has been for me a thing of nightmares.

And so I think it was very healthy and helpful for me to hear from her lips (and Gretchen’s) both their very transparent struggles to trust God and the victory that they have experienced as they have done so. It gives me hope that if I, too, were to experience such a dreadful event, God through His Holy Spirit would invade my heart (as He has Jacoby’s and her family’s) and, if I was willing, direct my gaze heavenward to our amazing eternal hope, giving me the strength to endure the lot that is mine today.

After Sunday, tears flowed anew when someone shared with me the thought that someday, either in this life or the next, we will see Jacoby dance again! But one thing we know today is that Jacoby and her family love God and are called according to His purpose, just as we are, and, therefore, even this time of trial must somehow be “one of those things” that is working together for good.

In the (far, far less significant) trials and tribulations that I have experienced in my own life, I have had the power of Romans 8:28 reinforced to me time and time again:

  • When as a teen I had to move away from my schoolmates and the hometown I loved because of a threat against our family, only to discover (on visiting a new church) a beautiful and godly girl named Darlene.
  • When as a businessman in my 20s a thief broke in and stole our equipment. Later he found Christ and turned himself in, and the insurance company (which had paid off the loss) sold the equipment back to me at a tenth of its value.
  • When I later sold the business because of struggles beyond my control. God led me (grudgingly) back to World Vision after that, where He blessed and used me in ways I could never have imagined.
  • When, a little over two years ago, I was laid off (after 24 years) from the organization I loved working for, only to be rehired a year later into a role that is a much better fit for me.

I realize that we often use Romans 8:28 in a seemingly trite way—“Chin up! The pain you’re experiencing is all for the good.” One woman asked me, “So how do you define the ‘good’ in this verse?” That coworker had experienced the incredibly painful murder of her grandmother and admitted she struggled with this verse.

I don’t want to imply by my examples above that the evil things that happen to us are always good for us! In fact, this verse doesn’t even say “work together for your good” or “our good”—it simply says, “work together for good.” The implication is that the ultimate good is the glory of God and His Kingdom. And hope tells us that even if we don’t see the good during our life on earth, someday, sitting around the table at the wedding feast of the Lamb, perhaps, all will become clear.

There’s a colleague at my new job whom I at first had some trouble getting along with. So rather than distance myself, I decided the Lord would have me reach out to him and try to build bridges. I spent some time with him hiking through the countryside near London, and I even took him and two of his kids camping in our RV two weekends ago! (Now THAT’S togetherness.) And now I am growing to appreciate his wisdom and friendship, despite our rough start.

We were talking about Romans 8:28 while walking through the rain forest, watching his kids delight in finding weird mushrooms. He brought up a favorite quote by C. S. Lewis (from “The Weight of Glory and Other Addresses”). At first I don’t think I really saw the connection, but the more I think about it, the more I do now:

It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.

Like that child making mud pies, my tendency is to throw a tantrum when my Father in Heaven says, “Hey, stop playing in that puddle. I have something far better for you over here.” Sometimes He does that through trials and tribulations. All I can see is what a lovely mud pie I have here. But if I am able to lift my eyes, in faith, there is an entire ocean waiting for me to take delight in!

On Monday morning, while hiking in the forest, I lost my wallet. I spent three hours looking for it and praying that I’d find it, all (seemingly) to no avail. Afterward I grumbled to the Lord: “How could losing my wallet possibly work out for good?! Think of all the time I’ll have to waste reapplying for permits and credit cards, etc.”

God’s reply? “Romans 8:28. Believe it.”

Sheesh. Okay, Lord, if You say so. I believe it.

(Stay tuned. I’ll let you know how it works out!)

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Choosing God Over Money

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By Jeff Foerster

“Do you trust Me?”

Yes. Of course, Lord.

“How much do you trust Me?

This second question is trickier to answer than the first. It requires some level of self-examination and knowledge of what it means to trust. It also leads toward demonstration of that trust. I demonstrate trust in a pilot by becoming a passenger on the airplane. I demonstrate trust in a chef by eating the food prepared. To deny the ride or the food would betray a heart of distrust.

God reveals Himself to be our Father. This means He is our loving parent. He parents perfectly and has unlimited wisdom, patience untainted by sin, and the ability to renovate life’s difficulties and discouragement into triumphs and transformation as seen through eyes of faith.

You tell me, who is the better father: the one who gives toys to show he loves his children and just can’t bear to say no or the father who holds a child who cries with heartache, who provides boundaries and routines, who disciplines when it’s easier to give in, who carefully teaches the ways of the Lord by word and in action, and who plans and prioritizes for his child’s growth and good?

Our God is the latter kind of parent. Do you believe that? Do you trust that He is who He says He is? You may find glimpses or reflections of God in people here, but ultimately you’ll need to choose to exercise faith beyond what you can see with earthly eyes.

Don’t settle for a “Disneyland Dad” who requires little of you and lavishes sensual pleasures. Forget the prayer cloths being hocked on TV by Pastor Whosee Toosits. Give up the desire to be “loved” by being spoiled with everything working your way (not for your good, but for your way). It’s not about airline seat upgrades or being “blessed” by finding the shortest line in the supermarket. Yes, toddlers are impressed by these things for a moment—but try parenting on this platform and you’re going to see a lot of “What have you done for me lately?” attitude in place of appreciation and affection. Instead, desire and pursue intimacy with the God and Father who is your perfect provider. Lean on Him to provide all that you need to accomplish all His perfect plans in you.

Building a relationship with God is not about Him “proving” Himself by “parenting” Himself out of the picture. Don’t expect God to build large retirement accounts for you and trust funds (pun intended) for your children. Expect God to draw you near to Him through the changing of life’s circumstances. He commands us to take up our cross daily, not to take the path of least resistance (like spilled water, flowing toward the sea).

Ultimately trust, or faith, results in action, steps taken demonstrating the trust is genuine. Is faith in God just a nice idea, a transaction that you think you completed when you were “saved?” What step of faith with regard to money are you going to take next? What genuine faith resides in you?

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