Default: a selection made usually automatically or without active consideration
I don’t know about you, but when storm clouds roll in, my default is not trust.
This isn’t my automatic response.
When something really bad or unexpected hits, my mind all-too-easily careens into the unknown future, imagining awful scenarios that haven’t even occurred yet until I’m spinning into a black hole of devastation.
What happened to standing firm?
What happened to clinging to the God who is the same yesterday, today, tomorrow – despite the circumstances of the moment?
The God who is never surprised or caught off guard. The God who knows all, including every sparrow that falls to the ground and every hair that is on our heads.
Do I trust THAT God, despite this (whatever this may be)?
It’s a question I had to ask myself last Friday, when my world went topsy-turvy.
Ryan and I were enjoying our first date night in a long, long time when I received a text from a dear friend and fellow adoptive mom. The kind of text that knocks the wind right out of you–news that because of a governmental shutdown, we might not be able to bring our daughter home for another 12 months.
And here I had been hoping and praying for early spring (in my more realistic moments), if not Christmas (in my bolder ones).
What started off as a wonderful date night turned into one of those dark nights of the soul.
The whole Congo adoption community was spinning into that black hole of the unknown, myself included.
UNTIL
Two of my comrades, moms who are also adopting from Congo, started firing off Scripture references to one another as we were private messaging on Facebook. In the midst of our fear and worry….these two women drew their swords.
They stood firm.
So what if their knees were shaking and their hearts breaking, they drew their SWORD.
And it was like I could breathe again.
Matthew 10:29
Psalm 33:10-11
Exodus 14:13-14
Hebrews 10:22-23
1 Samuel 1:27
Acts 17:26
Nahum 1:7
Joshua 1:9
I drank it all in like a woman parched unto death. I gulped down every single word in these verses until I could remember what was true.
Hebrews 10:22-23 says…
Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and the full assurance that faith brings….Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is FAITHFUL.
In the amplified version, this concept of “full assurance” expands into “the leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness“.
Take a second and let that sink in.
Exodus 14:13-14 says…
But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today….The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”
In the amplified version, “standing still” isn’t just standing still, it’s standing firmly, confidently, and without dismay. And added to the phrase “Just stay calm” are commands to “hold your peace and remain at rest.”
Hold your peace.
Remain at rest.
This is what God is calling me to. This is what He is trying to teach me.
Trust Him. Trust Him. Trust Him.
It’s time to change my default setting.
Crisis –> Worry
OR
Crisis –> Steadfast trust in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
I want to be unflappable.
Because though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and the mountains quake, God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
He is trustworthy and He is faithful and not only is He good, He wants good for me, and for my daughter.
This is truth. And I will trust.
Let’s Talk: When a crisis hits, what’s your default setting?
What’s your default setting when faced with a crisis–worry or trust? –> click to tweet
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You are so wise. I need to work on my default setting too…
I’ve had to learn this myself lately. When I stand firm and trust…a wonderful peace comes. Praying for you.
Praying again for you and your family. Yesterday our pastor was out of town so one of the men in the church gave the message on Jeremiah 29:11 – and I love how he wove it with Jeremiah’s life, and with Israel, God’s chosen people… this message was for them, they were going to be taken into captivity for 70 years, but it was for a time of restoration for them, a time to bring them back to God and living for Him, and Jeremiah 29:11 in the KJV says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” So, to put that for any situation we’re in, is to say, when God has me in a time of testing, His thoughts are to bring me peace and not evil, He LOVES me, He does not intend bad things for me. He wants me in close relationship with Him. And whatever the situation, there is an expected end… the Israelites would be brought out of captivity. We will have an end to whatever we’re going through, even if it’s not til we get to heaven… that so touched me, so this morning when I was hit with a little glitch, what did I do? Oy! I didn’t even want to pray w/ my husband, but I did let him pray for us… and now typing this to you, I’m reminded to trust.
Such a thought-provoking and powerful post, Katie. I am drawing my sword for your family as well. Hugs.
Oh, friend, I know how much that must make your heart ache. And yet, the beautiful things that God is doing in your heart as a result.
I’m with you. I want my default setting to be trust. Funny. I’m talking about something similar on my blog today. 🙂
Love you! And praying you’ll get to bring your sweet one home even sooner than imagined.
First of all, praying for you and Ryan and your daughter SO much (and Brogan too–loved the prayer you posted on FB last night from him!)…
And I loved this: Do I trust THAT God, despite this (whatever this may be)? It’s a question I’m asking myself right now as I type this response. My “this” is nothing nearly as heavy as your wait to bring your daughter home, but it’s one of those things whispering doubts in the back of my head. I want to trust, though. 🙂
Thank you, Katie, for this wonderful word of encouragement. A crisis can knock the wind out of us with its sudden force, but the Word of the Lord stands forever. Glory to His Holy Name!
Blessings,
MaryAnn
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MaryAnn Diorio, PhD, MFA
Novelist & Poet
Truth through Fiction ®
http://www.maryanndiorio.com
A CHRISTMAS HOMECOMING
Harbourlight Books, 2012
I’ve told you this before, but when I was at my lowest, LOWEST point, literally curled up in a ball on my bed, when ALL human hope and promises failed me…I knew I had Jesus.
No scriptures came to mind. But one image did, Him holding me , His robes wrapped around me to keep my soul warm…and Him whispering “Let it all go, my Beloved. I am here.”
He was then, in the pitch dark, He is now, on top of my mountain, and every step in between.
He has her, too.