I often think of faith as Hebrews 11 describes it, “To be certain that the things I am hoping for will happen. To be certain of things not seen.” In a big way, faith for me often has to do with trusting God to give me what I am hoping for, a confidence that these things will manifest.

But- and it’s taken me a while to get here- in a bigger way,  faith is more about trusting IN God. Not just trusting Him to answer our prayers. But, trusting His character and not being suspicious of His plans. Trusting not just His ability…but His personality, His character, His very essence. Which is a terribly difficult thing to do…especially if you don’t know Him. There’s a real difference between trusting God to give what you ask for… and simply trusting God.

And I was thinking about that today and I remembered this quote I stole from Ibitimi;

“A tragic mistake that is often made by orthodox religious people is to assume that the Will of God for them is bound to be something very dull and uninviting, if not positively unpleasant. The truth is that the Will of God for us ALWAYS means greater freedom, greater self-expression, a wider and newer and brighter experience…”

-Emmet Fox

And I thought about that today as God sent me a random little assurance that He listens,  in the form of the message in my daily devotional, Girlfriends in God. Check it out:

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:34 NIV).”

Friend to Friend

My husband, Steve, and I sat anxiously in our seats. I wondered if I was going to be able to endure the ride, especially knowing my propensity for motion sickness. But we began nonetheless.

The guide strapped all passengers into the tiny boats and gave last minute instructions. Of course there were life preservers, but what good would they do in the fierce rapids that threatened to suck its prey below the surface?

The crew boarded and began the journey down the mysterious Amazon. The calm meandering waters quickly gave way to fierce torrents, rushing rapids, and rocky crags protruding from the foaming waters. Alternating between plunging into the water and flying into the air, the boat made its way through the first set of rapids. My body relaxed, thankful that was over. Several times along the journey calm gave way to chaos as passengers maneuvered to keep the boats afloat. Often, I closed my eyes and waited for the turbulence to pass.

When we finally reached the end of our journey, I picked up my popcorn and walked out of the theater.

No, I wasn’t really on the Amazon River strapped in a tiny boat. I was comfortably sitting in a cushioned chair in the IMAX Theater watching a documentary about the Amazon River. In the five-story domed screen covering 6532 square feet of projection surface, large images put you in the center of the action, and the surround sound gave the illusion that you were indeed wherever the screen took you. It wasn’t real.

Yes, I did get a bit queasy from the larger-than-life movement down the river, but I was never in real danger. Even though the producers and engineer tried their best to create a realistic experience, I knew it wasn’t true. It was a movie. I would walk out unscathed.

That is the peace of walking, or in this case sitting, in the truth. Every day the enemy seeks to trip us up by stirring up worry about the future. It’s not real. It’s imaginings. Something that most likely will never happen.

Worrying is like sitting in the IMAX Theater watching a documentary about the Amazon River, but thinking you’re really in the boat. You’re not. It is your imagination running wild.

So what do you do?

Stop looking at the screen…the imaginings in your mind.

Leave the theater…the cinema where the worriers in you heart loop round and round.

Trust in God…the only One who knows what the future holds. He’s got this.

Let’s Pray

Lord, sometimes I make myself so mad. Mad as in angry and mad as in crazy. I worry about things that I have no control over, most of which will never happen in the first place. Today, I’m getting out of the imaginary boat in the imaginary Amazon River of worry. I’m going to trust in You and refuse to buy another ticket to the theater that plays reruns of my greatest fears.”