“So I said to you: Don’t be terrified or afraid of them! The Lord your God who goes before you will fight for you, just as you saw him do for you in Egypt. And you saw in the wilderness how the Lord your God carried you as a man carries his son all along the way you traveled until you reached this place. But in spite of this you did not trust the Lord your God, who went before you on the journey to seek out a place for you to camp. He went in the fire by night and in the cloud by day to guide you on the road you were to travel.” – Deuteronomy 1:29-32

My kids are at the age where they are starting to make some really important, life-changing decisions. One is starting to think about serious boy-girl relationships for the first time, one is stepping into some pretty big leadership roles, one is struggling with God’s call on her life, and one is going to get married this summer. In each of these situations, my wife and I try to give the very best guidance we can. We love them unconditionally, we have no selfish motives, and we have sacrificed so much for them. Though definitely not perfect, overall, I think my wife and I have been very good parents. But even with all that being said, it is amazing how skeptical they can be with our advice. Sometimes it hurts a little bit that, after all we have done, they still don’t always trust us.

Ask yourself this question: how much does God have to do before you will trust him? How many rescues, how many sacrifices, and how many miracles would it take for you to finally say, “Okay God, I will now wholeheartedly trust you with everything.” Trust is hard, and it must be earned. But if anyone has earned it, God has! The one who gave his own son for us would never harm us or withhold any good thing (Romans 8:32). If there was ever a perfect reason to trust, the Cross is it!

God, bring to mind all Your amazing acts. Most of all, keep our eyes fixed on the Cross. And in that, teach us to trust You fully in everything.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Shane Cannon