One Word Resolution

One Word Resolution

Isaiah 26:3 NIV (1984 Edition)
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.

   I was reading through some random Christian blogs and stumbled on one where the woman decided to shorten her New Year’s resolutions to ask God for one word.  Her word was “Give,” and some who responded to her blog were asking for words like “Joy” and “Peace” and “Love.”  One woman said she was asking God for “Trust.”
   I stopped and meditated on this blog entry.  “Trust.”  I have many failings, but one of my most frequent failings is in the area of trust.  It’s not that I don’t believe God’s Word, because I do.  It’s not that I think God will fail me, because I know He won’t.  It’s not that I think God has stopped loving me, because He can’t stop loving me – it’s His nature to love.  But I often wallow in doubt and lose trust when faced with adverse circumstances.
   I rarely lose trust when I’m personally sick or hurt, I really do have absolute trust in God then.  But let a loved one face some crisis, and my faith quivers and often fails me.  I begin to have doubts pile up and they weigh on my mind.  Life has thrown us some curveballs lately, and my trust-factor has taken a beating.  So maybe adopting this word as my own this year is a good resolution for me.  It’s going to be a good word for me to pray about and meditate on the next couple of months.
   Trust is only needed during rocky times in life.  If your path is clear and smooth and well-lit and has signs pointing the way for you, you really don’t need trust.  But when you have to take a detour and find yourself in a dark place on a slippery path, you really need that trust and need it right now!
   One thing I’ve had to learn the hard way is that trust is not a passive thing.  Trust is a choice and requires a conscious decision on my part.  I have to trust God, and I have to rely on His love and His grace and His mercy.  I can go off on my own and make things worse.  I can allow panic to overwhelm me and let fear fill my heart.  Or I can trust in God and read His Word and meditate on His ways and follow Him and live in peace.  I know intellectually that God will never fail me.  I know intellectually that even when bad things happen to good people God has not turned away from us; often He is drawing us closer to Him during these times.  But knowing intellectually and the active choice of trusting God do not automatically follow each other.  I need to take what I know and apply it in my life.  I will trust God if I choose to trust God.  Trust doesn’t just spring up in my heart, I need to dig it out from under the weight of doubts and concerns and use it.
   My one word resolution this year is “Trust.”  I will trust God to guide me and walk with me no matter what comes my way.  “Trust” may not be your word, but I pray you find the one that you need and may God give it to you this coming year.

Stephen Cram                                January 8, 2012                     Colossians 2:8