I think the letter “R” in trust should be a red letter. When we can live into trust of God, we find ourselves being called to Radically trust, take Risks, and the result of these first two “Rs” is an even greater Resilient trust of God. Life Circumstance can very easily pull us out of trust. Look at where we have been currently, the death toll of the pandemic alone can raise fear and cause us to waiver in our trust of God. But it does not take a pandemic to cause us to waiver in our trust of God. Hurt feelings, brokenhearted relationships, injustices of racism, inequality of promotion and pay, and family histories of dysfunctional relationships, inadequate expressions of love and many more human relational dynamics may cause one to distrust.
The Scripture
The question is anticipated by the prophet Isaiah. Is God trustworthy? The Israelites had been living in exile for years. They are tired, weary of loss, heartbreak, and yearned from a place of home. In chapter 40 Isaiah speaks to God’s capacity to deliver the wavering people. But Isaiah does not stop there. Isaiah emphasizes that God desires to use God’s compassionate capacity of redemption and deliverance to free the people.
The prophet challenges the people to remember.
“Have you not known? Have you not heard?” (Isaiah 40: 28a, NRSV)
Isaiah affirms the capability of God.
“The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.” (Isaiah 40: 28b)
The sage confirms God’s desire.
“He gives power to the faint,
and strengthens the powerless. (40:28)
Isaiah understands the weary weakness of humanity.
“Even youths will faint and be weary,
and the young will fall exhausted;” (40: 30)
The prophet trusts beyond human experience on God’s desires to deliver and redeem the people.
“but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.” (40: 31)
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+40%3A+28-31&version=NRS
Underserved grace of God’s love is what will motivate people to trust God.
Today’s Prayer Practice
Spend time with this passage from Isaiah, through various modes of prayer and discover how God is inviting you to the 3 Rs of trust.
- Radically trust in God, even when you cannot logically discern a positive outcome.
- Risk beyond your comfort zone trusting in God’s promise and God’s desire for your freedom and deliverance from fears, hurts, and that which hold you captive.
- As you lean into radically trusting God and risking beyond your comfort zone, notice the level of your Resilient trust of God as it increasing to a habitual heart formational way of living.
Three prayer techniques to use with this Scripture are:
- Lectio Divina. Let the Word of God soak into your being as you read this text three times asking:
- What word or phrase catches your attention?
- How does this Word intersect with your life?
- What is the invitation of God for you from this text?
- Next, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvpjxfWrjzY and view the YouTube video of the song On Eagle’s Wings. Let your spirit float on the images of the video.
- Finally, with the YouTube video On Eagle’s Wings close your eyes and listen to the Word of God being sung to you.
When you have completed you time of praying with the Scripture, pause with God and journal. How is God’s Word encouraging you this day? How will you live trust of God?
Enjoy praying.
