TRUST IN WHAT?

TRUST.
POLITICS.
ECONOMY.
GAS PRICES.
GOD.

This is what went through my mind as I took my post-run shower this morning. Deep I know. However, remember in grade school how you were taught not to judge a book by it's cover.........
With the exception of the first and last items in this list, these topics rarely cross my mind. I don't care to debate it with you, that's just the reality for me. So, it is with a heavy heart that these terms even receive thought, let alone mention from me this morning.

My question throughout this post is: Who do YOU trust?

ROMANS 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." What a POWERFUL verse! If we trust in God, He promises to fill us with all joy and peace, and promises us that we will overflow with hope because of the Holy Spirit! This seems like a no-brainer, trust God and you will receive joy, peace, and hope! Who couldn't use some more of that, especially these days?

POLITICS. Every 4 years rolls around and I begin to get amused at how people's lives begin to change. Yes, it's important to take this seriously. What a wonderful privilege to be able to have our own say in how things turn out........sort of. Unless your say doesn't jive with the majority of voters that is. But it is a privilege, because so many people in the world don't have that right. Yes, it's important to vote. However, what a shame it is to feel that the choice available is between the lesser of two evils. Every 4 years, and sometimes this carries on for awhile, people's mood rises and falls on politics. If their choice wins, then they are riding high! If their choice doesn't win, then apparently the world is coming to an end. Doesn't sound like they have true joy, peace, and hope to me. Where's the trust?

ECONOMY. It's tough right now. Truly, for some it is tough. For those who have lost their jobs, or are about to within the next 12 months, life is tough. However, for most of us, the economy is still simply an inconvenience. Disagree? Tell that to the rest of the world. We are STILL the most blessed nation in the world, by far. I was speaking with a dear friend the other night about this. How unfair it seems that while I sit typing this, I am in my own house, with 2 vehicles, with so much stuff my garage is used for storage, on my computer with high speed internet, after having run using my GPS watch, listening to music on my iPhone, in my brand name pajamas, while many people, countless millions are going hungry right this very minute, starving for just one bite of food, or so desperate for access to clean water, or any water, that they have to walk 40km a day for it! Does God want me blessed, sure! But at what point does blessed become excess???????? I mean, this question could cause you to pull your hair out! Trust me, I've thought about the ramifications of the present economy. I raise money for a living, so if people have less or no money coming in, guess what, so do I. I know if affects us all. However, maybe we in America have moved from the realm of blessed living to excessive living! I mean, what can you do with a $250,000 that you can't do with a $150,000 house, except have more room to roam?

JOHN 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me." I know the context here. Jesus was reassuring his disciples that while he had to leave for awhile, he would be returning someday. He also filled them in a little on why he was leaving and what he would be doing. What's the point? This world is TEMPORARY! This life on earth is TEMPORARY! Gas prices are TEMPORARY! This has been another one of those issues that just make me laugh sometimes. When the price of gas can cause you to either be depressed or sing for joy, you KNOW there is a problem here! When gas was just short of $4 a gallon, I thought many people might fall off the face of the earth. The reality is that not much changed because of it. Most people did not change their standard of living one bit. The only thing that changed is the topic of what to complain about. However, there were plenty of troubled hearts to go around, proving once again that complete trust in God was rare.

I mean, when in this country have we had to TRUST God for very much. We have so much beyond more than enough. Maybe the current problem is an economic downfall, maybe the true problem is that we live excessive lifestyles, and need to learn to live with less. I wonder how many Christians around the rest of the world, especially in third world countries are upset with God over their current economy? How many of them are mad at God because they don't have a third car, can't go on that cruise this year, maybe need to cut back on the number of times that they eat out. They don't even curse God for the lack of clean water, lack of basic necessities!

We live excessive lifestyles in this country. And that has been our downfall. We have fallen away from trusting in God to be our supply, to meet our needs. These days, we feel like WE meet our needs. Everything we have came from the hard work that WE did. The thought that I EARNED this and that is outrageous. God has blessed us beyond measure, but now has left us to ourselves. We have taken His blessings and perverted them until they have become strongholds in our lives. A little inconvenience in our own lives has become an outrage, while many many millions still lack access to clean water, let alone other basic necessities needed to sustain life. I wonder at the outrage God must feel because of this.

The good news is that God is a God of mercy. His love endures forever. Do not let your hearts be troubled during this time. Trust in God. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. What's the point of overflowing, to bless others! BE A BLESSING TODAY!