Can I really trust God? The world in which we live seems to be out of control. Why doesn’t God put an end to evil? Where is God in the midst of my difficulties? Maybe you are asking those same questions today. Throughout human history people have asked similar questions.
In the days of Queen Esther, in the book of Esther, there was an evil plan in the Medo-Persian empire to kill all of the Jews. The Jewish people responded by prayer and fasting. They petitioned the Lord to save them from an unjust end. God answered their prayers and the people were saved.
I would be the first to say I don’t understand all that the Lord is doing in the world. Since the fall of mankind into sin, the world has not been a perfect place. The Bible tells us that God sent His son Jesus into this chaotic world to save people from their sins. Almost 2000 years ago all of our sins were poured out upon Jesus. John the Baptist called Jesus “The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29). The prophets had told of a messiah who would save centuries before. As the people waited for these prophecies to come true, they had to have faith and trust God. True to His word, Jesus came.
Faith is trust in God’s promises. Faith is not figuring out what God is or is not doing. The book of Hebrews gives us great insight into faith that I find comforting and informative. Hebrews 11:1Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see… 8 It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.[1]
Maybe the Lord is calling you to trust Him in a challenging time. He maybe calling you to stop looking down at your circumstance and begin to look up at Him. Proverbs 3:5-6 is a wonderful verse about trusting God when we don’t always understand what is going on. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.[2]
In addition, as believers, we can trust Jesus to give us peace during our difficulties. John 14:27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So, don’t be troubled or afraid.[3] Peace is like a medication that calms our heart so we can focus on the Lord and not our problems. Take the hand of Jesus and trust Him to lead you through your life giving you peace and purpose.
To hear more about the story of Esther, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/hope-when-genocide-threatens
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.