How often do we get panicky when something we counted on is suddenly not happening the way we thought? Or perhaps we feel anxiety at what might happen (or not happen)?
“Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.” Psalm 37:7 (NASB)
“Rest in the Lord! Got it!” “He’s got this. Just relax!”
There is a difference in “resting in the Lord” (trusting that He will care for us) and ignoring the issue and just assuming that God is going to take care of it. Resting in the Lord is trusting in the fact that He will handle it because He has promised to take care of your needs and you have communicated your needs to Him. Assuming God will handle it is similar to a teenager assuming you will make sure they have a car available for their date on Friday, but that teen never really communicated that they needed the car. (And that is purely hypothetical. It could never happen at my house.) 😉
God wants us to be in a relationship. Jesus did say don’t worry because your Father knows you need these things. Over and over we are also instructed to ask.
Matthew 7:7-11 – “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
A similar teaching is found in Luke 11:9-12, or John 16:23-24, or Phil. 4:6 or Heb. 4:16…. It is important that we ask. Ask as we trust. Ask with confidence. Ask as we are thankful, but ASK.
I found myself in a situation recently where our gracious God pointed out to me that I was in the assuming category and not even asking Him about a particular need. Whoops! Let’s try that again! “Okay, Lord. Will you work this out? I am in need of Your intervention.”
Sometimes, we have a need in our lives BECAUSE God is trying to show us that He is enough and we can depend on Him. The world says, “Just have faith.” Faith in what? Or faith in whom? The object of our faith is crucial. Whom are we having faith in? The universe? Are we having faith that it’s just all going to work out? Or are we going to the Creator of the universe and asking for Him to act?
Lord, forgive me for taking You for granted. Forgive me when I just assume it’s going to work out instead of resting in You while asking You to work. Thank You that You are the all-sufficient God! YOU ARE ENOUGH!
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