Trusting in God's goodness

Have you ever talked yourself out of a career, a relationship, a job or something else because you thought that you didn't have the ability to make it work or you were too scared to take that chance?  Guess what? You don't have the ability to make it work! But with God all things are possible. God wants to work through you, to give you the strength, and everything that you need to serve Him. Doubting God starts out really slow- something happens. For example your driving down a road and you start to hear a noise coming from the engine of your car. Your mind races at the thought that maybe your beat up old car has had it and its going to blow up at any moment. Then you try to figure out how your going to afford another car, the higher insurance, and how your even going to qualify for a loan. Then your mind races to the thought that you can't qualify for a loan because your credit is shot because that foreclosure that went through last year. Then you realize that if you can't make it to work then you won't have a job. Without a job how will you pay the rent? The next thing you know is that you are homeless. See how easy that was? Why even try? Why not just climb under a rock and hide? This happens when we forget who provides for us, who gives us direction, who meets our every need. We often get caught up in our ability or self effort and how we can fix something and make things work and we forget that God is really the one holding it all together. King David was often on the run from his enemy Saul. He had to hide in caves, and hide among the other surrounding nations. This trained him to turn to God, seek direction, and trust in him. How do you respond when things feel out of control, or you are afraid? Do you worry? Our thoughts can become very damaging and dangerous because we often jump to the worse possible conclusion. Yet we are told to "be transformed by the renewing of our mind,"  "to walk by faith not by sight, How do we practice this? I think that we can look at some of the Psalms of David and see how he responded to fear, worry, and stress.

#1 He went to God first. "I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray." Psalm 17:6

#2 He reminded himself that God is always with him. "I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me." Psalm 16:8

#3 He trusted in the nature of God. "Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house: I will worship at your Temple with deepest awe. We can come boldly before God because Jesus made a way and we are forgiven.
# 4 He remembered past victories. "I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD. Psalm 40:1-3

#5 His confidence came from God. In Psalm 27 David laments about his enemies coming to attack him but he says, "He will hide me..." He ends the Psalm with this; 13"Yet I am confident I will see the LORD's goodness while I am here in the land of the living. 14 Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.

#6 He trusted in God's guidance. Psalm 23:3 "He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name."

#7 He trusted in God's provision. Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd: I have all that I need.

David had enemies, enemies of his own family but he trusted in the goodness of the Lord. David didn't say, "I am going to make this work,..(self effort) or why even try, this will never work. (the opposite of faith is fear)No he was aware of his helpless condition and he completely depended on God for help. He said something like this;
God I am coming to  you because I know that you will hear me and answer. I am worthy to come to you because I know that you love me and care about every detail of my life. I remember when I was in that horrible pit and you brought me out of it- victoriously! Life stinks sometimes and there are lots of obstacles in the way, but I know that you are with me and will deliver me out of any mess and move me over any mountain! You always answer! You provide for my every need and you are always faithful to show me what way to go. I will praise you because you are so Good to me!

David said, " I know he will hear me, I know he will answer...Do you know this in your heart? Don't let anything stop you from being the person that God has called you to be or from doing the thing that God wants you to do. Start your thoughts with; I know you will God, I trust you will God...So remember how good our God is and move forward with confidence. Blessings.