If we step back and look at our own life, can we honestly say that we trust in the Lord with all our heart? I often think of my children—they trust in me with all their hearts; there is no fear within them; they do not worry. My prayer is that I can trust in my Heavenly Father in the same way.
Here in Haiti a lot of people are driven by fear. They fear the uncertainty of tomorrow. They fear whether they will find food, work, and clothing. It is the opposite of trusting in God. In the western culture, people don’t fear those things. Food and clothing are easy to find, jobs are plentiful, and medical assistance is just one 911 call away.
The poor people here in Haiti say that it would be easier to trust God if they were in America, but is that truly the case? While very few in America fear whether they will have enough to eat, many fear whether they will be accepted by other people. There are some who may fear having enough money to live, but there are many who fear death. Whatever our fear is, trusting in God is our answer.
Let’s look at the life of David. David was a young boy. When his older brothers went to battle, young David went out to feed his father’s sheep. On the battlefield, there was a giant with the Philistine army named Goliath. He challenged the Israelites by saying that if one man would come out and fight him, the victor’s army would rule the other side. In 1 Samuel 17:10-11 we read that Goliath said, …I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
Later on, we read that Jesse, David’s father, sent him to the place of battle to take some food to his older brothers. David arrived at the place of battle, and he heard Goliath speaking these same words. When David saw that the men of Israel were all afraid, he did not understand. Why were God’s people afraid of this uncircumcised Philistine?
Even though David was young, he was no amateur when it came to putting his trust in God. While he was watching his father’s sheep, most likely he talked much with God, asking Him to help guard the sheep. One day a bear came out to attack the sheep, and David killed the bear. Another day a lion came out to eat some sheep. Again, the God-trusting, fearless youth faced the threat and killed the lion. Now, facing a seemingly greater threat, David simply asks, …who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? –1Sa 17:26. David went to King Saul and said, I …will go and fight with this Philistine –1Sa 17:32. Once more putting his trust in his God, David took five smooth stones, ran out to meet the giant, and killed him. Upon seeing this sudden turn of events, the people marveled.
According to Psalm 20:7, when we put our trust in horses and chariots, then it is not in the Lord our God. In Matthew 21:21, the Bible says that with faith we can move mountains. Here in Haiti I have found myself in tough situations where God is my only option. When I have been forced to put my trust in God, I have discovered that He still works miracles. Just like David with the lion, the bear, and the giant, we too can learn that trusting God with our whole heart is the best way and not just a last resort. When we trust in the Lord first, we show the world something amazing—that this God we serve is alive, and that He is real.
Here in Haiti there was a man living in a shack up in the mountains with his wife and three young children. But there was a problem—he was deathly ill. One day he heard about a missionary who often traveled through the mountains. I received a message from him stating that he was almost dead and that he needed me to come and pray for him. I quickly went up to his home. I was amazed at his condition. His weight was probably not much more than 70 pounds. His wife told me that he had been in bed for over a year. He couldn’t talk, he only whispered with deep agonizing breaths. We spent quite a while discussing his life, his sin, and his future. He told me that if God would heal him, he would serve him and trust him for the rest of his life. I believed his sincerity, yet I was scared. I began to pray, but it was certainly not a powerful prayer full of faith. Rather it was a weak, humble cry.
As I went home and throughout that night, he was all I could think about. The devil began his attack. I had many confusing, troubling thoughts, “Did you do everything you could have done? What if he dies? Why didn’t you take him to the hospital?” I went to God in prayer. “Oh God,” I prayed, “this man wanted prayer. He didn’t ask for a hospital; he didn’t ask for medication. Please God, heal this man. If he dies, what will I do the next time? O Father, if not for him, please, heal him for me. I need you to, Father.”
I prayed like I had never prayed before, and then, God gave me peace. The next morning, I hurried up the mountain to his home, but he wasn’t there. “No, Lord!” I thought. I rushed around and poked my head in another shack. What I saw overwhelmed me. He was sitting there with a big smile on his face. His wife said that he had been working in the garden that morning. Repeatedly she said, “God healed him! God healed him!” I’ll never forget the feeling I had as I travelled back down that mountain. My heart welled up with joy and thankfulness. “My God is alive! He can do anything and everything! He is my God!” I thanked and praised Him like I never had before. “The lion” that I had faced was dead, and my faith was growing. The devil doesn’t want us to trust God, because when we put our trust in God, He does big things, and our faith grows.
When we put our trust in God there is a risk—what if God doesn’t work? We could be embarrassed, or worse—“What if I step out in faith and God does nothing?” Remember, it is not faith if we know the outcome. Faith is walking in obedience and believing God’s Word when we do not know the outcome. If God wouldn’t have helped David, Goliath surely would have killed him. It was Daniel’s faith that kept him praying to God, even though he knew a lion’s den awaited him. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had so much faith in God that they told the king that even if God chose to not deliver them from the fire, that they still would …not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up –Dan 3:18. Then there was Gideon and his three hundred men. The list goes on and on of godly men who put their life on the line, proving that their God was alive.
When we step out in faith, trusting our God, something always happens (sometimes now, sometimes later; sometimes in a way that makes sense, sometimes in a way that seems to make no earthly sense). Yet God does work, and our faith grows. When we truly believe in God, we will trust him. Then, sharing the Gospel message with others is much easier. Just like Joshua did not have a fleet of bulldozers on standby at Jericho, so also we do not need a backup plan when we trust in God.
It is true that the great minds and financial backing of many in America and other modern countries have replaced God. There is a way to do most physical things without God. In fact, most people say that trusting in God is not common sense. If you pray over a sick child, it’s not common sense. If you turn down a high paying job because you don’t believe that it’s God’s will, that’s not common sense. If you sell your possessions and give to the poor, it’s not common sense. These people are right—trusting in God is not common sense. Marching around a wall seven times, believing it will fall down, is not common sense. Going into battle with only 300 men against a great army who were like grasshoppers for multitude is not common sense either. Most things done by God-trusting Christians don’t make sense, but they do show the world that they really do put their trust in God, and that is what will turn the world upside down again, today.
I remember one day very well. I was away from home when I received a phone call from my wife. She told me to come home quickly—it was an emergency! Our two-year-old son had been stung by bees. I rushed home to see the neighborhood in chaos. People where running around everywhere. I found my wife and son at the neighbor’s house, a local pastor. My son lay in the arms of my wife who told me he had been stung several hundred times. The pastor looked at me quite gravely, telling me that if I didn’t get this boy to a hospital right away, he would surely die. I remember thinking one thing—God can heal! I picked up my son and took him across the street to our house, and I prayed. It didn’t take long before he began to recover—by the next day he was back out playing.
Many people here in Haiti take their sick to the witch doctor, and he heals them. It’s just what happens. How much more can our God do! Please don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying we shouldn’t go to the medical doctor or to the hospital; rather, I’m trying to emphasize that our trust should be in God.
Years ago, I decided to take up a part-time job selling knives. I was to take these knives and travel from home to home. I didn’t have an interest in knives but was just trying to make some extra money. I was a terrible knife salesman. Everywhere I went everyone said no.
One day the boss took me into his office where he told me that he had noticed I wasn’t selling any knives and realized he had forgotten to show me how the knives worked. So, we sat there in his office as he talked about each knife. He had a small pile of kitchen utensils of another brand, which were known for their quality, that he used for a comparison. First, he held up a small piece of leather and asked me to cut it in half with one of the “other” knives. I sawed through the piece of leather with some ease. Then he instructed me to use one of his knives and do the same thing. The new knife sliced through the leather as if it wasn’t even there! I was truly amazed. He then picked up a penny and told me to cut it in half using the “other” scissors. I tried but failed; they simply would not cut it. He then told me to do the same using his scissors. It easily cut through the penny, and again I was amazed at the product. He told me that I now knew that these knives were the best and from now on I should be able to sell them. He was right. I began selling knives everywhere I went! I even remember walking into a poorly kept trailer home without much hope that they would buy. Surprisingly, they bought over $3,000 worth of knives.
The reason I began to make sales is obvious—I believed in my product. Likewise, if we put our trust in God, we will have confidence. In a day when most proclaiming Christians are ashamed of God and ashamed to stand up for truth, we can be a bright and shining light. We can be a people who go out into the world and into our communities with a Gospel that we truly believe in! As we do, the world will see it and respond. Many are seeking; they are looking for answers. When someone asks us a question about why we do the things we do or wear what we wear, what is our reply? Do we reply with confidence? Do we have a ready Bible verse? Or do we get embarrassed and desire a hole to climb into? If the world could see that we are confident in our God, and that we obey him with enthusiasm, it would be a powerful testimony.
I remember traveling through the airport with a small group. As we were standing in line, I overheard a lady ask one of the single sisters in our group why she wore that “thing” on her head. I was excited to listen unnoticed, and I rejoiced as I heard her response. “Have you ever read 1 Corinthians 11? There it instructs us that women should cover their heads. It’s a sign of submission.” The woman was shocked at her answer, saying she never heard that before, and that her father was a pastor. They continued to have a very interesting conversation that ended with that lady desiring to go home and study her Bible.
A tract can do a lot of good; so likewise, a powerful sermon or a printed article, but someone putting all his trust in God is what this world is looking for! They want to “see something that works,” and why not? Our God wants to use us to show Himself strong. Surely each one of us wants to be used by God. We can. Each one of us can. The answer is to trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding –Pro 3:5.
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