“For my thoughts are higher than your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9 (Amplified Bible).
Trust. It is a small word but an essential element for any successful relationship. We know that a relationship without trust has no chance of succeeding. A marriage can not be successful when a trust has been broken. A friendship can not last without trust. A child that does not trust his parents is likely to experience an extremely difficult childhood.
A trust is only as strong as the character of the person whom the trust has been bestowed upon. As mortals, we are extremely fallible. That is why human trust can be broken and lost so easily. Trust produces faith but faith requires trust. The two can not stand alone. Faith asks us to follow directions and go into situations often lacking a clear understanding of why we are doing so. But we understand that their perspective and understanding of the situation is better and clearer than ours, and, based on past experiences, we know they have our best interests at heart and that what is occurring is occurring for our benefit.
Unlike trust we place in people, the trust we give to God will never be abused, broken, or lost. Human trust breaks because of our fallibility; His trust never breaks because He is infallible. The Father's character assures us that He has a plan to get us through any trial we may be facing and we know He loves us and, just like an earthly Father, only wants the best for His children.
Throughout history, men and women have wondered how a loving Master can put them into dangerous and confusing circumstances. The children of Israel could not understand why they had to wander the desert for 40 years. But The Great I Am had a plan! Abraham did not understand why His Father would ask him to slay Isaac. But He had a plan! Joseph could not understand why his own brothers sold him into slavery. But God had a plan! Shadrach, Meschach, and Abindego could not understand why they were thrown into the fiery furnace. But they had faith and trust in the Creator and knew He had a plan. And finally, Jesus' disciples could not understand why He had to die on the cross. But Jehovah had an amazing plan!
There are times in every believers walk with Christ that we simply can not understand what He is trying to do. But we must remember circumstances are a matter of perspective, ours and God’s. Our's is earthly and is extremely limited in scope. Our Father’s is eternal and is unlimited in scope. From His perspective in Heaven, Our Lord can look far into the future, an ability that we do not have. How, then, can we endure through those times of our lives? Like our toasty friends Shadrach, Meschach, and Abindego, trust in the Master and have faith in his eternal and unlimited perspective!
Copyright 2007 Timothy E. Davis