to trust is not to rest.
I have been blessed by the privilege of studying the life of David in Bible study with a group of ladies on Thursday mornings. We are using Beth Moore’s revised study. I cherish those mornings because I know that there won’t be many more like them for a while once my precious girls arrive! I was struck by something Beth mentioned about trust in God, and how it so poignantly related to my life in preparation for these girls.
She quoted Artur Weiser as writing:
“Trust in God IS NOT a place of refuge to which the believer can retreat from the turmoil and the disappointments of the world in order to find there his satisfaction and rest. Trust in God IS a cell of organic life, a power-centre which does not remain in isolation, but cannot help bearing fruit because it feels inwardly constrained to prove its living reality through acts of faith.” (emphasis my own)
This explanation so beautifully captures what it means and what it looks like for a believer to trust God. I think too often we view placing our trust in Him as an inward act or attitude of surrender, and after choosing to trust we tend to want to take our hands off of our circumstances and reside solely in our declaration of trust. We do sometimes see trusting God with a tough situation as a place of refuge or rest from that situation, passively declaring Him “in control” of it. However, that is not biblical trust in God. Scripture calls us to trust in God at all times and with all things, and also tells us that God Himself is our refuge and our rest. Our trust in Him is to bear fruit in our reality. Trust in God is displayed through acts of faith in our circumstance. Our faith is meant to be lived out in our reality! We have life to live. Yes, we pour out our hearts before the Lord and find our refuge and rest in Him, but when we trust Him, we pick ourselves up and face our circumstances with great faith because He is worthy of our trust. We can simultaneously allow our soul to find rest and refuge in Him, while choosing to trust Him in our reality and living out that trust with active faith. All it takes for life-altering victory and freedom in our reality is to come to the place of recognizing that God alone is all we need. He is our portion; He is our provision; He is our sustenance; He is all to us. This may be an incredibly painful place to arrive, but it is a beautiful place to reside.
As for me, I can declare that I trust God to give me the strength I will need and the grace it will require to care for my twins and for Ayden. My soul can find refuge and rest in Him when I so desperately need it, and when the dailiness of life tempts me to become overwhelmed. My trust in Him is displayed as I live my life by faith one day at a time, caring for my children and facing my reality with confidence, knowing that all I need is in Him alone. My trust is not my place of refuge. My God is. My trust is a living, power-center that proves its existence through my faith.
Thanks, Lord, for being everything I need. I am complete and whole and free in you alone. You are my refuge, my rest, and my strength. I will choose to trust you by faith as I live and walk in the purpose you have for me.
Psalm 62
1 My soul waits in silence for God only;
From Him is my salvation.
2 He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.
3 How long will you assail a man,
That you may murder him, all of you,
Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?
4 They have counseled only to thrust him down from his high position;
They delight in falsehood;
They bless with their mouth,
But inwardly they curse. Selah.
5 My soul, wait in silence for God only,
For my hope is from Him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.
7 On God my salvation and my glory rest;
The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.
8 Trust in Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah.
9 Men of low degree are only vanity and men of rank are a lie;
In the balances they go up;
They are together lighter than breath.
10 Do not trust in oppression
And do not vainly hope in robbery;
If riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.
11 Once God has spoken;
Twice I have heard this:
That power belongs to God;
12 And lovingkindness is Yours, O Lord,
For You recompense a man according to his work.
I wish I had that kind of trust right now. It’s so much easier said than done, and so much easier to think than believe. I don’t even know where to start. I admire you for your insight, Tori…especially as you are about to embark on a journey that is more overwhelming than my own. Thanks for writing this. 🙂
Tori this is so good. I love the quote from Arthur Weiser “Trust in God IS NOT a place of refuge to which the believer can retreat from the turmoil and the disappointments of the world in order to find there his satisfaction and rest.”
This is so true. Often times I think we think as Christ followers that everything will turn up roses because we “trust” in Him. And although he does soften the blows of life, and certainly has taken our ultimate blow upon his shoulders, it doesn’t mean that we won’t have hard times. Trusting him no matter the outcome is the true walk of faith for a Christ follower.
I remember when my babies were first born and having that ultimate fear of something happening to them, and I remember so clearly every time God’s Spirit comforting me to know that even IF that were to happen, God would give me the grace and strength to walk through those flames. Great reminder here. Thank you sweet girl.