Where’s Your Faith?

Mustard Seed Chronicles: Story Time with LU Grandma

My sister and her family lived about six miles from us. They had a big swimming pool so we would go to their house frequently, and in the summer especially. One day when my husband was driving us, one of our very young sons piped up from the back seat and said, “Dad, we’re lost!”

My husband said, “No, we are not lost, son.”

A second time from the back seat, “Dad, we’re lost!”

My husband said again, “No, we are not lost, son.”

The third time, with a little more panic in his voice, he cried “Dad, we’re lost!”

This time my husband looked at him in the rearview mirror and said, “Son, we are not lost. I know the way. Where’s your faith?”

My son looked back to my husband’s image in the mirror and said while touching his cheek, “Right here and we’re still lost!”

Although it was quite funny at the time, and even more so now years later, the memory of it got me thinking…is that what we’re like? Is that what we’re like? Are we like a three- or four-year-old in the back seat of God’s car telling Him that He is lost? Are we yelling “Father we’re lost, and You do not know where we are going”? The possibility of that is very convicting!

I have lived through so many things in my 70+ years: a son in the hospital for 10 weeks with tetanus. We have lived through seizures, surgeries gone bad, loss of jobs, injuries, failed transplants, a son being in Iraq during Operation Enduring Freedom, and another son being in the Navy on an aircraft carrier during Desert Storm! God has brought us through all those things! Even when our youngest son called one day to tell us, “I’m very sorry, but I fell asleep at the wheel and your car is totaled, but I’m OK!” We found the car dangling over a 30-foot precipice held in place by the guide wires!

Trust. Faith. It is all about Whom we believe. We have an enemy who wants us always to be fearful of every little thing. I have learned over time that If I trust God’s word more than I trust anything else, my life is not run by panic or by fear. Is there concern? Occasionally, absolutely! Is it panic and outright paralyzing fear? No! My trust and faith are in God and I have learned to trust Him more than I trust anything else!

A little aside just to show you how wonderful our God is on one day last summer my Assistant Director and I went up onto the roof of DeMoss Hall to the patio because my husband had told me how beautiful and sunny it was. We got onto the roof but by then it was totally cloudy and quite chilly. I looked up and I said, “Lord, can You send us just a little sunshine for a little while?” Don’t you know as soon as we got to our table, the clouds that were around the sun parted and we had sunshine and warmth just at our table for just the time we were eating our lunch!

THAT is the God we serve! THAT is the savior we serve! THAT is the Savior who loves us! THAT is the Savior who died for US! He wants us to love Him back. To trust Him back.

I have taken to reading Psalm 91 every day. I am going to share it with you now.

Psalm 91:1-16 (NLT):

“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished. If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”

Prayer

Oh, Heavenly Father, please forgive us for falling into the enemy’s tactics and allowing so much fear into our lives! Please forgive us for not trusting You in all things to fulfill Your perfect plan. You have given us such good and perfect promises. Help us to trust YOU.

I pray in the precious name of Jesus.

Amen!