God Smiles When We Trust
A friend emailed this valuable insight today and just had to share it with you.
God Smiles When We Trust
by Jon Walker
By faith, Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land. He was warned about something he couldn’t see, and acted on what he was told. . . . As a result, Noah became intimate with God. Hebrews 11:7 (MSG)
Imagine this scene: One day God comes to Noah and says, “I’m disappointed in human beings. In the entire world, no one but you thinks about me. But Noah, when I look at you, I start smiling. I’m pleased with your life, so I’m going to flood the world and start over with you and your family. I want you to build a giant ship that will save you and the animals.”
There were three problems that could have caused Noah to doubt:
- First, Noah had never seen rain because prior to the flood God irrigated the earth from the ground up (Genesis 2:5-6).
- Second, Noah lived hundreds of miles from the nearest ocean. Even if he could learn to build a ship, how would he get it to water?
- Third, there was the problem of rounding up all the animals and then caring for them.
But Noah didn’t complain or make excuses. He trusted God completely, and that made God smile.
Trusting God completely means having faith that God knows what is best for your life. You expect him to keep his promises, help you with problems, and do the impossible when necessary.
The Bible says, “He takes pleasure in those who honor him, in those who trust in his constant love” (Psalm 147:11 TEV).
It took Noah 120 years to build the ark. I imagine he faced many discouraging days. With no sign of rain year after year, he was probably criticized as a “crazy man who thinks God speaks to him.” I imagine Noah’s children were often embarrassed by the giant ship being built in their front yard.
Yet Noah kept on trusting God.
In what areas of your life do you need to trust God completely?
Trusting is an act of worship. Just as parents are pleased when children trust them, your faith makes God happy. The Bible says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV).
God has been at work in our family and transitioning our livlihood and teaching us to completely rely on him. The daily struggle to place complete faith in God to go before us and prepare the way is a constant battle within us. But the words “lean not on your own understanding” ring in my ear and God reminds us that He is in control. All things in heaven and earth are His. He has the ability to do great and wondrous (amazing) things.
I thank God for making this real in our life, and He is doing it every day.
God smiles when we trust…trust Him today!
Robert
July 15th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
I just read yesterday in my devotion about how Jesus calmed the water and the thing that I got out of it was not to be afraid and trust God. How cool is that and both stories are about water. I think it means that God wants me to work on my trust with people.
Thanks again,
In Christ,
Wesley