Trusting in God

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5

Wisdom has been a focal word for me lately.

I have been having this conversation with God about the gift of wisdom. It is a conversation that invites me to listen more than talk. For me sometimes that is very difficult.

It is hard to put aside what you know—or what you think you know. For most of one's life, one is taught to learn from experience. Acquire living knowledge. From this knowledge you will be able to keep your paths straight. You know what to do in certain situations.

God has a different plan. God instructs us to avoid leaning on our own understanding. The way of trust in the God relationship is not relying on the past experiences. They way of trust with God is submitting to the new creations and paths that God is forging in the world. Submission is not one of humanity's natural responses.

Wisdom is avoiding reaction and waiting for response. Wisdom is to sit in the uncomfortableness of life and wonder—wonder with God. It is the act of living in the gray areas of life knowing that God often makes wonderful portraits out of blending the colors of life. Wisdom is knowing that even if in this life I perish, God is my redeemer that never leaves.

It is graduation time where young adults are wondering what they will do, where they will go. I encourage them to ask a different question: Where is God leading you? What is it that God wants you to do? God needs good people in all professions so this is not just a question of being a missionary or minister. It is a question of vocation. It is understanding that even a job can be a God calling.

As a pastor, I am wondering with God. I am confronted with the question over and over again—where is it that you would lead God? For as a pastor, I am seeking the straight path that only God's wisdom can give.

Trusting in God is indeed putting aside our own understandings. For my ways are not God's ways. It is opening all of my life to God. It is being willing to walk the path that God places before me. And yes, it begins in the love relationship of the heart.

Pray for me as I pray for you.