Trust and Delight in the Lord-How when your future is unknown?

What are we to do when everything seems uncertain? What happens when we look deep into the future and we don’t know how God is going to provide? We look at our own choices over time and worry that perhaps God cannot bless because of our own foolishness—what then are we to do? Throughout my lifetime I have been at that point more often than not. I stare into a darkness not knowing where God is leading; but I know He must be leading somewhere. Some would say, “Why pray if God is omnipotent and your future determined anyway?” If God has the plan worked out, what purpose is there to prayer? After all, God already knows what I need. Yet, He has said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16) Because of this verse, others play out the “Name it, claim it game” and become angry or disillusioned when God doesn’t give them that Porsche they asked for.

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Artwork used by written permission of Ronald Barba.  It is copyright protected ©2010 Ronald Barba.

So what are the keys to pray and hope when all looks bleak?

Let us turn to Psalm 37 for some clues.

Psalm 37 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday….16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked….23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed…30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide…39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble.40 And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

So, let us look at the keys?

1. Trust in the Lord and do good. Our ability to do this comes out of prayer which is needed more for us than that God needs to know what we need. It is our time in prayer and communion with God that the Holy Spirit can comfort our hearts, reminding us of all that the Father has done on our behalf. We know that it is grace that saves us, so why does David write “and do good?” Was this a conditional statement? Or is it once more that in communion with God, the Holy Spirit shines God’s light into the darkest crevices of our hearts that we may be able to know what is right and good? I daresay it is the latter. Again prayer is our means of learning what His good and perfect will is for us. It is there in those moments of prayer that we learn of the erroneous thoughts that we may be holding.

2. The second key is Delighting in Him. As we come to know Him more intimately through prayer, we cannot help but love Him more and begin to see Him as our greatest treasure. There it is our desires become conformed to His desires as we learn of Him. We begin to hear His voice and seek after the very things that He already knows will bring us the greatest joy.

3. Seek to know Him more by studying His word. Even within the scripture there are many examples of prayer written, so that when we are unable to know what to pray; we can pray God’s words back to Him as a blessed song. God takes on the responsibility that “we will not slide” because it is His Righteous hand that upholds us—not our own strength

4. Remember that it is God who is our Salvation and our provider. In prayer we do remember His power, His strength. It is there that He reminds us of all the times He has carried us through and that He is faithful. He never changes. He will do all that He has promised.

So, to conclude prayer is our greatest key to living out our life filled with His joy and His hope in the midst of whatever our circumstances for today. Have you taken the time to pray today?

Listen to “Our Father” sung by Dan Moen.

©2014 Effie Darlene Barba

Artwork used by written permission of Ronald Barba.  It is copyright protected ©2010 Ronald Barba. If you desire to own a copy of this art, it can be found at:  http://fineartamerica.com/featured/broken-and-contrite-heart-ronald-barba.html

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post.  I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.