Whom do you trust?
“Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD.” (Jeremiah 17:7a)
There is a phrase out there which says “Trust no one.” The origin of the phrase comes from a point of view where people have been burned when they trusted someone to do something and that person failed or they trusted someone with information and the trust was broken.
Our Bible verse for this week is a reminder that while trust certainly has been broken among human beings, you can trust God for anything in any circumstance.
Immediately, someone might ask “Why?” or “How?” They might point to innocent children dying or people suffering from cancer or even the seeming constant strife and tragedy in the world.
“Why” or “How?” can you trust God? Look at the promises God has made and not a single one of them has been broken. Promises of extremely important things like forgiveness, support and comfort. Look at God’s unbroken streak of promises and promises kept recorded on the pages of the Bible.
If you ever doubt that you can trust God, look at the assurance he gives you in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Nowhere does Jesus promise that you won’t have trouble. What he does promise is that when you do have trouble, he will be there to support you and uphold you. Again, look at the hundreds of instances of his promises kept on the pages of the Bible.
There is one word in our Bible verse for this week which might easily be overlooked and that is the first word of the verse “Blessed”. If you read the verses in Jeremiah 17 following our verse for this week, you will find examples of the blessings which come to and follow those who “trust in the LORD.” Some of the blessings which are listed are confidence, no worries, no fear, among others.
I don’t know about you, but I know those are blessings which I could use and would love to have each day.
This simple, powerful verse is first of all a call to ask God to forgiveness us for all the times we have failed to trust him and then lean on his promises fuel our trust with the power of his word.
There is no doubt about it: “Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD.”