Everyone has choices.  And from the choices, come results. The last week has been a continuing reminder to friends in conversation that we do one of the following, prior to making a choice.

• We trust God
• We trust our fear(s)

From that place of faith, (Trust in our fears or trust in God.) we make our decisions.

How do I know? I have walked in both those areas over my time with Jesus.* Faith is what is settled for us or what we know. When we do not trust God, we automatically move to the other side.

Most know this story about my grandson Jacob. When he was younger I would put him on the coffee table (Or he would climb up on it.) and he would jump into my arms. He would not do that if he thought I would fail him. If he thought there was the possibility I would drop him to the floor, He would never jump. How much better is our God? There is not one record of God leaving you behind or “dropping you.”

Too often I have witnessed the “paralysis of analysis” when true faith (not hope) does not even look or question. It is settled. It walks “naturally.” One of my own choices came when my daughter Amy, announced her wedding in St. Lucia. Years before I had been schooling for my pilot’s license. Suffice to say my instructor chose to do something not in the “handbook” that week. It “scarred” me. I had to make the decision to trust God in returning to the air. But there was a season where I trusted my “fear.” The result of that season’s fears cost me relationships, value and finance while my trust in fear had gained ground. My trip to St. Lucia was without incident (Unless you call being pulled out of line and checked for gunpowder an incident.) and I was able to enjoy my time.

Tip-The longer you let fear rule an area the harder it is to trust God.

The difficult thing is God is not man. Yes, we have put our trust in man and seen man fail. God does not fail. He always is there. One of the reasons I believe God is “not trusted” is because church has made Him there ATM. Put your “card” in and pull out your answer. He is not like that nor does the Bible describe Him as that. While I believe in a powerful God I do not believe He always says “yes.” And I believe He has given over authority and dominion to us and much of what people blame God for is really in their hands.

The next part to unravel is this. Partial trust or earning trust with man may be okay. I agree there is wisdom to be employed. But what many label earning trust is really predicated on mistrust. Jacob is NOT jumping off the table if he does not trust me. The same is true when we see God. To not “trust” God is to mistrust Him. It also places your trust in your fears. God does say “without faith it is impossible to please Him” BUT your faith will only be settled when you trust God. It is funny how people will trust God to “get them to heaven” but not for healing or deliverance or provision.

So, trusting God outweighs your fears. If you are basing your walk with God on experience, experience is not a good indicator or maturity or even the reality of God. How do I know? When I was a child there was a “monster” in the hallway. With long tentacles, it “breathed” and seemingly moved in the small amount of light from the bathroom down the hall. While screaming the lights came on and revealed my mom’s vacuum cleaner.

I asked someone why they were not moving ahead. They told me they were “comfortable.” When I began to evaluate their “comfort zone” they came to the conclusion they were holding on to “nothing.” And now they have moved ahead. Sometimes the biggest thought has to be “why is there an elephant in the room” NOT “there is an elephant in the room.” Evaluate the “white spaces” the areas where “you know what you do not know.”

Many do not trust God because they do not think He loves them. Because they have done wrong. Neither of those will be found to be true in His love for you. You may want to review His love for you and the ability He has given you to overcome. God loves you. He is not cursing you. Not waiting for you to make a mistake to “catch” you or squash you like a bug.

You will either trust God or you will trust your fears, your experiences or your sense of worth.

I simply desire that you will choose to trust Him.

*Let me be honest, with the loss of my home, I have found myself wondering if I will always be stuck on the third floor of an apartment or is there ever a yard  or place to set up a BBQ in my life again? (It did not help to find out how the mortgage bank played it last week!)