May 11
Today’s Truth
When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you (Psalm 56:3 ESV).
Friend to Friend
The prophet Isaiah said, “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor is his ear too dull to hear” (Isaiah 59:1 NIV). Though I know in my heart this is true, I still sometimes go back and forth between doubt and worry as if God’s arms are short and his ears are dull. My friend Erica does too.
She came to my door with a package to deliver and a story to share. I signed for the package, and we began to catch up. Her kids were grown. Mine were teens. Her daughter had just gotten married. My oldest had just gone to college. Mama to Mama we shared and cared.
“My daughter and her new husband might be moving to Chicago. I have to be honest, Gwen,” she said seriously, “I’m not doing well trusting God with this. I’m struggling with anxiousness and worry.” I listened and nodded with understanding, knowing full well the strain of worry and anxiety.
Then she perked up and shared a story that went something like this…
God impressed a message on my heart this morning that challenged and convicted me! I ride motorcycles. Have for years. I love the feeling of being out in the open air. It’s exciting and invigorating. When I ride, I feel vulnerable and alert. It’s risky and requires balance, it’s much more difficult than driving my car, but I ride because it energizes me and makes me feel alive.
This morning I rode my bike to work while it was still dark. I don’t usually do that because the headlight is small, so the light is dim. As I was riding, I began to thank God for allowing me to ride my bike to work. I thanked Him for allowing me to feel alive and energized along the way. And as I did, He spoke to my heart. I sensed He was saying, “Erica! This is what I want my relationship with you to be like: exciting, risky, and energizing, like riding your motorcycle! But instead, you take your car with Me. You want to feel safe. You want to see with brighter headlights. You grasp for more control, by worrying and fretting about things you can do nothing about. In doing so, you miss out on a faith that is alive and energizing… a faith that trusts Me and takes risks.”
She shared that story with tears and conviction in her eyes. We were both moved and challenged. It left me with a fresh longing for deeper faith.
I want to ride.
I want to take risks with the star-breathing, mountain-moving, speak-through-a-burning-bush, unpredictable, and unsearchable All-mighty God!
God does not call us to a safe faith. He does not promise that we will have a clear view of all that lies ahead. He does not promise us simplicity. Instead, every day the Lord invites us to embrace a vibrant faith that trusts Him. A faith that is alive and energized, despite the unsteady unknowns. God’s arms are not too short to save, and His ears are not dull to hear. He is powerful, capable, compassionate, merciful, holy, just, and faithful.
These truths should hush our noisy doubts and calm the anxieties that seek to unnerve us.
God is sovereign and His ways are mysterious. And in the center of all of my questions, this one resounds: Who better to trust than God? Myself? Hardly. My paycheck? My medical chart? My emotions? I might as well chase the wind.
In contemplating this, I journey back to what the Bible has to say on such things. “For we live by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV).
“When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?” (Psalm 56:3-4 ESV).
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV).
Is the Lord calling you to trust Him with something or someone today?
Decide to ride.
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, Please quiet my anxious heart. Give me the courage to step out in faith, beyond what I can see or attempt to control. I bring these heart burdens to You now ______________.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
What has your heart anxious today?
READ Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Consider what your day would look like if you believe this to be true. Spend a few moments in responsive prayer or post a prayer in the comments section of this post.
More from the Girlfriends
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Very timely devotion. Thank you.
Thanks be to God! Your words are an awesome encouragement as the spotlight is being focused on Mother’s Day. Pray. Wait. Trust. Life is always changing. Blessed…
A couple things I have in my mind this morning.
I am trusting in faith God to lead me to my next job. I have been the office manager at a middle school for 6 years and I need a change. I am no longer enjoying my position and beginning to dread seeing the kids. And I love kids! My30 year old nephew is flat on his back literally due to a back injury. He had to go on FMLA and the Dr’s can’t see him for another month. It’s unbelievable in our country with health insurance you cannot get help. It will have been 2 months of severe pain and debilitation before he can even get an MRI. He’s too young!! I need to trust God that He is working and He will help Ricky.
Lord, everything around me and within is screaming at me to panic, to despair…BUT I hear Your still, small voice calling me to trust You. Help me to trust Your Beloved Voice more than anything else I hear,feel, or see. Thank You for Your powerful Word that calms, comforts, strengthens, and challenges me. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit Who enables me to obey. You alone are worthy of all of my trust. Thank You for calling me on this adventure with You!
Dear Gwen,
Thank you for a wonderful reminder about who is always in charge,no matter what we might think. We should all have a close relationship with God.He wants that.
I’m so glad he’s our God and that he is love. It’s easy to be fearful these days, I’m guilty,but if we put our faith in God,our worries should melt away. How blessed are we?If we get fearful,it’s time to pray and ask God for direction.
Thanks again. 🌻
This devotion was just what I needed to hear today. My family lost our home last year and we have been staying with my parents to get back on our feet. It seems things keep going down hill for us. My husband hasn’t been able to find a job and has been taking classes to become a reality agent recently. He has been instacarting (shopping and delivering groceries) while looking for a job. Our only vehicle completely broke down (engine exploded) a few months ago. I’m praying for provision and that God will open doors and shut doors and its really been testing my faith more than ever. I know God is still good and He keeps all His promises. This devotion was a perfect reminder that God is on the throne and that I don’t need to live in fear of what might happen next. He’s got us and I want to live by faith not by sight! Thank you for writing this devotion. God is speaking through you, Gwen.
What a timely devotion. My daughter got into some alcohol related trouble a couple weeks ago. There are alcohol issues on her fathers side. She just graduated from nursing school. Is studying for her state boards. I am so worried she will repeat her mistake and it will ruin her career. She says she learned but she is 22 and we all know how they think. I live daily wondering if she is out drinking opening herself up to making the mistake again. Once more and it will affect her future for sure! Calm my achy worried heart Lord!
This was very much needed today, I was just telling my fiancé about how i’ve been so anxious lately, and inside I have been struggling with addiction and not stepping out when God wants me to. I used to only believe in my head, then I got lost, now I believe with every part of my being and my entire soul, but I’m struggling to take the next step in my walk with God. I’m anxious about doing it bc I know it’ll be hard, but I need to have faith that God will help me and not let me suffer. Please pray for me, May isn’t my real name, but I want to stay anonymous, God will know who you are talking about, thank you 🙏
Gwen, thanks for this! Last night, I was checking in with myself and I thought about what’s most pressing on my heart these days. Immediately, I thought, “Lord, I need some excitement in my life.” After reading this devotional, I sense the Lord’s telling me I’m playing it safe. I’d appreciate prayer for where God’s calling me to take bigger risks. I’m not sure.
Thank You for writing this devotional ~ I was just reading in Streams in the Dessert 3 by, Mrs. Charles Cowman about how the eagle will break up its nest to teach her babies to fly. God spoke to me, ‘Your comfort is here (in your current situation, limited, small). Your comfort is Me (only Me, no matter where you go, free, you can do the things you’re afraid of).
Thank you ~ I love the Book of Isaiah