As a child, I heard many sermons, in church three times a week, plus revivals and special meetings. I do not remember most of those, but one that has always stuck with me, though I do not remember who delivered it, Stop Trying, Start Trusting.
Our tendency is to try in our own power what God desires us to trust Him to provide or accomplish. Even in church we see something that we believe God desires and we attempt to do it “our way”. We don’t wait for God’s direction. “I love God, I know what pleases God, therefore if I go ahead and move forward with the way I think it could be accomplished, then I will please God.”
There is an awful lot of “I’s” in that statement. That is not trusting or waiting on God. God wants and deserves our trust. Yes, it is easier to do what we think would please God, but that is trying in our own power, not allowing God to provide a great learning experience and spiritual growth as He desires.
After forty days in the wilderness, Jesus was tempted by Satan three times. Each temptation was an attempt to get Jesus to do something without trusting God the Father for it.
Jesus had been fasting for forty days – without food. No doubt, He was hungry. Satan’s temptation; “Command these stones to become bread.” This is Jesus, God’s Son. He spoke the world into being, certainly He could have turned a few rocks into bread.
Satan’s second temptation for Jesus was, to show Him all the kingdoms of the world and promise to give them to Him. This one to me has always seemed foolish on Satan’s part. Jesus is God, all the kingdoms of earth belong to Him already, though Satan is ruling in this present age.
The third temptation, Satan takes Jesus to the top of the temple and tempts Him to jump off stating God’s angels would not let any harm come to Jesus.
Each one of these temptations was daring Jesus to act in His own power, to turn His back on trusting God. Jesus answered each one with scripture. Each time Jesus was demonstrating for us, teaching us to stop trying on our own to accomplish the things which God desires our trust for His blessing.
Each time you and I act in our own will, trying to do things our way – even good Godly things – we are trying, not trusting God for what He desires for us. How many blessings do you and I miss out on trying instead of trusting?
George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.