Trust Issues

Shack
A few years ago when I read the book, "The Shack" by William P. Young, I realized that this point of trusting God had been largely missing in my life. There is a part in the book where the main character stands before a judge and he is thinking that he is being judged but as it turns out he realizes that he had been judging God. He was doing so by saying that he knew better than God when he was questioning why things in his life had gone the way they had. He was not trusting God, he was judging God by condemning his actions for the twist and turns of his life. 

Many people struggle to form true business relationships or partnerships that can elevate their business because they cannot trust others. This lack of trust is rooted in not so much the inability to trust others as it is from the lack of trust in God. Can we trust that even when things go wrong the Lord is at work in our live? Can we trust that even if we expose ourselves to others and are not treated justly that God is still at work for his greater good? Yes, God asks us only to make sure our motives are aligned with his Will and then all will be resolved to his glory. 

Read Psalm 23 and then ask yourself honestly, is the Lord your Shepherd? If so what a great promise of peace. This, one of the most famous verses, says one thing loud and clear... "Trust Me." Do you trust God in your career and business relationships? Trust in God will change the way you treat everyone around you!  And, it is the pathway to true peace.

Psalm 23

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 
3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, 
for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, 
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. 

Psalm 23 paraphrased 

 

A Promise from God


I am your shepherd
You will never have need of anything that I want for you.
If you will trust me, and allow me to be the shepherd of your life, 
I will give to you such great peace of mind that it will be like 
lying in the cool green grass of a springtime meadow;
And as you learn to deepen your love and trust,
a quietness will come over your soul
like a serene, calm lake.

It will be a time of great refreshment to your inner man,
thus preparing you to do whatever tasks I set before you to do;
And do not minimize any task that I give you to do,
as it is for my honor and glory, not yours.

There will be times when, because of my great love for you,
it will be necessary for me to lead you
into great darkness.....
Darkness that will be so great that you will feel as
though you are standing at the very edge of life, 
with death awaiting you below.

But always remember, I am still your shepherd.
In the darkness you may not be able to see me,
but you have my eternal promise that
I will never leave you nor forsake you.

If you will continue to trust me, 
even after you have been through a time of darkness, 
I will again flood your heart with such peace 
that you could even sit down with your enemies.

Your joy will be so great that it will spill over
into the lives of others.
And as your reward I will give to you all the really
important things of life.
When you have completed all that I have planned for you
to do on earth, 
I want you to come up and live
with me forever
and ever
and ever.

author unknown

Photo via The Shack