Another Mission Trip

“Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right. ” 1 Peter 4:19 [NASB]

The verse above is so perfect for today.  Scott and I with heavy, raw, grieving hearts delivered Sarah’s younger sister, Sophie, to church this morning and watched her get in the back of a vehicle and leave on a mission trip.  There is a part of my Mommy heart that wanted to refuse to let her go, it’s certainly reasonable to say it’s too soon for that, right?  I can justify it, I’m certain I can.  But the Holy Spirit will not allow me to.  He is convicting me daily to trust my God with what is most precious to me.  I am called to entrust to Him that which is much more precious to me than my own life, my children.

As He has called me to entrust my very soul to Him, in like manner I am convicted He also calls me to entrust my precious children to Him.  I’m particularly drawn to the Psalms these days, and over and over again in them He implores me to trust Him, to fear not and to be faithful.   In great detail He repeatedly shows me throughout His Word why He alone is worthy to be trusted.  Most impactful to me right now in this regard is the account of His speaking to Job in chapters 38-41.  He alone is God, the God who laid the foundation of the earth, the God who directs the lightning, the God who alone can do all things.  The God who sets all things in motion and maintains them by the power of His Word deserves and demands my trust.

Another passage also comes to mind, a passage that I cling to for a variety of reasons but is appropriate for me today as well, Jeremiah 9:23-24.

“Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 9:23-24 [NASB]

I love this passage because it clearly tells me He allows us to know Him personally.  Not that we can comprehend all there is to know about Him, He is infinite and we are finite, but we can most definitely intimately understand and know Him.  Through knowledge of His Word we have a clear portrait of who He is because He has chosen to reveal Himself to us there.  What blessed assurance and comfort to confidently know that He exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness, and that He delights in those attributes.  The culmination of a nurtured intimate relationship with Him through the power of His Word is our ability to trust Him fully.  We are able to trust Him with that which is most precious to us because He alone is worthy to be entrusted with them.

He has repeatedly graciously and mercifully shown Scott and me He is worthy to be trusted.  He has confirmed in the depths of the valley He alone is worthy to be trusted because He alone is willingly able to carry us through.  Though our hearts are raw and grieved may we continually, fully entrust our souls and our children to Him.  May we continue to find rest, peace and comfort in our knowledge and understanding of Him, our faithful Creator.   May we be ever reminded that He will never leave us nor forsake us, that we can always find refuge in the shadow of His wings (Psalm 64:7), and that He will sing over us and quiet us in His love (Zeph. 3:17).  May we always boldly and confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid” (Heb 13:6).