Sometimes I feel I don’t have enough trust in what God can do for me and for those around me. Even with the celebration of Easter tomorrow by millions of Christians, the sense of trust in a Creator that is invisible (at least as we view visibility) seems absurd. And yet, we have so much creation, not including prophecies that have come true, around us that give us reason to believe and trust.
The story of a man named Elijah came to mind today as I read an article about him written by someone else. The story goes as follows:
“Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.â€
Let’s stop right here. First, if I were to hear a voice telling me to go somewhere, drink from a brook and then wait for ravens to feed me, I would think I’d gone mad. But such is the life of a believer as even stranger things have happened. Continuing with the story:
“So he did what the LORD had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there.The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.”
This story tells me that what the LORD promised He would do He actually did. But Elijah had to do what the LORD had asked him to do or else the result would not have been the same.
There have been many times in my life when I have experienced events in my life that were similar to Elijah’s. Times when impossibilities became possibilities. Times when I was told to step out in faith — what some would call blind faith — and do things that I thought were incredulously stupid.
I mean, really, would you wait around for ravens to feed you? Most people would say no and scrounge around for something to eat on their own. Trust though tells me the answer should be yes. Yet sometimes all we have is a very thin string to hang onto and it has to be enough.
The craziness of living as a Christian means that we learn to expect the unexpected, behave opposite of what our brains say is “normal,” think outside the box — wait, there is no box. (laughing)
But it doesn’t mean that trust in God always comes easy. When He says to “turn the other cheek” we think retaliation. When He says to “forgive” we think ignore. When He says “go” we think it best and more comfortable to stay. Nope, not easy walking this Christian life and yet I would have no other. I would rather have the slap on the face ….
After all, if Jesus could hang on a cross with a crown of thorns on His head while being mocked for me, this is a piece of cake.
“They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand. Then they knelt in front of Him and mocked Him. “Hail, king of the Jews!†they said. They spit on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head again and again. After they had mocked Him, they took off the robe and put His own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify Him.” Matthew 27:28-31
