Unshakeable Trust, Part 2: Can we Grow Our Trust Level?

Can we grow our trust level?   We can!  We must!

In Unshakeable Trust, part 1, we talked about different people in the Bible that demonstrated unshakeable trust. Now let’s take a look at how to grow our trust.

A good friend of mine, Bonnie Hammer, recently reminded us that the men and women of the Bible who demonstrated unshakeable trust developed that trust over time and through their experiences/trials/struggles/challenges.  Situations continually arise in our lives that allow us the opportunity to grow our trust in the Lord.  As we trust Him, we build a firm foundation. Unshakeable trust grows within us.  It doesn’t matter what happens, what comes at us, or what the devil throws our way.  We will be able to have a confidence in God: unshakeable trust! Why? Because we know Him.  We have seen Him prove Himself over and over in our lives.

Think about Peter.   There was a storm brewing.  Then he saw Jesus walking on the water and said to Him, “Lord, if it is you, bid me come.”  Peter had to trust Jesus when he stepped out of the boat and onto the water. He was actually walking on water. He trusted Jesus would keep him from sinking.  Then, as the wind began to blow and the waves grew, he began to sink because he took his eyes off Jesus.  He began to focus on circumstances.  He forgot he could trust Jesus. Jesus once again proves that He is trustworthy.  He reaches His hand out to Peter and lifts Him on top of the water.  Together they walk back to the boat.  Peter continues his journey with Jesus. He learns to trust Him over and over again.  Once again, Peter allowed fear to creep in when Jesus was being arrested.  He denied him 3 times. Again Jesus shows He is trustworthy when He appears to him after He rose from the dead.  (John 21)  While he failed to trust Jesus at that moment, the experience helped shape who he became.  His trust ultimately became so strong that history tells us he preached the Gospel for many years after Jesus’s death and was ultimately crucified for his faith. He actually requested to be crucified upside down, saying he was not worthy of being crucified in the same manner as Jesus.

So, how do we get our trust level up?   We have to know Him! 

To really know God, we have to know Him as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.  We have to get to know Him… all of Him.

Do You Know God, Your Father?

Do you know Him as your Father? Do you struggle with Him being your Father? Maybe you had a bad experience with an earthly father.  Take time to really know Him as Father. He is a good Father who cares for His children.

I would challenge you to spend time looking at the different names of God. They help us really know who He is.  Here are a few.

He is our banner – Jehovah Nissi (Exodus 17:15)

Our righteousness – Jehovah Tsidkenu  (Jeremiah 23:6)

Our peace – Jehovah Shalom (Judges 6:24)

Our Shepherd – Jehovah Raah  (Psalm 23:1)

The one who is there – Jehovah Shammah (Ezekiel 48:35)

Our Healer – Jehovah Rapha (Exodus 15:26)

Our Provider – Jehovah Jirah – the one who provides (Genesis 22:14)

 

Do You Know God, the Son Jesus?

Jesus gave His own life for you and me.  He died and rose again so that we could spend eternity with Him.  Have you given your life to Jesus and accepted Him as your savior?  Have you fully surrendered your life to Him and made Him Lord? The most important decision you can make is to know Him as Lord and Savior. (Romans 10:9-10, Galatians 2:20)

Do You Know God, the Holy Spirit?

Do you know the Holy Spirit? He is the third person in the Trinity. In John 16:7, Jesus said, “ Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”

Have you gotten to know the Holy Spirit? He is a precious gift the Lord gives us.  He dwells within us.  He is with us: leading, guiding, and teaching us.

We so often forget about Holy Spirit- yet it is critical we know Him.  He is the one who does life with us.

                        He is our Helper (John 14:26)

                        He is dwelling in us  (1 Cor 3:16)

                        He reveals truths to us-Revelation knowledge  (1 Cor 2:10-11)

                        We receive Power when He comes upon us (Acts 1:8)

                        He guides us in all truth (John 16:13-15)

                        He helps in our weakness and Intercedes for us   (Romans 8:26-28)

 

That is our key to having UNSHAKEABLE TRUST…. Knowing Him!

Paul says it this way:

for I made the decision to know nothing [that is, to forego philosophical or theological discussions regarding inconsequential things and opinions while] among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified [and the meaning of His redemptive, substitutionary death and His resurrection].   1 Corinthians 2:2 Amplified

We also see Paul’s heart again in Philippians 3:10:

[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] (Amplified)

Another translation says it like this:  I want to know Him inside and out. I want to experience the power of His resurrection and join in His suffering, shaped by His death,  (Voice)

We need to really know Him… so we can trust

When it doesn’t make sense

When it hurts

When we don’t know what to do

When He seems to be silent or doesn’t answer the way we thought He should.

How Do We Know Him?

• Spend time in Prayer Prayer is relational, it is not about getting things or getting our way. Share your heart.  Listen for His heart.  He is speaking.

We can hear and know His voice (John 10:27)

We are to pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

We are to take everything to Him in prayer (Philippians 4:6-7)

When we pray His Word, we know we are praying His Will.  When we pray His will, we know He hears us, and we have the petitions of our heart. (1 John 5:14)

Take time to journal His response “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you. Jeremiah 30:2

• Spend time in His Word

We live in a time when it is easy to access His Word.  We can read it.  We can listen to it.  We are instructed to study and meditate on it. (Joshua 1:8)

His Word is alive and active.  His Word changed us! (Hebrews 4:12)  We also know “All Scripture is given by God. And all Scripture is useful for teaching and for showing people what is wrong in their lives. It is useful for correcting faults and teaching the right way to live.” 2 Timothy 3:16

• Spend time with other believers

We are instructed to get together with other believers. (Hebrews 10:25)

By spending time with those who are walking with God, we help each other grow and mature into who God wants us to be.  The Bible puts it this way, Iron sharpens iron. (Proverbs 27:17).  Another great gift of spending time with believers is the refreshment it brings.  Proverbs 27:9 says “Sweet Friendship refreshes the soul.”

Do you want to really know Him?  Will you make that determination just like Paul did?  Determine to know Him: to progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, by spending time in prayer, spending time in His Word, and spending time with other believers.  God promises that He will draw near to us when we draw near to Him. (James 4:8) He won’t disappoint.