Close your eyes and Trust

As the end nears, and the scoffers prattle, I smile and wrap myself in my blanket of grace, and His grace is sufficient for me.

 

Ephesians 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Brother Glen

 

Last week’s sermon was on this topic.
One can hardly disagree with the idea.
Abraham, when faced with a command from God that he didn’t understand, went ahead to follow God’s commands and trusted that God would be able to do the impossible and right any wrong.

BUT that’s not always the path believers have taken.

In the book of Job, he bemoans that even though he is righteous, God has unjustly punished him.

Complaints and questioning God fill the book of Psalms.

But despite these questioning (most) psalms end by returning to trust God in his ways. For thought life is hard and often uncertain, He is trustworthy and will make things right, even if we can’t see that possibility.

God respects our concerns. He has published our complaints. He knows we don’t see the whole picture.

Questioning God has a place in our worship of him.

Rob

 

From the introduction of Abraham's Silence, The Binding of Isaac, the Suffering of Job, and How to Talk Back to God
by J. Richard Middleton

For many years I have been troubled by Abraham's silent obedience in Genesis 22. If, I reasoned, I ever heard a voice asking me to sacrifice my son, I would not instantly comply, certainly not without some resistance and questioning. So I have found Abraham's response to God puzzling.

Abraham's response is especially puzzling in light of the prominence of prayers of lament of complaint in the book of Psalms. I came to value such vigorous prayers after a time of darkness and silence, when I had lost my way. Having experienced a season of questioning regarding my vocation, and even my purpose, combined with doubt about God's goodness, I simply stopped praying. After all, what is there to say to One who has disappointed you, to the Source of all goodness and love, if you feel that this goodness has dried up and this love is gone.
But, thankfully, I did not remain in the darkness. Or in the silence. By the grace of the very God to whom I had stopped praying, I discovered the psalms of lament in the Bible. And these psalms led to a vigorous renewal of faith.​