Wednesday, April 13, 2011

"Themes of Lent: Trust"

Our Son Seth (3 years old) sometimes will stand up on a chair and shout, "Daddy!" and jump! No warning. He just jumps and expects me to catch him whether I am right next to him or across the room. He scares me to death when he does that and, yet, I am so thankful he trusts me to catch him. However, I know what he will one day learn that even a dad who loves you will sometimes let you down.

It is there that many of us get stuck. Don't we? The person we counted on catching us lets us fall. Sometimes it is an accident...we know that...but it still hurts. Other times the person we trusted, lets us fall on purpose. We jumped and with cold, mean hearts they watch us hit the ground and do not even offer us a hand to help us up. That breaking of trust cuts very, very deep.

How many people...how many of us are stuck in broken trust? People who are stuck in broken trust are people are willing to give help, but not receive help. People who are stuck in broken trust are chained by hurt or bitterness or both. People who are stuck in trust only let people get so close. People who are stuck in trust don't just apply their suspicion to other people, but also to God.

The themes of lent we have discussed these last several weeks--commitment, sacrifice, obedience, perseverance, purpose--flow in and out of trust in Christ. Trust is the key that unlocks the door to them all. Without trust commitment is to be feared. Without trust sacrifice becomes abuse. Without trust obedience is a burden. Without trust perseverance is a punishment. Without trust purpose is pointless. With trust all these themes of lent unlock the door called blessedness in our lives. Blessedness is a state of being prosperous in happiness. Are you prosperous in happiness? Do you want to be? Then may be it is time to have a good, honest talk with Jesus about when and why you got stuck in broken trust. Ask Jesus to free you from projecting your distrust of others onto him.


Hours before Jesus' trust was broken by Judas, Jesus said, "Trust in God; trust also in me...I am the way, the truth and the life" (John 14:1&6). Will you trust Jesus today?

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