I was recently tagged in a Facebook post (by my daughter) to share my favorite bible verse. The idea is once you are tagged, you must do it. Then you nominate others to do the same task. While I have several favorite bible verses, I don't really have one life verse. However, I do have a bible word that has guided me throughout many stages and events in my life.
The word is: TRUST.
Why trust?
Trust helps take the worry out of life. Trust that God will provide and take care of you and your loved ones.
Trust helps explain events that have no explanation. Through some pretty rough times, I trust that one day God's purpose will be clear and amazing...even if it seems unbearable here on earth. God always has a plan. Trust His plan not your own. (Lord knows I have had some pretty messed up plans.)
Trust that He died for our sins. This doesn't give us an excuse to sin; however, it does mean that Jesus is always waiting for us with open arms no matter how broken we think we are.
Trust gives you HOPE.
Trust occurs 188 times (depending on which version and from which source you obtain your data) in the bible. Clearly, God was sending the message that trust is important, actually necessary in our lives.
2 Samuel 7:28
O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant.
Psalm 9:10
Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 13:5
But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
Psalm 56:3
When I am afraid, I will trust in you.
Psalm 62:8
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.
Psalm 84:12
O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
John 14:1
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
2 Samuel 22:31
As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.
I think Leah (In Genesis 29-30) learned to trust God with all her heart. Here is a summary:
Laban had two daughters; the older daughter was named Leah, and the younger daughter was named Rachel. Rachel had the body of a goddess and the face of a super-model. Leah is simply described as having “weak” eyes. (The word “weak” is often translated as “tender” in the Old Testament. It does not denote a defect, but instead, describes the quality of gentleness.) Jacob immediately fell head over heels in love with Rachel. He told Laban that he would work seven years for Laban and as payment, he would get to marry Rachel. Both men shook hands on the deal.
At the end of the seven years, Laban swindled Jacob by switching Leah for Rachel towards the end of the marriage ceremony. Jacob thought he was spending the night with Rachel, but Laban had cunningly substituted Leah in her place. It is important to realize that women during this time frame were treated as property. Since marriages were arranged, the wishes of a daughter were not taken into consideration. Since both Leah and Rachel were under Laban's authority, they had to do what they were told. I don't think either daughter wanted to go along with the deception, but they were given no choice. They were not allowed to say “no.”
Jacob of course was furious about the deception. The swindler had been swindled. He did not want Leah, he wanted Rachel. Jacob and Laban worked out another deal for another seven years of service. When the seven-day marriage ritual with Leah was complete, Jacob immediately married Rachel.
We don't really know Leah's thoughts throughout this whole ordeal. However, I think we would be safe to assume Leah wasn't happy. However, I believe Leah slowly learned to look less to Jacob and more to God for happiness. Leah learned to put her focus on God. God eventually turned Jacob's heart to Leah and he loved her more than he had ever loved Rachel. While Leah was waiting all those years for God to turn Jacob's heart to her, she never gave up hope. During all those years that she was unloved, God continued to bless Leah. During all those years that Leah was unloved by her husband, God never stopped loving her.
Too many times in our lives, we look to others for happiness. We let others determine our happiness....Or we seek to have others make our happiness...or blame them when we aren't happy. We need the trust in Jesus for our happiness. Only then (when we are truly happy in a trusting relationship with Jesus) can we have truly happy relationships with others.
God sent His Son
They called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal and forgive
He lived and died to buy my pardon
An empty grave is there to prove my Saviour lives
Because He lives I can face tomorrow
Because He lives all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives
And then one day
I'll cross that river
I'll fight life's final war with pain
And then as death gives way to vict'ry
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know he lives
Because He lives I can face tomorrow
Because He lives all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives
