Trust: Baby Steps

We've been talking all month about what God is really like.  Challenging our misconceptions and going to the Word to see who God says He is.  We've learned that He is Creator, and therefore He makes the rules that we live by.  We also learned that He hates pride, because pride motivates us to do what we want to do, rather than live according to God's plan.

This week we are learning that we can trust God. 

Trust: Confident reliance on the truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.

A baby relies on its parents for survival.  And we should rely on God in the same way.  But a baby doesn't really trust its parents.  It isn't confident that they will meet its needs.  Instead baby's scream and cry about every little thing as if it were the end of the world. 

When it comes to trusting God we should have confidence that He will do everything He promises to do. But how do we get there?

A baby grows up, he has experiences that show him that he can trust God.  But relying on our own experiences can be dangerous when it comes to God, because we lack perspective.  Just like a baby may not understand why something is happening, we don't always understand. 

So how do we trust if we don't understand?

Get to know God for who He says He is.  Don't trust solely in experience, or what you've heard, but get to know Him the way He wants to be known.  He left you a 66 book love letter.  Hundreds of pages of who He is and why He is trustworthy in His own words.

Peter tells us that "Like newborn babies" we should, "Crave pure spiritual milk." By reading God's words, and coming to know Him on an intimate personal basis, the Bible tell us we will 'grow up' in our salvation.

So what do you crave?  Do you Crave 'pure spiritual milk',or is there something else?  Maybe you crave good things, like straight A's, championship games, and great friends.  Or maybe you are like me and crave entertainment, a good book or movie, something tasty to eat, and whatever else will make you happier in the moment. 

Think about the things you enjoy most and ask yourself, "Do I really crave God like I crave my favorite things?" 

If you struggle to really crave God, then spend some time with Him. Right after telling us to 'crave pure spiritual milk', Peter tells us to "taste and see that the Lord is good".  

It is worth it.  But don't take my word for it.  Trust and see. 

Wild Acadia

Pictures from the Ropes Course at Wild Acadia

Safety is important, so here we are practicing before climbing up. 

 Look Ma, no hands!

(check out the guy on the tires!)

No pressure, it's not like anyone is watching and taking pictures.

 The encouragement of friends was definitely needed on this obstacle.

 If you think it looks like one big spider web on stilts, you'd be about right, but that didn't stop these intrepid adventurers.

 Even the strongest among us found the course challenging.

 My favorite picture from the trip and a great mother daughter moment!

I thought it would be hard to find chaperons to volunteer for this gig, but I was wrong! 

Thanks ladies.

 After all that hard work you are rewarded with a trip on the zip line!

About a 100 foot trip 3 stories in the air over the park.

Just watch out for the tree!

We had a great discussion about TRUST in the van on the way back home.

One of the teens made an interesting observation.  She said her arms were tired, because, even though she knew she was harnessed up and couldn't fall, she still felt like she had to hold on for dear life.  Trusting God can be like that too.  We know He will never leave us or forsake us, but we still try to do things in our own strength.

Others told me that they just couldn't let go of their fear of heights so they quit early.  This happens in spiritual life too.  Trust is hard, and often we fall short when we let our fears get the best of us. (thankfully at Wild Acadia we had go-karts and mini-golf as a back up plan)

Another of the teens commented that he often forgot he was harnessed up because he couldn't feel the harness supporting Him.  Sometimes we may not feel God is there, but the truth is, we can always depend on Him.

One teen even pointed out that he had a really hard time trusting the harness, so he just let himself fall back, proving to himself that the harness could actually support him, after that, his fear disappeared and he had a blast!  According to Proverbs 3:5&6 That's what trust really is all about, letting go of our own experiences and what makes sense to us and simply relying on God.