“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3: 5-6
“But has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been make known to all nations, according to this command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith.” Romans 16:26
I truly believe that our God will bring to your remembrance the thoughts that will comfort in our deepest times of despair. I remember the minutes when I first was called and told there had been a bad accident on the Causeway. I immediately went into a state of mind that I cannot describe. As I was running to find Ricky, the only thing that was going through my mind were the words to this song, Trust and Obey. I can only tell you that this was comforting to me at that very moment and for the many days to come in which my world was turned upside down. I remember the many times I fell on my face before the Lord, God and lamented about my total desperation and He always comforted my soul and reminded me that He was always with me and would never abandon me. Slowly my pain, my fears, my desperation would miraculously subside, and I knew I was in the embrace of my Lord. I was able to find JOY even in the mourning. I would sing the refrain over and over until I would know that peace that surpasses our understanding had filled my heart once again.
The song emphasizes two aspects of our salvation- our faith and the resultant willingness to subject ourselves to God’s word in obedience. The story of how this song came to be written purports that a young man, in a Dwight L. Moody Revival. accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and stood to proclaim, “I am not quite sure — but I am going to trust, and I am going to obey.” Moody’s musician, Daniel Towner, wrote down that memorable sentence and sent it to his friend John Sammis, who quickly wrote the four-line refrain and later added the five verses. He sent the words back to Towner, who came up with the tune. The refrain reemphasizes the concepts of trusting the Lord and obeying His will. Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
There are many instances in life when we feel lost, we wonder about the events happening in our lives. We doubt God and we are even angry at the things that happen to us. Do you doubt that God is Sovereign and that the circumstance in your life happened without His knowledge? Are you fearful because you don’t think our God is big enough to carry you through whatever the future might hold? The stanzas to this song teach us some very important truths:
- Those who trust & obey have Christ abiding in them -” what a glory He sheds on our way”
- Those who trust & obey receive the Lord’s help -” not a doubt nor a fear” “not a sigh nor a tear” “Can abide …
- Those who trust & obey are repaid for their toil – ”and the JOY He bestows”
- Those who trust & obey are those that submit to God – “until all on the altar we lay”
- Those that trust & obey must continue to follow the Lord – “sit at His feet” “Walk by His side”
May you experience God’s favor and JOY as you trust in Him and obey. Not a doubt or a fear not a sigh or a tear, can abide while we trust and obey. Never fear, only trust and obey!
My prayer: “Dear Jesus, by the power of Your Spirit, help me to be joyful even when I don’t feel like it. Help me to bring You honor as people see Your light through my life in the midst of trials and frustration. I pray that people will see YOU through me and be drawn toward Your never-ending, overflowing, all-sufficient grace. I am so thankful that You supply all the strength and mercy I could ever need in this life and for delivering me into a life powered by You, filled with purpose and overflowing with Joy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Rebekah Marsh
Lean into Jesus Ministries
#rebekahmarshblogs
