Overcoming FearSample

Rest

Did you read Psalm 91? The whole thing?

Those were the facts of our story. What I didn’t share with you were the ways that I learned to trust in God and the ways that he spoke to me through that intense first month and the following months of waiting. As soon as I heard about the tumor, I fell on my face before God. I was on the floor every day, tears soaking into my carpet. I knew I had nowhere else to turn but to him for answers, comfort, and help. You see, God wants us to seek him, and he wants to be found. This is the most important step of all. He wants us to seek him above anything else (Matthew 6:33). And as I sought God, he revealed himself to me (Jeremiah 29:13), a little bit a time, and gave me strategies for victory. The two things that he told me to do during that time helped me to trust him and to carry me through this life-and-death trial.

These two things are the cornerstones of trust, and they are REST and WORSHIP. We are going to explore both of these. First, how do we rest in God?

To rest in God, we must know who God is. We cannot trust someone whom we don’t know. The truths that I found most foundational in trusting God are that he is good and that he is for us. God speaks of his goodness repeatedly throughout Scripture. Why is this? God’s goodness is foundational to our being able to trust him. You cannot trust a person whom you do not deem to be good. Initially, in my situation, when the bottom fell out, and everything seemed to be hopeless, it was so hard to see him as good and as working things out for my good (Romans 8:28). But slowly, even over that first month of complete uncertainty, he spoke to me, showed up for me, and against all odds, slowly began to convince me that even in terrible circumstances, he was good.

Even when the circumstances are swirling about you and confusing you, he is the one who stands still, ever the same (Hebrews 13:8). At one point in our journey with brain cancer, I was having a hard time with a difficult new development, and God spoke to me through an exercise instructor. God communicates with us in so many ways!

The class had finished a workout, and as we stretched, we were standing on one leg. The instructor said, “If you are having trouble standing, just find a spot that doesn’t move and fix your eyes on it.” Wow! I had probably heard that line dozens of times in my life during stretching or balancing, but it immediately resonated in my spirit that day.

If you are having trouble trusting and your whole world seems to have changed, fix your eyes on the one person who does not change: Jesus.

In Matthew 14:29–30, Peter walked on water when he had his eyes on Jesus and began to sink when he took his attention off of him, focusing instead on the wind and waves. Fix your eyes on Jesus. If this is still difficult, as always and with everything, ask God to show you that he is good. Then trust that he will and be on the lookout for his answer! He will come through. He always does. Jesus says in Matthew 7:7-8, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” He is a good Father, and he loves when we ask him for wisdom (James 1:5-7). He is so faithful. He wants you to know him! And his goodness and good intentions toward us are such a fundamental part of who he is. Our understanding of him is foundational to our trust.

Prayer for today: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for who you are. Thank you for providing me with your Word that speaks of you and your trustworthiness. Help me to come to a greater revelation of who you are and specifically of who you are for me in my circumstances. Thank you that you are a personal God who loves to speak to me individually. Help me to rest in you today and going forward as a lifestyle. In Jesus’ name, Amen!