"trusting God"??

[DLL]

i have some thoughts about the phrase "trusting God". here lately in my support group, this statement or others similar, has come up quite a bit. i was wondering if anyone wanted to give some feedback on it.
i know "what" they mean when i am asked if i am trusting God through this, but yet i am still confused about it. i mean, i do believe that God has All the circumstances under His control and everything like that, but just because i "trust" Him doesnt mean those circumstances are going to necessarily turn out like i want. so am i "trusting" GOD, or am i trusting my trust.
like my son for example.....i trust that God is calling him to repentance, but if he never comes to that point of repentance, does that mean my trust failed? or we can trust God to protect our kids, but if they get killed or kidnapped, or mixed up with the wrong people......how does "trusting God fit into that scenario? when they were born, we all trusted God that they would grow up and be "good, christian kids " because we raised them according to what we thought was Gods direction. and 25 years ago i trusted God that my marriage would be a God honoring marriage. and now, i am trusting God to help me make the right choices on a daily basis. but sometimes i find out that some of those choices were not the right ones. so what happened? did God not "honor" my trust, or did I do something wrong.? i just get confused when people ask me about trusting God. im not questioning God, but i am questioning the reasoning behind that line of thought.
i just want to know what trusting God in our everyday life looks like.
donna

[Willow]

I had someone give me an analogy that helps me. It's not really an explanation, but something that gives the feeling of trust. It's the difference between trying to dogpaddle in deep water or just leaning back and floating on your back. One takes a lot of energy, the other uses the elements for support. Sometimes when I am too wound up, I'll take a moment to picture myself laying back in the water and feel it lifting me up and letting me rest from all my efforts trying to swim.

There's also 12 step rule that says something like... to change the things I can and and let go of the things I can't change. I know I messed up the wording. Someone might be able to get them straight for you.

[Theodora]

...here is a quote from St. Francis de Sales which has sort of brought me comfort in similar dilemmas:

(As found at the following URL-- http://www.appleseeds.org/peace_DeSales.htm)

Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life;

Rather look to them with full hope that as they arise,
God, whose very own you are, will lead you safely
through all things;

And when you cannot stand it, God will carry you
in His arms.

Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;

The same everlasting Father who cares for you today
will take care of you today and every day.

He will either shield you from suffering or will give you
unfailing strength to bear it.

Be at peace and put aside all anxious thoughts and
imaginations.


St. Francis de Sales


i have some thoughts about the phrase "trusting God". here lately in my support group, this statement or others similar, has come up quite a bit. i was wondering if anyone wanted to give some feedback on it.
i know "what" they mean when i am asked if i am trusting God through this, but yet i am still confused about it. i mean, i do believe that God has All the circumstances under His control and everything like that, but just because i "trust" Him doesnt mean those circumstances are going to necessarily turn out like i want. so am i "trusting" GOD, or am i trusting my trust.
like my son for example.....i trust that God is calling him to repentance, but if he never comes to that point of repentance, does that mean my trust failed? or we can trust God to protect our kids, but if they get killed or kidnapped, or mixed up with the wrong people......how does "trusting God fit into that scenario? when they were born, we all trusted God that they would grow up and be "good, christian kids " because we raised them according to what we thought was Gods direction. and 25 years ago i trusted God that my marriage would be a God honoring marriage. and now, i am trusting God to help me make the right choices on a daily basis. but sometimes i find out that some of those choices were not the right ones. so what happened? did God not "honor" my trust, or did I do something wrong.? i just get confused when people ask me about trusting God. im not questioning God, but i am questioning the reasoning behind that line of thought.
i just want to know what trusting God in our everyday life looks like.
donna


Good to see you posting again, DLL! Busy times for me of late...but I do try to read and respond on the boards when I can. Your prayers appreciated for me and my family as we struggle to discern action necessary in the day...and yes...to "trust God" with the outcome.

Grace and peace--

Theodora

P.S. Would like to reflect on this more and may try for a more personal response "later." Today, however, like Rabbit in the Milne stories, this looks to be one of THOSE days in which activity is the order of the day.

[Jerry]

Dear Donna,,,,
Boy they sure use "Trusting God" to assure you that your faith is counterfit.Oh gee if you try to avoid a problem well then ,,,,,,,you obviously don't trust God.BULLCRAP !!!!!!!!!,,,,,,,,I am not sure that this answers your question,but I'll say this........"I trust God in every aspect of my life,,,,,,,,I also trust that if I step in front of a speeding 18 wheeler,,,,,I will be Killed !!!! :D
Love Jerry

[Theodora]

...is Leslie Weatherhead's book, THE WILL OF GOD for dealing with this question re "trusting God." He goes on to say that the book "may be out of print, but there are copies around. Essentially, Weatherhead says that God has not just one, but three wills (and no, we're not basing that primarily on Trinitarian theology, but rather on Holy Scripture): God's original will, before human freedom and "accidents" in nature lead to human suffering; God's circumstantial will, which is "helping us make lemonade out of the lemons"; and God's ultimate will, which is to bring us all to a place of peace and wholeness, in the life hereafter, if not in this one."

As always---"Take what works and leave the rest!"

Thanks for bringing this up! I confess that I hadn't really thought through these issues before...and what my priest offered was a new "take" on this for me. Nice to have something else to "chew on" today---besides the "nitty-gritty" of life, that is, that is keeping me busy at the moment. ;) :)

Grace and peace--

Theodora

i have some thoughts about the phrase "trusting God". here lately in my support group, this statement or others similar, has come up quite a bit. i was wondering if anyone wanted to give some feedback on it.
i know "what" they mean when i am asked if i am trusting God through this, but yet i am still confused about it. i mean, i do believe that God has All the circumstances under His control and everything like that, but just because i "trust" Him doesnt mean those circumstances are going to necessarily turn out like i want. so am i "trusting" GOD, or am i trusting my trust.
like my son for example.....i trust that God is calling him to repentance, but if he never comes to that point of repentance, does that mean my trust failed? or we can trust God to protect our kids, but if they get killed or kidnapped, or mixed up with the wrong people......how does "trusting God fit into that scenario? when they were born, we all trusted God that they would grow up and be "good, christian kids " because we raised them according to what we thought was Gods direction. and 25 years ago i trusted God that my marriage would be a God honoring marriage. and now, i am trusting God to help me make the right choices on a daily basis. but sometimes i find out that some of those choices were not the right ones. so what happened? did God not "honor" my trust, or did I do something wrong.? i just get confused when people ask me about trusting God. im not questioning God, but i am questioning the reasoning behind that line of thought.
i just want to know what trusting God in our everyday life looks like.
donna

[Leslie]

Boy they sure use "Trusting God" to assure you that your faith is counterfit.Oh gee if you try to avoid a problem well then ,,,,,,,you obviously don't trust God.BULLCRAP !!!!!!!!!,,,,,,,,I am not sure that this answers your question,but I'll say this........"I trust God in every aspect of my life,,,,,,,,I also trust that if I step in front of a speeding 18 wheeler,,,,,I will be Killed !!!! :D


Preach it.

Also, I think that the way we trust is complex. It's not binary, that you do or don't. Or, it can entail things that don't look like trust. Look at Jesus. He entrusted Himself to the Father, but before he was betrayed he seemed to be wrought up, can I say "anxious" inside, asking the Father to deliver the cup from Hiim, sweating drops of blood. (((( may trigger )))) Some fundamentalists want to say that anxiety is sin. I would say, look at Jesus here.

[DLL]

thanks guys
i go back to group today, and now i have some to bring up in discussion instead of just sitting there like a wallflower.

[Jerry]

Preach it.

Also, I think that the way we trust is complex. It's not binary, that you do or don't. Or, it can entail things that don't look like trust. Look at Jesus. He entrusted Himself to the Father, but before he was betrayed he seemed to be wrought up, can I say "anxious" inside, asking the Father to deliver the cup from Hiim, sweating drops of blood. (((( may trigger )))) Some fundamentalists want to say that anxiety is sin. I would say, look at Jesus here.
Dear Leslie,,,
Yes "Trust" is very complex,and very probably the way it truly functions is quite beyond our comprehension.So we sit huddled over our little pile of bromides and make simple nodding movements with our heads :D as I did reading your post,,,,,,Hahahahahaha :D
Love Jerry

[Jerry]

As I was reviewing this thread,which I do often on all the threads,a thought occured to me,question really,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Why can't we live like we post???Then I thought maybe we do ,we just don't live close enough to go to the same church.Then I thought WOW wouldn't that be cool if we all met in some city found a really abusive church,and went to sunday service :D Man could we stir up some crap !!!!!!! I bet we could make them call the police :eek: Well there you have an idea how my mind works at 3:30 in the morning :D
Love Jerry

[Joseph]

Hey Jerry, My mind works that way too!
Joe

[Willow]

Now you're sounding like a biker Jerry... haha