[1]How much do you trust God? Really?
Do you trust him as much as a blind teenage racer trusts her seeing-eye dog?
Sami Stoner lost her eyesight just as she entered the eighth grade. She had to face the fact that she would never get a driver’s license, never again do her own makeup, and never again see the faces of those she loved.
But Sami is a fighter. She refused to accept many of the “nevers” that her diagnosis seemed to impose, one of which was that she would never again race cross-country.
So she found a guide-dog named Chloe and trained her to be her personal “GPS” guidance system for running cross-country races. Here is a short film clip that describes their marvelous partnership (if a video frame does not appear below, click here [2]).
Sami developed such a strong trust in her beloved dog that she’s willing to run full speed ahead even when she can’t see where her next step will take her.
If Chloe signals go, Sami sprints ahead. When Chloe pulls left, Sami goes left. If Chloe nudges right, Sami goes right. And when Chloe signals stop, Sami hits the brakes. Every move is made without question, without hesitation.
Is that how you respond to God’s leading? With prompt obedience even when it’s the last thing you want to do and you’re not sure where it’s going to take you?
For example, when you’re in a conflict and he tells you to admit your wrongs rather than blame others (Matt. 7:3-4), do you obey quickly and without hesitation?
When others have hurt you and he signals you to forgive them just as he has forgiven you (Eph. 4:32), will you do it?
What if he tells you to love your enemies, to do good to those who hate you, to bless those who curse you, to pray for those who mistreat you (Luke 6:27-28; Rom. 12:20-21)? Do you sprint ahead in faith or do you drag your feet, not wanting to take even a single step?
What happens when you open the Bible or hear a sermon and realize God is calling you to trust him to vindicate you when you’ve been wrongly accused (Ps. 37:5-6)? To share your resources with the poor (James 2:16)? To be merciful to someone who deserves judgment (Luke 6:36)? To show kindness and hospitality to those who cannot possibly repay you (Luke 14:13-14)?
Do you trust and obey your God as quickly and whole-heartedly as Sami trusts and obeys Chloe?
If not, you may not be delighting in God very much either. There’s a good chance he’s not the center of your thoughts or your conversations, especially with people who may not be Christians.
If that’s the case, consider Sami’s example once again.
Whether she’s running a race or relaxing with her friends, Sami always has Chloe by her side. There’s no one she talks about more. No one she praises so naturally. No one whose exploits she repeats so often and with so much delight. No one she’s more eager to introduce to others.
Is that how you feel about God? Do you naturally bring him into your conversations? Do you enjoy praising him to others? Do you delight to tell his story and describe how he’s changed your life? Are you eager to introduce him to others … especially if they may not yet know him?
If not, you can pray that God would give you grace to memorize and practice the principles summarized in the following acrostic, today and every day:
If you want to be more God-aware and God-engaging, follow a trustworthy GPS:
- Glorify God: trust, obey and worship him
- Pursue God: Seek him earnestly
- Serve God: Do what pleases him
As the Creator and Sustainer of all that is, who is all powerful and perfectly loving and wise, who knows the end from the beginning, God is truly the best guidance system in the world–infinitely better than a guide dog as wonderful as Chloe. As King David wrote so many years ago:
“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 straight your paths” (Prov. 3:5-6).
– Ken Sande
PS: In the next two weeks we’ll look at the other two elements of GPS (pursing and serving God).
Reflection Questions:
- Read Psalm 23. What phrases indicate that David considered God to be an absolutely trustworthy GPS?
- Read Isaiah 30:21, Daniel 3:16-18, Luke 4:8, Acts 5:27-29, and 1 Corinthians 10:31. How do these passages reinforce the importance of trusting, obeying and worshiping God?
- Is there an area of your life where God has been calling you to trust and obey him, but you’ve been dragging your feet? What can you do today as a shear act of trust and obedience?
- What are some settings in which you could talk more openly and confidently about your God? What is keeping you from doing so? What will you do this week to let other people know how much you love and trust and depend on God?
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