Listen

God is indeed my salvation; I will trust and won’t be afraid. Yah, the Lord, is my strength and my shield; he has become my salvation.”

You will draw water with joy from the springs of salvation. And you will say on that day: “Thank the Lord; call on God’s name; proclaim God’s deeds among the peoples; declare that God’s name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, who has done glorious things; proclaim this throughout all the earth.” Shout and sing for joy, city of Zion, because the holy one of Israel is great among you.

Isaiah 12:2-6

Think

I’m very careful when I throw around the word trust. We so often abuse or distort this idea.

It infuriates us to be told to trust in the ultimate purpose of a tragedy we know deep down is random and meaningless. We feel guilty or ashamed when the pain or weight of some burden makes the notion of trust impossible for the time being.

People usually mean well when they tell us to “trust God,” to “have faith,” to “let go.” But when we’re not ready to hear it, this advice feels like a betrayal or at least a serious failure of empathy.

In my experience, we know when we’re ready for trust. We’ve healed a bit, or lowered our defenses, or simply concluded that there is no other way we’ll make it through.

Those are the moments when we encounter the God of our salvation, the holy one of Israel who is great among us. Those are the moments when we learn that trust is everything. And that God is worthy of it.

Kyle Oliver

Pray

Holy Spirit, come to me when I am able to reach out my heart to you. When I’m ready, teach me to trust in your power to heal and to redeem. Amen.

Go

Spirit of Peace, you dwell in my heart.

Spirit of Love, you make me whole.

Spirit of Joy, you teach me to serve.