The Unknown Is Scary

Trust can be a very difficult thing. Even when we know someone well and can rationally understand that we can trust them, sometimes it is still challenging. For example, at camp last week, to demonstrate this I asked a 7th grade boy to stand with his back facing me and fall back and allow me to catch him. It took him about 4 tries, but he finally did it completely without any hesitation. He admitted that he rationally understood he had no reason to not trust that I would catch him. He was confident I would. But it was still difficult.

The unknown is scary! Trust is something that forces us to let go--to let go of our own will and submit to the will of another. It is part of our human nature to stuggle with this. And this is why it can be such a challenge for us even as God's people to lean back and allow Him to catch and carry us.

What a great example we see in Daniel 3 in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Daniel's friends. The setting is the Jews being held captive to the Babylonians, of whom Nebuchadnezzar is serving as king. Beginning in v.8 we see that King Nebuchadnezzar expected all to bow down and worship not only him but the golden image he had set up. The consequence of not doing so, necessitated being thrown into a fiery furnace. One could easily understand the temptation to do what the king expected, even if they did not particularly care to do so. When word got to Nebuchadnezzar that Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego would not do as he commanded, he was furious. In a rage he confronted them about it. As he reminded them of the fiery furnace in which he would cast them if they refused to bow to him, notice the response given by these three faithful servants of God:

"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, 'Oh Nebuchadnezar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliever us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up'" (Daniel 3:16-18).

These three brave friends knew that God would deliver them in one way or another. They trusted in God's presence in their lives. They trusted that God would not forsake them. And they trusted that God's will (to serve Him only and not bow down to other gods) was better and higher than man's will. This was their faith. Their trust in God was the very reason that they were able to confidently submit to God's will. Even if God didn't deliver them from the furnace and decided to let them burn to death (which He did not-Daniel 3:28), that was still okay with them because they trusted that God would have His reasons. They understood that God has a higher will for us and sometimes although we can't see His reasoning, we still have to trust.

Faith is not deciding what I want God to do and then trusting Him to deliver. It means rather, whether He delivers like I want Him to or not, I am still going to bow down and glorify Him regardless. It means that even when I can't see His ways, I will still submit to His will in obedience to the best of my ability. Because I trust Him and what He says. Not that my obedience saves me or obligates God to include my name in the Book of life. But because my trust and faith in Him is required.

May we all always trust that He is an all-wise, all-knowing, all-powerful ,and all-present God. He is in charge. If I truly believe that and put my faith in Him, then the whole submission thing takes care of itself. Yes, the unknown is scary. And that is why we often prefer our own will. Sometimes it is a natural tendency on our part. And while the Bible doesn't tell us everything we would like to know about Heaven of the afterlife (the unknown), it certainly reveals enough to us so that I can know that I want to be there. Indeed, I do. And may my trust, faith, and reliance be upon God's ability to get me to that Promised Land rather than on my own abilities (Romans 3:23).

Have a great weekend!