What Is Trust?

For a young girl who is just beginning to leap into an enormous shark tank that we have all come to call "the future", there are countless expectations that I am supposed to meet, essential responsibilities that I have to take on, intimidating obstacles I am destined overcome and let's not forget about the endless list of people who must be pleased with all of these critical elements of "the future". As all of these things seem to loom over me, I stand with a crippling fear that I may never amount to what is expected of me. The phrase "the future", has lost its luster, in my eyes. But, why?

My eyes are weak. I see things through a dusty, blurred lens (and let's not forget the awful astigmatism that I have been ever so lucky to receive). So, because of all of these hindering features of my eyes, they are useless. But, there is hope. A tremendous hope that no one can surpass. This hope not only brings clear eyes, but it brings peace, understanding, love and trust.

As I find myself before this hope who is named Jesus, I am constantly reminded of the condition of my eyes that will never begin to compare to the sight of my God. The way He views me, the way he views the lost and weary, the way He views anything and everything that comes into his view- even "the future", is a treasure that I am so blessed to be a part of and all that I have to do is ask Him for His eyes in place of mine. So what do I see when I peer through the unsurpassable vision of my Jesus? I see light. I see a world aching for His love.  Also, I see all the things in life that I may miss on a regular, mundane day.

What does this have to do with "the future", you may ask? Good question.

I have heard this specific piece of scripture countless times throughout my life- Jeremiah 29:11. The well known and widely quoted verse says, "'For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". Yes, of course, this verse has always had "meaning". But, it was not until recently, that "meaning" became truth and a definite promise from the One who gave me new life and clear eyes. Suddenly, this "shark tank" that I mentioned earlier, looks more like a small pond of minnows.

Jesus, on many occasions, tells us, "do not fear, for I am with you". It becomes so easy to just accept this as a statement of comfort, but not as a rock solid promise as it is intended to be. Learning from The God Of the UNIVERSE is far from easy at times. Trust me, it has taken me more time than was truly needed to fully grasp the simple concept of swallowing my pride and filling myself with Christ and seeing through His magnificent, beautiful eyes that not only reveal and shatter barriers that myself alone, will never even be able to scratch the surface of. But once I swallowed it whole, "the future" illuminated right in front of my eyes. All of the expectations, responsibilities, obstacles and people melted away and the true glory of what my God has in store for my future shone brighter than the sun.

There is a song that I could never get enough of entitled My Delight Is In You. The words seem to come to my mind more and more often here recently as my future is slowly but surely approaching. It says, "Here I am, open arms. Draw me close, to Your heart. You're my life. You're my Refuge. My delight, my delight is in You". I truly am now standing with open arms instead of feeling this looming fear over me of something that I possess no reason to fear. I possess no right to fear it. I am delighting in my God given future! I am trusting, hoping, seeking and loving my everlasting King who has never failed and never will fail me.

So, what is trust? What purpose does it have in our lives? What purpose does it hold in God's plan for our lives? Maybe the word "trust" should be rephrased and given new meaning for us all. Trust is admitting that we are limited, lacking creatures that have the ability to see, but only through the eyes of the One who created us and by Him alone and taking action by asking for that wonderful vision. Day by day my fear is decreasing. The looming shadow is fading away and the illuminating light of my Jesus standing in my future, with His hand stretched out towards me, waiting to walk side-by-side through it, is shining through.

So, future- bring it on.