But now, says the Lord—
the one who created you, Jacob,
    the one who formed you, Israel:
Don’t fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have called you by name; you are mine… – Isaiah 43:1

Recently I have been confronted (and I have thought at length about the best word for this and I keep landing on “confronted”) with the huge ramifications of the word – and the idea of – “trust.”

This week it has been in the context of children. To trust God to the extent of understanding that our children were God’s first before they were ever ours. And then Rebekah pointing out that we essentially gave them back to God when we had them baptized.

I started thinking about the idea that there is an inverse relationship between trust in God and my own perceived competence (key word, perceived). In other words maybe I believe in my own ideas and resources and abilities and wisdom more than I believe in God. So how can I trust God when I trust myself more?

But I am realizing more and more that I do not have what it takes. Not that any of us should quit trying or stop doing our best, but to remember that we at our best when we understand that we are called to be vessels for the goodness of God. To remember that we, that I, do not just admire God – I need God , desperately.

We are at our best when we understand that we are called to be vessels for the goodness of God

I am guilty of practicing the misunderstanding – a kind of spiritual Protestant Work Ethic – that if I think I have the ability, the resources, the skills to handle something then I shouldn’t bother God about it. Whereas the truth is that prayer and trust in God must be foundational to everything, regardless.

There is no “division of labor;” it’s not as if God says, “Okay, Derek, you take care of this, this and this and I’ll handle the stuff you can’t.” Not at all! Trust in God needs to be the very ground I stand on and everything, without exception, a humble partnership.

As for those children?

Do not fear,
    I am with you.
From the east I’ll bring your children;
    from the west I’ll gather you.
 I’ll say to the north, “Give them back!”
    and to the south, “Don’t detain them.”
Bring my sons from far away,
    and my daughters from the end of the earth… – Isaiah 43:5-6

As the old song puts it: “Trust and Obey, for there’s no other way…” – DEREK