In God We Trust, Part Two

Grace Moment by Moment-monthly column

Trust is an issue we all deal with at some point in our lives. We believe with absolute certainty we need to trust Someone or something in order to do more than survive each day. Yet, do we really practice implicitly trusting one another?

When Jesus and the disciples were out in the boat on the Sea of Galilee and a storm brewed up, tossing and turning the boat and its occupants every which way, only the disciples were afraid Jesus was in the stern sleeping like a baby rocked by the gentle motion of his parents' arms (Mark 4:35-38). The disciples after waking Jesus, questioned why He was not afraid. "Jesus rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace, be still." And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But [Jesus] said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" (Mark 4:39-40)

Then there is the story of a soldier on military campaign, who in the midst of battle dropped onto the ground where he stood, falling into a deep sleep. Before his eyes closed he was heard to say, "Jesus, please take guard duty for me." For over an hour as the battle continued to rage around him, and soldiers swore in fear, an eye witness reported seeing a sentinel standing guard while the tired soldier slept soundly.

Both of these ancedotes illustrate the point I'm making--to place trust in Someone or something, we need to let go of our greatest fear--failure.

We recently commemorated September 11, 2007, the sixth anniversary of 9/11. I pray none of us currently living will forget the Day America was driven to its knees before God, in recognition that absolute Evil actively works to destroy all that stands for God and good in this world.

The sobering reality we faced that day is that America is not invincible. We also lost our innocence in the sense that other nations viewed America and Americans as people that they could no longer trust. Our own ability to trust others was shattered as well. We can no longer look at each other in the eye and accept what we see at face value because we don't know if the person looking back could be out to get us killed.

That realization humbled us as a nation, but not in defeat as some might believe. Rather, it gave us freedom to surrender to Someone greater than all our perceived strength. The One who is still carrying us through the refining fire of tragedy to the Truth that our sense of security comes not from temporary measures like better weapons or tactical strength. But rather if we choose, from a relationship, with Himself, the eternal Sovereign God of the Ages, the Great I AM, Jesus Christ.

He alone can restore us as a people, a nation others can trust. But only if we place our trust in God will we be able to trust others again.