Trust in confusion
Is it not that often in our relationship with God we are utterly confused by that which spirals around us. Don't the circumstances just befuddle us? Don't we ask, WHY GOD, WHY?!
But think of it this way. If a key component of the relationship is the building of trust, how else can it happen?
Huh, what?
Stay with me. Let's contrast 2 kinds of trust.
First, the one to be trusted proves themselves faithful. Say a parent in a confusing circumstance comes through and proves themselves so be worthy of trust.
Now in the second example, the parent, in the midst of all the tribulation explains step-by-step what is going on and how things are done.
It would seem both are the same thing, and if anything, the second is the better way. BUT, let's look deeper. In the second you see how things work, you are actually given a methodology. What you now have is a trust of the METHODOLOGY. In the first, you don't have the methodology, you just have the person.
So there is a trust in the person and there is a trust in a methodology. I submit that the first is more powerful than the second. Because by way of the first you can learn the second, but starting with the second you cannot make your way easily to the first.
Because I trust YOU, I can trust your methods.
But just because I trust a particular method has nothing to do with my trusting you. As a matter of fact, if you try to use a different method, or even if you have a different style to your method, I'm immediately suspicious of you. My trust is in method, not the person. Actually, relationally, I've boxed you in. You cannot interact with me unless you do things the way the methodology states. You cannot be creative, expressive, dynamic, interesting, and I'd submit loving nor natural. If I just trust a methodology, you must be a robot and a slave to my perceptions.
That's a different spin on asking, "WHY" all the time. Nothing wrong with doing so. But sometimes it's what's not said that tells you so much. Perhaps when we ask why and God doesn't answer and we slough off angry because we think He's being difficult or because we have some unconfessed sin...perhaps He's actually got a loving mischevious grin on His face that says in a singsong way "I know something you don't know." As in, "I'm showing you that you can trust Me, so I'm not telling you anything, well at least, not now, not in this instance."
Therefore, perhaps we can consider it great joy when we are struck down, vexed, and crushed by the events around us, for...if we look with the eyes of faith...we can see that He's building up our trust in Him. We would not have this trust if we ALWAYS know WHY.
But think of it this way. If a key component of the relationship is the building of trust, how else can it happen?
Huh, what?
Stay with me. Let's contrast 2 kinds of trust.
First, the one to be trusted proves themselves faithful. Say a parent in a confusing circumstance comes through and proves themselves so be worthy of trust.
Now in the second example, the parent, in the midst of all the tribulation explains step-by-step what is going on and how things are done.
It would seem both are the same thing, and if anything, the second is the better way. BUT, let's look deeper. In the second you see how things work, you are actually given a methodology. What you now have is a trust of the METHODOLOGY. In the first, you don't have the methodology, you just have the person.
So there is a trust in the person and there is a trust in a methodology. I submit that the first is more powerful than the second. Because by way of the first you can learn the second, but starting with the second you cannot make your way easily to the first.
Because I trust YOU, I can trust your methods.
But just because I trust a particular method has nothing to do with my trusting you. As a matter of fact, if you try to use a different method, or even if you have a different style to your method, I'm immediately suspicious of you. My trust is in method, not the person. Actually, relationally, I've boxed you in. You cannot interact with me unless you do things the way the methodology states. You cannot be creative, expressive, dynamic, interesting, and I'd submit loving nor natural. If I just trust a methodology, you must be a robot and a slave to my perceptions.
That's a different spin on asking, "WHY" all the time. Nothing wrong with doing so. But sometimes it's what's not said that tells you so much. Perhaps when we ask why and God doesn't answer and we slough off angry because we think He's being difficult or because we have some unconfessed sin...perhaps He's actually got a loving mischevious grin on His face that says in a singsong way "I know something you don't know." As in, "I'm showing you that you can trust Me, so I'm not telling you anything, well at least, not now, not in this instance."
Therefore, perhaps we can consider it great joy when we are struck down, vexed, and crushed by the events around us, for...if we look with the eyes of faith...we can see that He's building up our trust in Him. We would not have this trust if we ALWAYS know WHY.
posted by GBT at
Friday, October 20, 2006
|
