Sometimes people agree with me without even thinking it through. Of course, let’s face it, that shouldn’t happen all that often. Still, when something happens only occasionally, it makes every occurrence that much sweeter. So when someone agrees before even fully knowing what I’ve said, it makes me feel like I’m sort of the “terms and conditions” of people. Oh, the power.
Basically I’m letting you all know that you can trust me. At least part of the time. I’ll be honest and tell you that you still wouldn’t want to leave me alone in a room with your nachos. But other than that, trust.
The trustworthiness of a promise always depends on the nature of and the power held by the one making that promise. Let’s get real, once someone adds a layer of melty cheese, if you trusted me, I would question your trust-judgment. But our God? The very essence of who He is in nature is flawlessness. The power He holds can’t be compared to anything or anyone else. He has it all.
Paul said in Hebrews 10:22, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water,” (ESV). So Paul is talking to us as believers here when he says in the next sentence, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful,” (vs. 23).
It makes sense to have faith in the One who is faithful. It makes sense to trust in the One who is trustworthy. His record is clear. He has never failed to deliver on a promise. Never. God’s Word is filled, cover to cover, with one blessed occurrence after another of promises kept.
We have His nature as the basis for our trust in Him. We have His power, knowing He is fully capable of carrying out His promises. And if that’s not enough—which it certainly is, but still—we have His love for us to top it all off. You can trust the One who loves you without limits, without reserve. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive with Christ—by grace you have been saved,” Ephesians 2:4-5, ESV.
Our Lord loved us all the way to the cross. His love is perfect. And that leads us to trust Him without the slightest apprehension. Our faith is well-placed. “But You, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in faithful love and truth,” (Psalm 86:15, HCSB).
David wrote also in Psalm 143:8, “Let me experience Your faithful love in the morning, for I trust in You,” (HCSB). Love leads to trust. And trust leads to love. That is perfect!
Anytime you encounter a challenge, difficulty, doubt or question, it changes how you see that struggle when you remember that Your Father is trustworthy. Not part of the time. All. In every room. He is perfect, He is powerful and He loves you with a lavish love. Those are His terms. Those are His conditions. Oh, the power!