trust and stability

ames1:6-8 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. (NIV)


When a country, or indeed the world, is rocked by financial instability, the cause is always the same. People have stopped trusting each other. Banks cannot be confident that they will be paid back what has been borrowed, and are nervous about new loan requests. It is just as well that God does not think like that when we pray. But some people think that if they speak to God, asking for His help, they have got to promise to pay Him back; and if they do not match His expectations, then He will never help them again. On that basis, God would help nobody!

A tight rope walker has to concentrate by looking ahead to the end of the wire. If he looks around or behind him, he will certainly fall off. We can be unstable; by partly believing that the Lord has the answer, but at the same time, looking for other answers, because we do not trust Him fully. When that happens, we can be blown off track very easily.

God answers people who trust Him alone. But He will not give us the wisdom we need unless we believe that He will answer us well, and in time. Doubts may be there, but we exercise faith and refuse to allow them to win. At work today, remember that God knows your staff relationships, market fluctuations, profit margins, and performance targets much better than you do. Whatever the problem (health, relationships, persecution, career prospects or professional standards), God knows the answer. So just stop for a moment, tell Him and fully believe that he will answer you.


Prayer: Dear Lord. Help me to realise that You are Sovereign over everything; and that You want to give me the wisdom to know what to do and when to do it - in a way that will honour You. Help me to trust you and not let my doubts win, so that Your will is achieved in my life today. For Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.