If you’ve ever gone through any sort of trial at all, you’ve probably been encouraged to “put your trust in the Lord”.(Psalm 4:5) When you grow up in a Christian environment, you hear stuff like this all the time. In sermons, in Sunday school, in catechism, and from your parents, teachers, and friends.
Problem is, we could hear it 1,000 times over and never really know what it means.
What does it mean to find strength and solace in the Lord? (Philippians 4:13)
We’ve all dealt with struggles big and small, visible and invisible. One of the first times I remember having to deal with “a heavy burden”, as you might call it, I was encouraged to lean on the Lord. (Proverbs 3:5-6 & Isaiah 10:20) Although I did take this to heart, and it helped me a little bit, at the time I didn’t really know what it meant.
I went about my duties as usual, and every so often I would pray, and “remind” God what was going on, and ask him to watch over me and be near me.
I don’t think this was useless at all, nor was it a mistake, but looking back, I wasn’t really pouring myself out in prayer. I still struggle with this, and probably always will. Of course, as a Christian we are always learning, growing, and with God’s help seeking to be mature.
But think how much easier it would all be if we truly sought God’s help! (Nahum 1:7)
We cannot ever withstand the sea of sorrow this world will bring us on our own. Why do we continue to believe that we need God to hold our hand, when all we have to do is ask, and he will carry us! (Psalm 23:4 & Isaiah 46:3-4) To cast our cares upon the Lord is to rely on his strength alone. We have nothing in us to stand strong, whether we like it or not. Even if you are able to make it through a difficulty without prayer, God was still the one who brought you out of it, and it could’ve have been so much better if you’d just trusted him. (Psalm 147:3)
Although burdens still weigh heavy on our souls, they will never crush us when we rely on the Lord’s strength rather than our own.(Psalm 121)
Be encouraged, dear Christian. You don’t have to find your own way, because he is the way. (John 14:6) You don’t have to make your own light, because he is the light. (John 8:12-30) Let him find you where you are, let him teach you as you are. You don’t need to prepare, you need to trust.
In every trial, great and small, in Jesus find your all in all. (Psalm 142)
[Thank you to pastor H. Overduin for feedback and some extra Bible verses.]