Psalm 52:7  ‘See the one who would not take
refuge in God,
but trusted in abundant riches,
and sought refuge in wealth!’^*

⁸ But I am like a green olive tree
in the house of God.
I trust in the steadfast love of God
for ever and ever.
⁹ I will thank you for ever,
because of what you have done.
In the presence of the faithful
I will proclaim^* your name, for it is good.

The psalm today brought before me the question of what we mean when we profess a “trust in the steadfast love of God for ever and ever.” David identifies himself as such – a believer, like a green olive tree, who is righteous, unlike those who take refuge, apparently, in provision, in money, in wealth.

Why is it that trusting the Lord God with our lives comes easier in some areas and not so easy in others?   Is it possible that one can take refuge in wealth, in provision, in money and yet trust the Lord, God for all else?

The Lord, God has promised everything from provision to health to a joyful heart and sent his son, Jesus Christ as witness to this undying, steadfast faith in us.  God loves us, believes in us, has good plans for us. Love God and love your neighbor as you are loved and God’s plans will unfold. Thy will be done, we pray, after all.

So, how is it that believers think they can pick and choose where we they will give God the reins? Allow the Holy Spirit to have agency? Why and how does one see God at work in their lives in some areas and not others? How is it that some profess a trusting in the Lord for everything, but.

Trusting for provision, for example. Lifting up to the Lord, God in prayer our provisional needs – not wealth, as the psalmist derides, but simple provision. If we know ourselves to trust God in this, it is so much easier to see God at work in this area. A job comes, goes away, something better comes along. That intervening period when the job goes away is the time we get on our knees and pray and trust that one door closed will lead to another one, opened.  And when that happens, we see it. We rejoice. We even call it a blessing.  Because we trusted the Lord any provision that comes our way we know to be from Him.

And some trust God’s healing promises unquestionably (Psalm 46:¹ God is our refuge and strength,a very present help in trouble). We are at one time healthy, another sick.  When sick we get on our knees, we pray.  We trust that the Lord, God’s will for us to be well means a healed-healthy resolution, but if it means something else, we will accept. And we will consider the outcome of the illness to have served some good purpose.  How we trust the Lord for healing is how we see and know God in both the illness and the outcome.

And yet.  And, again.  What does God say to the believer who chooses where to let Him in? To the one who prays, “I trust you, God, except for this one thing. I know you love me God, I trust that but I guess sort of conditionally. Let me handle this thing that calls me into question in the eyes of others. I don’t want you to stop loving me because of this one thing, so I’ll take care of it and get back to you, God.”

What kind of ego is behind that kind of prayer?  What kind of head and heart? If a believer identifies as David does, as one who trusts in the steadfast love of God for ever and ever, how is it that at any given time and perhaps especially when our ego is involved, how is it we so easily grab the reins to steer our life in any direction but the one God has put us on?

Where does God reign in your life?  Where have you loosened your grip and trusted fully in the Lord, God?  Where have you tightened it?

Look mom, no reins!

As this sweet photo says to me, “Look mom, no reins!”  Now that is trust in the love of God forever and ever.

Let go.  Let God.

And, praise Him.

Daily Office Lectionary Readings AM Psalm 41, 52; PM Psalm 44 Job 32:1-10,19-33:1,19-28; Acts 13:44-52; John 10:19-30