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Whenever I face any sort of trial or difficulty in life, I usually decide to share that hardship with another believer where I often hear the response “Trust the Lord!”  Likewise, when others come to me to share about their hardships, I would often respond by saying, “Trust the Lord!”  I believe that expression is frequently used.  Those words almost becomes trite and lack the weight that it ought to carry.  Many times, we use it so flippantly that it is almost like someone expressing “Good luck! You’ll be alright.”  To truly trust the Lord is often tough.  Repeatedly, I have been convicted when I completely surrender to God.  Trusting God is an essential part of being heavenly minded.

Sometimes, I long to be a kid again because I am no longer at a worry-free stage of life.  I think about how the days were so carefree—riding bikes, playing video games, playing sports with friends all day and having absolutely no anxieties.  Now as an adult, life can sometimes come in torrents with some very difficult times.  Week in and week out, problems arise at work, there are issues with family members, with friends, and there is always uncertainty about the future.  Life is no longer just about riding bikes and having fun (ok, it still is… but maybe a little less now).  That makes the call to trust in the Lord all the more urgent.

Proverbs 3:5-6 are among the most well-known and well-memorized verses in the entire Bible.  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.   In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. For me, it is a classic children’s Sunday school memory verse and one that I have known for a long time.   These verses call me to place all my trust in Him as a child does towards a loving father.  Furthermore, they remind me not to put confidence in my own wisdom, understanding, rationality or analysis of situations.  Scripture reveals that God is Sovereign over all of man’s steps and that I need to acknowledge that truth.

This past year has been a big stretch for me in terms of learning to trust God.  I’ve had rough patches at work, tough times with family, a host of ministry responsibilities and a huge decision to make, whether or not to go to seminary.  I have felt my need to be in control and to hold onto the reins of my life.  The desire for autonomy has clashed with what I knew I had to do—cultivate a heart that trusts the Lord.  I’ve been anxious about where my life will go and what it will look like.  With a big life change like seminary, a swarm of questions tempted me to worry like “Will I have enough money to live on?”, “Will I be able to manage work and go to school at the same time?” and “What will I ultimately be doing with this education degree?”

That is just one aspect of life.  For example, family often left me wondering why we all could not get along better and resolve problems with more grace.  At work, I found myself frustrated with all the politics and competition, while wondering why my ability and diligence still left me just shy of a promotion.  These issues were a cause of worry and tempted me to think and analyze everything in order that I might develop my own solutions to the litany of issues arising in my life.  Nevertheless, God is still Sovereign, and He reminds me of that often by my efforts falling short, by my thought processes being confined and by showing me my faults.  In the end, I need to trust in Him.

Without my core group, I don’t know how I would have been reminded to go to God often in prayer and to place my trust in Him.   If I had gone solo without accountability and the fellowship of brothers, I would have lost sight of God far more often.  When that happens, trusting in God goes out the window, and confidence starts being placed more on the flesh, which deludes itself into thinking that it is in full control.  For 6 months, I had the sweet fellowship of Rajeev Chitamoor’s core group: Raj, Ted Dang, Andrew Fung, Derek Lum and Jeff Hsu.  We were faithful to share our lives with each other and pray for one another.  In that way, we learned to trust God’s work in our lives.  Now I have the privilege of leading a core group with Alvin Varughese and Ricky Redman.  The genuine desire of these brothers to glorify the Lord in their lives and trust Him is humbling to me.  The best thing about my core groups has been that when I was tempted to lose sight of God, the guys would continue to point me back to Him and remind me that through Christ I have access to the Father’s throne.  The mutual exhortation, counsel, and prayer has not only been encouraging but also a cause for deepening my trust in God while anticipating that He will show Himself faithful.

I have been tremendously challenged with trusting in the Lord through everyday circumstances.  Meanwhile I know the great truth that I can hold onto if I acknowledge God as Sovereign in my life, He will make my paths straight.  He will direct my steps and lead me all the way through life.  He has planned my life from the beginning and knows what it will look like all the way out to eternity.  He has prepared a place for me in heaven that I long to go to.  I know that He will not forsake me in this life either.  Understanding that He is Sovereign helps me to trust God and has helped me to be more heavenly minded.

- Tim Jin

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