Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
Psalm 143:8 ESV
We are born dreamers. We are always expecting more, looking for something better, another thing just beyond reach—down the road, around the corner, or just over the horizon. We were created with a God-sized void that nothing, save God, can fill.
When we realize that truth and surrender to God, He will place His Holy Spirit into our lives to fill the aching, yawning hole that had been empty for so long. But after a time, we begin to take His presence for granted. We start to presume on His presence and His goodness. We think that now that we are on the right path, we can drive our own agenda.
That’s when we begin setting our own expectations. We decide how we think a problem should be solved, a challenge overcome, or a situation played out.
When the situation doesn’t resolve as expected, we become disillusioned and disappointed with ourselves and God. We trusted God to come into our lives to save us and fill the emptiness inside, but somehow, over time, that original child-like faith has changed. We continue to trust God for our eternal salvation, but we’ve mistakenly come to think that we can trust ourselves to manage our lives.
Why, O LORD, do You stand far away? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble? – But You do see, for You note mischief and vexation, that You may take it into your hands; to You the helpless commits himself; You have been the helper of the fatherless. Psalm 10:1, 14 ESV
Those who’ve read much of my writing know that my daddy worked for the railroad for many years (40+); you also know that our family took many trips by train over the years. I have loved trains since I was a little girl—thus the train illustration.
Our foolish, misplaced trust in ourselves is much like purchasing a ticket to take a train from Chicago, IL, to Emeryville, CA – the longest continuous train ride in America. You’re on the right train to reach your final destination, Emeryville, CA. But somewhere around Omaha, you think, “Hey, I can do this. How hard can it possibly be to drive a train? This is easy. I’m on the right track. All I have to do is stay on the track. I’m ready.” So, you head to the front of the train to inform the Locomotive Engineer that you are ready to take charge and drive the train the remainder of the way to Emeryville.
One of two things would likely result in that scenario: 1. You’d spend the remainder of the trip safely belted in your seat under the watchful eye of train security officers, or 2. You would be escorted off the train at the next stop into the waiting arms of medical professionals or law enforcement. Your efforts to commandeer the train would not be welcomed or appreciated, no matter how sincere your desire to drive it yourself or how confident you are that you can do it yourself.
That’s the way many of us treat our salvation. We have our “ticket,” one that was purchased for us at great expense by the purchaser, Jesus Christ. We’re on the right track, headed to the correct destination, as long as we allow God’s Holy Spirit to be the driver and controller. But as soon as we decide we can do it alone, we run into trouble. We no more know how to drive safely, confidently, peacefully, and joyfully through life’s hazards and challenges than we could manage the challenges facing a Locomotive Engineer driving a cross-country train.
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! – Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God! Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground! Psalm 139:23-24, 143:10 ESV
When we surrendered in faith, believing in Jesus Christ, we said, “God, I cannot save myself. There is nothing in me or anything I can do to purchase my redemption. Only You can save. Only You offer eternal life. You are the only way, truth, and life. I believe and place my trust in You completely.”
These are the sort of words we used when we surrendered to Jesus as our Savior and Lord. These are the same sort of words that we are to use daily as we commit our lives and surrender our steps to God.
We don’t set the expectations. God does.
We don’t set the objectives. God does.
We don’t set our earthly or eternal destinations. God does.
As much as we may want to be, we are not the driver of our life. God is.
This is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever. Psalm 48:14 ESV
When we trust God for the outcome, we will never be disappointed by the end result. It may not be the outcome we would have chosen, but we will come to see that it was absolutely the best and most perfect outcome to accomplish God’s objectives for our lives—to build, grow, and fill us with His peace, joy, and contentment. God’s Holy Spirit is transforming us into the image of Jesus Christ and making us Kingdom builders.
When we resolve that as believers, our ultimate life goal is to serve, please, honor, and glorify God, we will arrive at our final destination in glorious style with a heavenly welcome.
You’ve trusted God enough to give Him your heart. You’re trusting Him with your eternal soul. How can you not trust Him enough to surrender the control of your life to Him?
Look to God, trust that He will set the expectations for your life for you. You will not be disappointed.
You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will receive me to glory. Psalm 73:24 ESV