Total Trust

What do you do as a Christian when life throws you an incredibly mind-blowing turn of events—something that is startling, terrifying, and completely unexpected?

Buddhism offers a concept referred to as radical acceptance. Radical acceptance involves accepting reality as it is. It does not mean that you agree with the situation; rather, that you cease fighting the reality of the situation.  It is what it is. This does not mean that you judge the situation as good. It does mean that acceptance is the only way out of this current state. When, in the moment, a thought of the problem enters the mind, the moment is to be tolerated. The thought is not to be entertained—no scenarios played out, no “what ifs” allowed to develop and enlarge. The moment brings pain; however, it does not produce suffering. Suffering is a result only when the painful moment is allowed to expand. However, the truth in radical acceptance is incomplete. Only Christianity makes provision for God’s involvement in the situation.

In the Christian worldview, God sometimes allows the individual to experience extreme events. Why? More often than not, it is an opportunity for growth. What the enemy means for evil, God will use for good. As C.S. Lewis stated, “Pain is God’s megaphone.” So often, we must be in agony and allowed to become desperate before we get down to business regarding our walk with Him. Becoming involved with the next step of being conformed and transformed into His image does not usually occur when things are going smoothly. Jesus told us that in this world we will have a lot of distressing trouble; it might as well be used for growth and change rather than be in vain.

So, as Christians, what can we do in those times of desperation? There are several choices. We can do nothing. We can give up and become angry, embittered individuals. We can cry out to God and work with Him, seeking His solution. But how do we do the latter? Total trust is the only answer.

What does total trust look like? What are the mechanics involved in that choice?  

Total trust involves turning toward God. Rather than running away from God in the form of blaming, avoiding, denying, or taking on this state of affairs ourselves, we must turn our focus to seeking God’s opinion, His omniscience. He has all knowledge regarding this issue, while we do not.

Cry out to God. All through the Psalms and indeed, all through the Scriptures, the modeling is done for us. From Abraham and Isaac to King David and beyond, the pattern is clear—we are to run into God’s open arms and pour out our hearts.

What if we choose to refuse this reality? We will suffer, fighting against what is true in the moment. Such a choice is exhausting and counterproductive. Fighting reality is a futile undertaking. The situation can change, but we are powerless to bring about effective change. God, however, is omnipotent—all-powerful, unlimited. Sometimes the challenge before us is altered; sometimes it is not. He is sovereign.

If we are not ready to accept what is true in the moment, we may need to ask the Father to cause us to be willing to accept the reality. We may even need to say, “Please cause me to be willing to be willing.” Willingness is key to this endeavor. Willingness involves not acting out of our will but His. We can choose to act impulsively out of our flesh and cause the situation to escalate. Escalation can close doors that might otherwise remain open, shutting down any effectiveness we may have had. God can work with honesty and turn our hearts and minds toward His heart and mind. Pride and stubbornness (willfulness) are two of the greatest obstacles here. “I can take care of this on my own, no problem.”

“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief” is another request the Father hears (Matthew 9:24). Refusing to submit the problem into His hands because we can’t imagine how He would allow such a situation to occur can be a real stumbling block. We often need His help in this step of trust, even when we are willing. “I trust You, Lord; please help any distrust I may have.” God is for us. He will never leave us or forsake us. Therefore, He is allowing this situation with something in mind. Our willfulness rather than our willingness can complicate His orchestration. We can get in God’s way.

So, when the thoughts come in and there is pain, it is our responsibility to submit the matter into His hands. This training of the mind requires a great deal of practice. It may take many repetitions within a very short period of time, even minutes. Leaving the issue in His care prevents us from entering into suffering. And, of course, there is the challenge of leaving the issue with Him and not repossessing it. In this case, submission and resubmission are not a problem. He remembers our frailty; He remembers we are made of dust. He understands and welcomes the process.

This concept was modeled for us in a garden. That garden is called Gethsemane. Our precious Lord struggled with a mind-blowing, terrifying choice of total trust or total refusal. Let’s visit Him there. He was distraught. He wanted a way out. He wrestled with His Father in conversation. He threw Himself on the ground and sweat blood. He spoke with His Father repeatedly and wanted to know if there was any way this responsibility could be taken from Him. The answer was no. His Father had something different in mind.

In the end, Jesus chose to be willing rather than willful. He put the experience and outcome of this horrific upcoming event into God’s hands. Jesus had the power and authority to call upon a legion of angels to remove Him from the scene. He did not. He chose not to take the issue out of God’s hands and into His own. And this is the Son of God! He did suffer. He suffered in our place so that we do not have to.  

What would have been the result if Jesus had been willful and refused to put Himself into God’s hands? What if He had refused to be willing? What if He had not totally trusted? We cannot know all the answers to these questions. However, we do know that if He had been willful, we would be without a Savior, sick with sin, condemned, and without hope. We would never have known the gift of the Holy Spirit.

          

~ Joyce L. Campbell, MA, NCC, LPC

If this message encouraged you, consider sharing it with someone who’s struggling to trust God right now.

Whether you’re walking through grief, confusion, or a crisis of faith—you’re not alone.

God welcomes your honesty, your weakness, and your surrender.

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