Sunday 19 September 2021

Trust in God

 


 

If I were to ask people, “Do you trust in God?” I think most of them would say, “Yes, of course. I trust in God. I trust Him with everything!”

But if that's the case then why are you going around looking so miserable and so anxious all the time? Surely this doesn't go hand in hand with trusting God.

You see … the way I see it, you can't possibly believe in God and not trust Him. Not believing in God is one thing. A lot of people say “I don't believe in God”.

That's one thing.

But believing in God and doubting His ability to help you. Doubting His love for you and His willingness to help you, is another thing much, much worse.

Because you believe in God but … ummmm … I’m not so sure that He's listening to my prayers. I’m not so sure He wants to answer my prayers anyway.

It's as if it's a double sin in a way. You believe in God but you're not so sure that He cares and loves you.

Let me tell you about a priest I knew a long time ago. Let's call him Father A.

Father A was always calm serene peaceful and nothing used to stir him at all. He's been long dead now. May he rest in peace.

I always wondered how that priest was always so calm. Not only did he believe in God obviously, but he was certain that God looked after him, and he trusted God totally.

I remember a story where once we had to take a number of folk out on an outing for the weekend. We needed a van for this and someone had loaned us their van. It was a 12-seater; so it was just about right to take these old folk out for an outing.

The evening before, Father A and I went out to collect that van. When I saw it I must admit I had my doubts. The van looked old. A little bit tatty and rusty, and I doubted whether it could run at all. But the owner of the van said, “no, it's okay, it is roadworthy and it will work all right!”

We took the van and on our way that evening back to church the van broke down. It would not work at all. Father A, who was driving, tried the engine once or twice. Tried to turn it on … nothing … totally dead. The car would not start.

I left the priest there. I went to the nearest telephone kiosk and rang a mechanic I knew.

Half an hour later the mechanic turned up and he tried to get the engine to start … nothing at all. He looked under the bonnet … pressed this … and pressed that … and pulled this and pulled that … you know how mechanics are? And nothing happened. That car would not start.

So Father A got out of the driving seat and said, “hold on … let me try something else”.

He put his hand on the bonnet and closed his eyes and stood there silent for about a minute or so, and then he told the mechanic to start the engine and it started first time.

I was amazed. I just did not know what happened. My mind was just totally dumbfounded. We got in the car and Father A drove the van to the church followed by the mechanic in his car just in case the car … the van … broke down again.

It worked all right. The next day, being a Saturday, we took the old folk out on the outing. We enjoyed the day and we came back. The van worked perfectly.

Now I don't know about you but I’m still puzzled to this day as to what happened that evening to a van that was totally dead and the mechanic could not start it.

But a silent prayer from Father A, full of trust, got that van working and we had a good weekend out with the old people.

So I asked you again … Do you believe in God? More importantly … Do you trust Him totally?

Thank you for listening. God bless.

21 comments:

  1. I have never personally known God to get a dead engine running again, usually the owner has to pay half his bank account for repairs, but I do see small miracles daily. The usual stuff, new babies, new leaves after winter, rain stopping just long enough for me to walk to the shops and back home again.

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    1. You are, of course, entitled to your views, River.

      God bless.

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  2. Of course I believe this. Over our life time we have had a similar experience with a family car, 1953 Plymouth. Yes we do believe. Great devotion for this Sunday, THANKS
    Sherry & jack, thinking of you with a prayer..

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    1. Thank you so much for your prayers, Jack and Sherry. Much appreciated. Praying for you too.

      I was amazed at what happened with that broken down car.

      God bless.

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  3. Dearest Victor,
    Good story and very well spoken as I was the 8th listener!
    Wish all speakers would do this well.
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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  4. Because that mechanic saw only the finite, his efforts were futile. How wonderful God sees all, knows all. AND that Father 'A' listened and obeyed. What an example!

    Yes, I trust Him with my life. Both here and in the next.

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    1. I still do not understand what happened that evening, Mevely. The mechanic tried several times to get the car started. We wondered whether we'd have to cancel the peoples' outing the next day; especially since all the preparations had been done and all were looking forwards to it. Father A remained calm throughout; then prayed for a while and the car started.

      God bless you my friend.

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  5. Father A's faith and trust won the day, Victor. Yes, how can we say we believe in God if we don't trust Him to do what's best for us? Great story!
    Blessings!

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    1. He was always a very calm and serene man. I've never seen such faith in anyone.

      God bless you and yours, Martha.

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  6. Either you believe it ALL, Victor, or none of it. There is NO middle ground!
    Blessings!

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  7. Yes, I believe in God and trust him completely. Our pastor preached on trusting in God through trials just this morning.

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    1. Great coincidence from your pastor, Happyone.

      God bless.

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  8. Our area has a food kitchen run by by the Missionaries of Charity (Saint Teresa of Calcutta's order) that is the poster child for believing that God will provide. And He always seems to come through.

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  9. He teaches me trust with the weather. It's something i have been afraid of for a while now, all of the rain and flooding, and i am learning not to check the weather, just trust He has it in His hands, and He does.

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