Can God and His Word be Trusted?

"'This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth,

the LORD who formed it and established it--

the LORD is his name.'"

Jeremiah 33:2

The people of Judah needed a little reminder of Whom they were dealing with.  They needed to be retold Who it was that was sending them warnings of the coming judgement lest they ignore the messages and continue on with their own plans.  It's important to keep in mind that God was behind the words spoken to them by Jeremiah the prophet so that they had no excuse for rejecting Him.

I often need a similar reminder of Who is behind the script recorded on the pages of the Bible.  Or Who is responsible for that still, small voice that sounds as a warning to turn the other way, or as a guide at moments of indecision, or as a comfort just when I need it.  It's so easy to disregard, to write it off as my own imagination or to ignore as irrelevant or out of date.  God gave to Jeremiah a qualifier of sorts right up front:  Here is why you can trust My Word.

Authority.  "Who died and made you king?  You are not the boss of me!"  I remember using these lines on the playground whenever a particularly controlling classmate would try to give me orders.  I instinctively knew my peers did not have the authority to give me orders and it incensed me when they tried to do so. 

God, however, does have the authority to give orders, to enforce obedience to His commands and to make decisions on my behalf.  As LORD, He has the right to manage my affairs and by His name I know that He is in charge of all that I see, of everything that exists.  It is all His responsibility to rule.  Since He is the King of the world, it is my place, then, to submit to His authority.  He is worthy of my respect.  His Word is meant to be observed.

I can trust God and His Word because He possesses all authority under heaven and on earth (Ephesians 1:21, Matthew 28:18).

Power.  He spoke the world into existence.  Where once there was nothing, He created something.  Once He finished making all things, He was perfectly able to guide His masterpiece much like a talented conductor directs every musician in his orchestra.  He has the ability to know the thoughts of each of His children, to perfectly understand every unique personality, to coordinate the lives of millions of subjects, to care deeply for the plight of humans (Psalm 139:1-6, Matthew 10:29-31). 

Because of God's great power, there is nothing He cannot do.  He is not bound by the constraints that restrict me as a human.  He operates outside of the boundaries of time.  Yesterday is the same as tomorrow for Him and the distant future is like today.  The laws of nature keep me from flying, or growing younger, or coming back to life once I'm dead.  God does not have these same limitations.  Nothing is off-limits for Him.  He can stop the sun, or part the waters of a sea, or cause a fortified city to crumble on its own (Joshua 10:13, Exodus 14:21-22, Joshua 5:13-6:20).  He can bring life back to a man three-days-dead, spontaneously combust a drenched altar, and restore skin ravaged by leprosy through a simple dipping into the Jordan (John 11:43-44, 1 Kings 18:30-35,  2 Kings 5:14).  There is nothing God cannot do, so great is His power.

I can trust God and His Word because He is all-powerful and mighty to save (Genesis 18:14, Zephaniah 3:17).

Supremacy.  He is above all things.  There is nothing that is greater than He.  He sits high upon His throne, reigning over all the earth (Psalm 97).  The earth is His and everything in it (Psalm 24:1).  The Lord is sovereign over every detail, every power, every authority.  Even that which seems invincible is under His thumb.  He rules over all of His creation.

Even though the world seems out of control, God is still firmly in control.  Even though my life often feels out of control, God is still firmly in control.  Even though the rampant evil looks to be sending all of mankind into a tailspin, nothing happens outside of His will.  He is supreme over every detail of my life; nothing falls outside of His domain.  While I may feel my problems are my responsibility to solve, they actually fall within His area of expertise.  He may not move world affairs in the direction I would if I were in control, or resolve my issues to my liking, but I can be assured that His way is better for His children and will give Him maximum glory.  

I can trust God and His Word because He has supremacy over all, and His plan is a good one.

It can be hard for me to trust God and His Word.  When it comes right down to it, I may wonder why I can place my faith in Him.  To ease my mind, He reassures me with the reminder of His authority, power and supremacy.  When I recall such truths, I am compelled to take Him at His Word.  Can God and His Word be trusted?  Yes, they can, no matter what.  But it takes faith to do so.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to do what He's telling me to do.

When do I doubt His plan, wondering if it could be the best He has for me?

How am I usurping His authority by trying to be in control of my own life?        

The LORD Reigns

"The LORD is king!  He is robed in majesty.

Indeed, the LORD is robed in majesty

and armed with strength.

The world stands firm and cannot be shaken."

Psalm 93:1 NLT

Who is king of the world?  It is not Leonardo Dicaprio's character Jack from the movie Titanic as he so famously proclaimed while perched on the bow of the iconic ship.  It's not the president of the most powerful country, or the head of the United Nations.  God is the one who reigns over all things.  

As king of the world, the Lord reigns over all my struggles, governs the entire earth, ruling over the details of the world.  Since He reigns in such majesty, how does this affect me and the way I live my life?

Nothing.  I love watching the Veggie Tales, not just because they are entertaining and make me laugh, but there is a deeper reason to pay attention to "Larry's Silly Songs" and Veggie versions of familiar Bible stories like Rack, Shack, and Benny (Shadrack, Meshach and Abednego thrown in the fiery furnace), Dave and the Giant Pickle (David and Goliath), and Josh and the Big Wall (The battle of Jericho).  I enjoy these programs created for children because I find there a powerful truth about God that resonates deeply.

One of these songs is the infectious, "God is Bigger than the Boogie-Man."  The lyrics are catchy and the tune gets stuck in my head, but the thing that sends me back for more is the message: God is bigger than anything that scares me.  While I may no longer fear the mysterious monster lurking under the bed at night, there are things that send my heart to racing.  Cancer.  Terrorism.  Financial disaster.  Sudden tragedies.  The what if's twist my stomach into a knot.  Reminding myself that He is more than able to handle my problems, protect me through any disaster, and preserve my life sets my heart at ease.

Moses faced an impossible situation as he led the Israelites on their 40-years of wandering through the desert.  In response to the complaints of the masses over discontent with the manna God had provided, God instructed Moses to proclaim to the people that He would give them enough meat to eat for an entire month, gorging them into learning a lesson from their faithlessness and ingratitude.  Thinking practically and thus limiting God, Moses questioned how He would provide such a quantity of meat.  God simply replied, "Is the LORD's arm too short?" (Numbers 11:4-23)  

Nothing is too much for God; He is more than able to handle any problem I face.

Everything.  It's not that I doubt that God is in complete control, but I often forget that fact.  Especially in the face of a crisis, a difficult dilemma, or a danger that threatens.  When I'm sitting in the doctor's office receiving the news every human dreads, or suddenly facing single motherhood after a dozen years of marriage, or attacked by a gang of thugs as I walk through my neighborhood, it's easy to feel like my life is spiraling out of control and that I have nowhere to turn.

God, however, is firmly planted on the throne.  He is not pacing the floor, wringing His hands with the thought of trying to handle what I face.  His majesty is absolute, and He knows exactly how to deliver me from or through the sickness while supplying all the strength and peace I need to endure, to serve as my husband and the Father of my children, to dispatch a battalion of angel warriors in my defense.

Everything is under God's command, He is never worried about anything that occurs in this world.

Power.  What kind of power does it take to generate something from nothing?  Or to create such a wide variety of species like what we see in the world?  Or to take what was meant for evil and somehow use it for my good?  The power of God is beyond compare and cannot be fathomed (1 Chronicles 29:11).

With such a God as this at the controls, I can expect great things from Him.  I can pray big prayers and look for mighty acts.  The power of God can change a stubborn, hardened heart, can enable me to do what I can't picture myself doing, can empower me to thrive even though conditions are not conducive for prosperity.  God can do it.  And He will if I will only believe (Mark 11:24).

The power of God is beyond my ability to comprehend but not greater than my capacity to believe.

When looking around at the chaotic state of the world, I could wonder, Sheesh, whose in charge around here, anyway?  Even though it may look like a freight train barreling down the track out of control, God is King.  He is firmly planted on the throne so that nothing is too much for Him, everything is part of His domain, and the power He wields is beyond compare.  With such a King as this, I can rest easy, knowing that all things are in good hands.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust the sovereign Lord.

When do I doubt God's ability to do the impossible?

How do I pray puny prayers?       

He is Able

"Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego

replied to the king,

"O Nebuchadnezzar,

we do not need to defend ourselves

before you in this matter.

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace,

the God we serve is able to save us from it,

and he will rescue us from your hand, O king."

Daniel 3:16-17

The weariness seeps into all parts of my life, penetrating every crevice.  I can't do it anymore.  I fight, I toil, I stand against. . . for what?  Why do I even bother?  What difference does it make?  There's so much evil all around me.  Friend betrays friend; the knife penetrates deep.  Plots are hatched, lives ruined.  Sin runs rampant.  The world is falling deeper and deeper into the darkness.  Should I go with it?

Living in this world is discouraging.  There is so much suffering, pain and wickedness.  It reminds me of my garden.  I toil away, diligently pulling weeds, fertilizing and watering but sometimes I see little fruit.  Either the bugs, worms or birds get it, or it just doesn't come to fruition.  Then there's the problem of the unrelenting weeds that seem to grow faster than the plants.  It's easy to get discouraged.  

As I stood at the edge of the garden the other day, feeling disheartened by the persistence of the weeds, I sensed God's prodding, "You can choose to look at all the weeds, or you can focus on the work I am doing.  Look at the newly sprouted beans peaking up through the earth!"  At that moment, peace flooded my heart as I decided to concentrate not on the evil, but on my God.  He is able.

To Defend

Self Defense classes are common in this day and age.  Many women recognize the importance of learning skills and techniques that will empower them to defend themselves against possible attacks.  It is not enough to try to live a safe life because sometimes danger finds me.  

Even though evil exists in this world, I cannot take on this same attitude in my spiritual life.  God is my defender.   When my name is drug through the mud, there is no need for me to do damage control.  When I am attacked for no apparent reason, I don't need to come up with a plan of defense.  When others don't agree with my lifestyle, there is no need for me to justify my decisions.  Instead, God will bring justice. 


David knew a little bit about being attacked.  In one instance, King Saul had set up a perimeter around David's house, watching for a chance to kill him.  During that time, David wrote about how these men, "growl like a dog, and go all around the city.  Indeed, they belch with their mouth; Swords are in their lips; For they say, 'Who hears?'  But You, O LORD, shall laugh at them; You shall have all the nations in derision.  I will wait for You, O You his Strength; For God is my defense."  (Psalm 59:6-9 NKJV)  


David was a fighting man.  He could have come up with a plan to defend himself against this unwarranted attack against his civil rights.  He had been in tough spots before and probably had some tricks up his sleeve.  But he also knew God and trusted Him enough to leave the job of his protection up to Him.  He knew that God was more adept at keeping him safe.


In the same way, God is able to protect my name from slander.  He is capable of delivering me through a difficult time unscathed.  He is more than proficient at coming to my defense; if only I will let Him.


God is able to defend me better than I can protect myself.  

To Save

I have a problem.  It is a sin problem.  This is a crisis of epic proportions that I cannot solve by myself. My sin forms a deep, uncrossable canyon between me and a holy, perfect God.  I can't have a relationship with Him, let alone spend eternity with Him, because of my transgressions.  I am unable to negotiate across this deep abyss that separates me from my Creator.  I have no hope.   I need a Savior.

Thankfully, I found a Savior in Jesus Christ.  While I was still in the midst of my rebellion against God, He took the punishment meant for me from a holy, just God.  He took the fall for me.  He made a way for me to get to God and spend eternity with Him. . . .all because of His great love for me.

If God is able to accomplish the impossible task of reconciling my severed relationship with God, than certainly I can trust Him to save my marriage.  If He can solve the problem of sin, than of course I can give Him the task of healing my broken heart.  If He can make a way for a sinful human to spend eternity with a perfect God, then there is no question that He can give me hope where it seems none exists.

God is able to save me in ways I could never imagine.  

To Rescue

When I went through lifeguard training, I had to learn how to rescue a swimmer in distress.  One of the most important tactics we learned was to keep ourselves safe.  Someone who is drowning becomes panicked and will literally climb on top of another swimmer in an effort to save themselves.  In order to prevent a tragedy, we were taught to approach from below and behind where the victim was unaware of our presence.  By the time they realized what was happening, they were already firmly in my hold and being towed back to safety. 

There are many times in my life when I am like the panicked swimmer in distress.  I fear for my life and cannot think straight.  I find myself in a tight spot and I'm afraid there is no way out.  Consequently, I attack the very ones who are trying to help me and bring me to safety.

When God called Jeremiah as His prophet to God's people, He told the newly appointed messenger that he must deliver His message but to, "not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you." (Jeremiah 1:8)  It seems God was implying that Jeremiah might get into some difficult situations, but that God would safely deliver him; there was no need for him to panic.  In fact, Jeremiah did meet much resistance from the Jews during his 50-year ministry and they refused to listen to the warnings God continued to send through the prophet.  But God was faithful to rescue him each and every time.  

In the process of carrying out my calling from God, I may end up in some sticky situations.  But I can rest assured that God will come after me and deliver me.  Oswald Chambers wrote in My Utmost for His Highest that, "We have to get into the habit of hearkening to God about everything, to form the habit of finding out what God says.  If when a crisis comes, we instinctively turn to God, we know that the habit has been formed."

It is my desire to get into the routine of automatically turning to God when I'm in trouble.  After all, He has overcome the world and all it's difficulties.  

God is able to rescue me when I'm in over my head.

I am easily discouraged and often feel like giving up.  But keeping my eyes on the One who is able to defend me from attack, to save me from my sin, and to rescue me from trouble will leave me with a sense of hope and peace that no one can take away from me. 

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."  (Ephesians 3:20-21) 

As I begin this day it is my prayer that when I am unable, I will remember that God is able.

How do I attempt to defend myself?

When do I fail to allow God to save me?