Trusting in God is many times uncomfortable. In Daniel 6, we read of Daniel thrown in the lion’s den for his faith. We read of Isaiah 43 where God promises us that He will be with us and deliver us.
But in Acts 7, we read of Stephen, who despite his faith and courage, was stoned to death.
God does not work on our terms. Anyone’s terms. He works in His ways, because He is the almighty one who knows all. Being humans, we cannot fathom His will. Trusting in such a supreme God means that we will have to be uncomfortable sometimes. In Mark 10:17, the rich young ruler asks Jesus what he needs to do to go to heaven. Jesus frankly answers him, but he is unable to let go.
When we trust in God and live in his will, we no longer live on our own terms. We live by His. Stephen perhaps believed that God would deliver him physically as Daniel was in the den. But he wasn’t; it was God’s mysterious will for Stephen to become His martyr. Yet, even still, Stephen forgave. Now, through his story, we have an indispensable example of courage and faith.
Despite the discomfort of following Christ, we must and do; why? Because God IS. He is the I AM (Ex. 3:14). He is the almighty creator who is faithful to us (Deut. 7:9; Lam. 3:23; 2 Tim. 2:13). Why would we not trust Him? Why was Stephen able to withstand the stoning? Why was Daniel able to hold fast to his faith despite the consequences? Why was the rich young ruler unable to give up all to follow Christ? If we truly trust God that He is who He says He is, then we will throw ourselves into His delivering arms. Even when things never go the way we think they will our whole lives, we must still be able to trust that He is working within us.
Trust is uncomfortable, but necessary.
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