Trust and Obey

Today’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Job 14-15
NT: John 2
W&W: Psalm 66


Today’s Reflection:

In his book When God Takes Too Long, Joseph Bentz devotes a chapter (# 5) to: “Wait and obey – even as things seem to get worse.” Bentz cites the promise of God to his people in the ministry of Jeremiah as an example.

Many of us are familiar with and find comfort in Jeremiah 29.11-14: “11 ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.’”

Bentz reminds us, however, that Jeremiah 29.11 is preceded by Jeremiah 29.10: “10 This is what the LORD says: ‘When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place.’” The promise came 70 years before the fulfillment. 70 years! Meanwhile, the nation disintegrated and the people were carried into exile.

Bentz provides illustrations to help us appreciate the importance of keeping the ultimate goal in sight while going through or entering into periods of waiting. The worsening situations that often go with waiting would otherwise prevent us from being willing to trust and obey: “What if in our homes we decided we had zero tolerance for the discomfort that goes along with remodeling or repairs. If the carpet wore through, we wouldn’t replace it. If the furnace died, we would go cold. If pipes burst, we would go without water. Our insistence on short-term stability would cause us long term misery. The same is true in other areas of our life. Why would we allow a surgeon to slice into our bodies in ways that will make us endure days or weeks of recovery? We put up with the pain and inconvenience for the sake of our long-term health. Why do athletes give up hours of their lives each day to difficult and painful training? They do it for the long-term rewards of increased physical accomplishment” (p. 57).

As you go through your periods of waiting and as things seem to worsen, remember the words of the old hymn: “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” (John Sammis).


This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Isaiah 53.12: Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.