Hardships and Trust

Hardships are a part of our lived experiences. We all have them, and they are not easy. I read this morning about the Comforter and how we won’t really know His comfort until we live through our hardships. This takes me to Jeremiah 17:7, “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.” 

     Living our experiences, walking hand-in-hand with God, strengthens our trust. Hold tight to God through the hardships. He will get us through them. 

     I end with Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the goof of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” We are all called for His purpose – to become children of God. 

The Big Picture

I have lived in my home for over 20 years with the same painted walls and same counter-tops. I am ready for a remodel! I still like what I have, and there are some mis-givings on color change. I still; however, want to lighten the walls. I just cannot see the big picture!

     This is similar to faith; I don’t always see the big picture. In honestly, I never see the big picture until hind-sight. I just know that God is in control of my life. I fall back to Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”

The Promise

My devotional today stated that a promise is valuable only if the one making it is trustworthy. I can agree with that. 

      I was raised to follow-up whenever I made a promise to do something. In fact, the definition of a promise is a declaration or assurance that one will do a particular thing or that a particular thing will happen. 

     Have you ever had a friend tell you he would do something, but it never got done? What a disappointment! I was told one time in a program I was involved to “not expect and you would not be disappointed.” That is true, but it takes away from the hope of completion. 

     So, what should I do when I make a promise?

 

P roceed with what I stated I would do

R ise up and getting started with what I promised to do

O vercome any desire to not follow-through with the promise

M ake my promise happen

I mplement a plan to compete the promise 

S et in to get it done

E nd the job- in other words, complete the promise! 

 

     What I need to remember is the example Jesus set when He made a promise. He did not just say He came to save. He actually died on the cross to save. He didn’t just say He would rise the 3^rd day. He arose the 3^rd day. He didn’t just say He was going away to prepare a place for me. He has actually prepared a permanent place for me. I trust in that. Jesus didn’t just say He would send a Helper. He actually sent the Helper, the Holy Spirit, and He live within. Jesus keeps His promises!

A Shining Star

A Shining Star

 

I wish not upon a shining star

Up above so far.

I look to the Word, so true.

I do not wish, but pray it through.

It makes no difference who I are,

A dream is not built upon a shining star;

It’s God who sees me through.

He is the One so true!

It’s He who set the star

Up above so far,

But it’s only there to give me light,

Shining up so bright.

I wish not upon its power

For God is my mighty tower.

I wish not upon a shining star

Up above so far.

God’s the One who grants my needs;

He hears and heeds.

I do not wish, but pray it through

To the One, so true.

 

Mary Crisp Jameson 8/9/2025

 

“God made two great lights-the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.” Genesis 1:16 NIV 

 

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.” 2 Peter 1:3 NIV

 

Trust in the Lord with your Prayers - He Hears!

It is hard to know how or what to pray at times, but God cares whether I know how or not. He just wants me to share my honest feelings with Him, and He will take it from there. Nothing is too small or too big to pray about; My words just need to come from my heart.  God works in small ways, and He works in big ways. God understands! God hears! God listens! 

     I look to John 14, where Jesus says, “Whatever you ask in my name, that will I do so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything, I will do it.” 

     At the same time there are other verses which tell me that if I do not receive, it may be because I ask with the wrong intent, or without forgiveness in our heart, or God has determined it is not in my best interest, or even that it is not in God’s timing. I just have to understand that there will be times when I may be disappointed with unanswered prayers. This only teaches me patience, courage, and a continuing trust in the Lord. I just need to keep praying!

     I also look at Jeremiah 1:6-9 “But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, I am a youth, because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them…vs 9 “Then the Lord stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me, Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.”  

The Cloudy Mirror

The is always something that happens in life when we want to question, "Why God?" The answer can seem rather cloudy, at best. 

The Cloudy Mirror

 

“Why, God?” I ask.

Why is my view concealed like a mask?

I only see as in a cloudy mirror. 

I wish an answer, clearer.

“Why did this thing happen or take place?”

“Why did my loved one die so soon?”

Why must I suffer pain?

What is there to gain?

“Why did my friend turn and walk away?”

“Why am I in such despair, 

And live to shed a tear?”

I see as in a cloudy mirror, unclear,

And I wait to hear.

I wish to see Your face reflected back to me,

But it’s all cloudy as I struggle to see.

And God answered,

“Why do you ask ‘why’

When things go awry?”

You see as in a cloudy mirror,

Quite unclear,

But you are given grace

Until you see me face to face.

Then you will know,

But for today, just grow.

Grow in faith, hope, and love.

 Within your cloudy view, my dear,

I am love, and I am near;

Just trust! 

 

Mary Crisp Jameson 

 

 “Now all we can see of God is like a cloudy picture in a mirror. Later we will see Him face to face. We don’t know everything, but then we will, just as God completely understands us. For now, there are faith, hope, and love. But of these three, the greatest is love. 

1 Corinthians 13:12-13 CEV

.

 

Consider God's Ways

Consider the: 

 faint whisper

 loud shout

 enticement

 allurement

 driving desire

 continuous thought

 urging from within

 

From whom does it come? What could it be? 

Temptation beyond God’s given boundaries 

or 

A nudging to do something right? 

 

Whatever it is, take it to the Lord, first and foremost. Consider God’s ways! 

 

2 Corinthians 11:3 “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” 

 

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” 

 

Look For The Beauty

When I completed the attached coloring page, I was reminded how I can "find beauty in the small things of life" by simply looking for it.  Whether in a holding pattern waiting for God's timetable, feeling lonely, or all is well, I just need to keep on TRUSTING and looking  for the beauty that surrounds me. Something as beautiful as a butterfly or a flower in bloom can put a smile on my face.

 

Trust vs Fear

Life can be overwhelming, but is it too overwhelming to have faith in God, as well? I have to ask myself, “Do I want to be like Thomas, who said, ‘Unless I see in His hand the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe?’”

     Over and over we are told in scripture, “Do not fear.” God does not want us to fear which leads to worry. He wants us to release our cares to Him with complete trust. He wants us to let Him do the job so we can live a truly carefree life in our walk with Him.  I admit that "seeing is believing", but I want to believe without seeing first.

    

Trust and Prayer

 Trusting God seems easy as long as all is going well but when trouble comes along, where do we find our help?  Certainly, not within ourselves, we still have to trust and rely on God.  Never let your faith waiver.   God walks with us through our trials. 

My prayer:  Strengthen my belief within my grief.  Fix my eyes, O Lord, on you and, in troubling times, bring me through.  Within life's bumps, twists, and turns, I've much to learn.  When temptation burns, turn my attention to your concerns.  When my trust falters, weaken my knees to fall before your kingly alter.  Your love never fails; it prevails.  It's never altered.  Fill me Lord, so my thoughts and mind have so space to keep me in anxiety entwined.  My trust and faith remain in you as each new day I am made anew.  Amen 

'Tis So Sweet

     Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

     When I consider who I trust the most, I can honestly say it would be members of my family, but only to a limited degree, because they are not experts in handling all my needs.  Only God can do this.  He is the only One who can supply both my eternal security and all my earthly needs.  For this I am truly grateful. 

"Tis Sweet

'Tis so sweet to trust in you,

The one who made me new.

From morning's break through night-time dew,

Your words ring true.

You've proved it o'er and o'er

As you simply give me more.

Through stormy, cloudy weather,

We walk together.

When raindrops puddle beneath my feet,

Your love endures, so soft and sweet.

'Tis so precious to  trust in you,

My Savior, my friend, so true.

From the cross to the nail-scared hand,

Your strength helps me firmly stand.

And, if I fall through sinful pride - my own,

You are there- I'm never alone.

Oh! 'Tis so sweet, I owe it all

To the Cross, amazing Grace, the Savior's call.

In all I do,

'Tis so sweet to trust in you.

                                          Mary Crisp Jameson



Trust

     Are you ever disappointed because a friend let you down?  Or you trusted someone who deceived you?  When this happens, it makes you want to withdraw from sharing even happy events in life.  Yet there is a friend we can all trust, and His name is Jesus.  He not only died for us in order to give us life, but He wants us to trust Him with every thought, feeling, and event in life. 
     Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

    Trust in Me

Trust in me!

My presence is everywhere;
When you are troubled I am near-
  I am here!
My love is evermore, sincere.
Call on me!
My presence is in your heart;
  in the depths; we're not apart. 
Do not despair-
Trust in me!
I care for the sparrow;
  the smallest of birds.
Know!  I have heard.
Do not be afraid.
You are worth more than birds-
  listen to my Words.
Trust in Me!
All those burdened and weak,
  listen to what I speak.
Trust in Me!
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost- I am He!
I will give you rest and peace-
With me, your burdens will cease.    
My presence is everywhere;
  in the depths and in the air.
Watch and see -
Trust in me!
                    Mary Crisp Jameson

Matthew 6:26  Behold the fowls of the air; for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Keep Me Young

    As adults, what's missing in our lives?  Could it be childlike trust as shown by the little girl who asked her mother for a kitten and was told, "No! Not unless God sends you one."  So the child immediately went outside, got on her knees, and prayed, "Lord, please send me a kitten." When the child opened her eyes, a kitten came sailing through the air and landed at her feet.  Her simple, trusting prayer had been answered.  It didn't matter that the neighbor across the way had just tied a rope to a tree limb  and then to the hitch of his truck in an attempt to get a stranded kitten out of his tree. The rope broke, the tree limb popped back in place, and the kitten went sailing across the sky. 
     Sometimes trust, laughter, and just getting rid of the stored up garbage of disappointments and resentments along life's highway of life will bring blessings, joy, and a youthful heart. 

            

 

 KEEP ME YOUNG

Keep me young, Lord, keep me young,

Like little children

With laughter dancing off their tongue,

While chasing friends across the glen.

Keep me laughing, full of joy

Like a playful, grade school boy;

Like the children and the young,

Dreaming dreams

Through the seasons that have sprung,

Waking, flowing as the streams.

Let my love flow easily through my days,

Awed by heaven’s rainbow rays.  

Don’t let me age, Lord, don’t let me age.

Give me childlike faith and trust,

Hope through the turning of a page, 

A life with treasures free of rust.

Make me childlike through the day,

Loving, sharing in my play.

Help me rid my heartfelt pain.
Keep me trusting as a child,
Dancing, singing through drizzling rain;

Open, growing, meek and mild.

Keep me smiling in this place,
Joyful in my homeland space.
Keep me young, Lord, keep me young.

                                                         Mary Crisp Jameson