Trust verses Betrayal

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV).

It is hard to trust God in one’s daily walk. Can you imagine all that was contained in Jesus’ cry from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” It is impossible fully to understand the mind of Christ as he fulfilled the Father’s will. Perhaps Spurgeon said it best, “There are seasons when the brightness of our Father's smile is eclipsed by clouds and darkness; but let us remember that God never does really forsake us. It is only a seeming forsaking with us, but in Christ's case it was a real forsaking.”

In our case, our cry is often dictated by unbelief; when, like Christ, we have been betrayed by the trust placed in another, whether person or entity, and been blindsided by actions contrary to promises and prior dealings. The spoken promises of human beings mean less and less to me as years pass by, and I find myself growing more accepting and trusting of even the unrevealed promises of God. Like with Christ, betrayal does not come from the pit of hell as much as the want for, and the greedy love of, money. As the religious establishment of Jesus’ day bought His betrayal for silver, money still rules religious establishments, lost in its self-serving power struggles, with only a fainthearted prayer for saintly appearances. Trust placed in these entities so created to help others in the endeavor of advancing the Kingdom is a misguided trust, a truth I sometimes forget.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, soul, and might. Do not lean on understanding picked up from misguided trust in the words of men and women who say they want to help you fulfill God’s vision. There is a spiritual struggle that goes on, and it does appear there may be a Judas in each of us, if, and when, Satan’s temptation comes on us at our weakest point with our strongest desire. Is this not the lesson Peter learned? Is this not the lesson we must each learn? Is this not why the Bible cautions us to take heed lest we fall?

Today, as I have my coffee with God, I find Him asking questions that make me uncomfortable. Since my cup is almost empty, and I attempt to avoid that which makes me upcomfortable, I will end on this question: What is your price of betrayal? Be careful now, for the test is coming.