‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus by Louisa M.R. Stead & William J. Kilpatrick(1882) sung by Casting Crowns
Today I hope you will begin by listening to what may be a familiar hymn. This is where this teaching began for me yesterday. I was struck by the simplicity of the song.
“Just to take Him at His word…†A child asks the parent a question and takes the answer at face value. No doubts. And then comes a day when a parent or friend doesn’t follow through with their promise. You can see the trust die in their eyes. Like a child, I look at the promises of God in His Word and believe. Then a day comes when I ask or believe God for an answer – and He doesn’t respond the way I thought He would. Or I read a promise and believed it for my situation but do not see that answer. Jesus said that the Kingdom belonged to the children and we should receive the Kingdom like a child (Mark 10:14-15). It is receiving from our Father what He wills for us, knowing it is “the bestâ€. Just take the Father at His word. Trust Him.
“How I’ve proved Him over and over…†I can have a short memory. I love flipping through old photo albums or my picture file on my computer. I laugh and get a tear as I remember wonderful times and the people who were a part of it. My prayer journals are like that. Snapshots of what God has done in my life that I might otherwise forget. So many times when God has moved in my life at just the right moment. I may have thought Him slow or late. But I can look back now and see the “faith muscle†that He has built in me.
“Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend; And I know that You are with me, Will be with me to the end…†Whether it is the end of my life here on earth or the end of a difficult season in my life, I know that Jesus, Savior and Friend, will be with me every step of the way. When all others are too busy or too oblivious or just too tired themselves, Jesus is right here.
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All power in heaven and on earth is given to me. So go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything that I have taught you, and I will be with you always, even until the end of this age.” Â Â Â Matthew 28:18-20 (NCV, emphasis mine)
Trusting Jesus and believing what He says isn’t always sweet promises. Often they are challenging words and correcting words. Accepting these words is another part of trusting Him. It is looking Jesus face to face – and seeing the love that will get me through those hard times. Pick any of the prophets and read the difficult words. Follow Jesus into the Garden where His sweat was like blood and hear Him cry out to the Father for a different plan, a different answer. And then He got up and continued to walk toward the Cross. Jesus doesn’t ask me to move into a level trust that He hasn’t already walked. Yes, it is sweet to trust Jesus. I am still learning to do so.
I have a feeling that I am going to be humming this song all weekend, with the phrases floating through my spirit. Thank You, LORD, for the inspiration of this song. Thank You for walking so close to me and not giving up on me. It is so good to trust in You.
