Trust Nobody, But Despair of Nobody
Posted in Patty's Posts, Relationships 0 comments
"While He
was in Jerusalem at Passover time, during the festivities many believed
in Him as they saw the signs that He gave. But Jesus did
not trust himself to them—for He knew them all. He did not need anyone
to tell Him what people were like: He understood human nature" (John 2:23-25, J.B. Phillips New Testament).
Jesus knows what is in the hearts of each one of us, so when He walked this earth, He knew better than to trust in any man. Even the 12 men He walked with and performed miracles with on a daily basis fled when it would seem He needed them the most.
That's just the point, though -- He didn't NEED them at all. He was so completely His Father's that He did not need other people. His agony at Gethsemane was such that He sweat drops of blood as He prayed. He asked the disciples to watch with Him -- He wanted them to intercede on His behalf as He asked God to spare Him an excruciating death on a cross. But even then, in a time of overwhelming sorrow and need, the disciples failed Him. They fell asleep. Peter even denied he knew Jesus, because he was afraid he might also be crucified.
A recent Oswald Chambers devotional addressed Jesus' attitude about all this, and it blows me away:
Unfortunately I am not at the point yet that I "trust no man," but I have come a long way. I am learning that God is the only one who warrants my complete trust. I try not to place unrealistic expectations on other people, and instead trust the Holy Spirit to work in them. I am learning to rejoice instead of complain, and pray instead of worry. If someone is mean and grumpy, it's okay. If somebody doesn't like me, that's okay too. And I've actually come to view being "unfriended" on Facebook as a badge of honor. It usually means I spoke truth that got all up in somebody's business, and they didn't have the courage to take a long, hard look at themselves.
I am not saying I'm a "Lone Ranger Christian" who doesn't need relationships. God is big on relationships, and we are to build each other up in our faith. What I am saying is that I am learning to not trust in human relationships, because they are fickle. And I am learning, to my joy and delight, that when I trust God implicitly and guard my relationship with Him above all else, suddenly the pain and disappointment of other relationships does not affect me nearly as much.
Trust your Father in heaven, my friends. Psalm 84:10 says that ONE DAY in His courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. If you have not spent a day in His courts for a while, and you are getting sour about other people, it's time to get on your face before God and give Him the glory due His Name. The sweetness of His presence is like no other, and you will come away wondering why you didn't do it long ago!
That's just the point, though -- He didn't NEED them at all. He was so completely His Father's that He did not need other people. His agony at Gethsemane was such that He sweat drops of blood as He prayed. He asked the disciples to watch with Him -- He wanted them to intercede on His behalf as He asked God to spare Him an excruciating death on a cross. But even then, in a time of overwhelming sorrow and need, the disciples failed Him. They fell asleep. Peter even denied he knew Jesus, because he was afraid he might also be crucified.
A recent Oswald Chambers devotional addressed Jesus' attitude about all this, and it blows me away:
Our Lord never put His trust in any person. Yet He was never bitter, never suspicious, and never lost hope for anyone, because He put His trust in God first. He trusted absolutely in what God's grace could do for others.This is amazing to me. Human relationships really bite sometimes, and I have been hurt and disappointed more times than I care to recount. Yet Jesus says I don't need to despair. I don't need to be cynical and bitter about people. Why? Because He is my Father, and a proper relationship with Him means my happiness and fulfillment in life does not depend on human relationships. Yes, I treasure my husband, my kids and grandkids. I treasure the friends He has given me, but I realize they are all fallible just as I am. They will not always be there when I need them. They will fail me at times, just as I have failed them.
Unfortunately I am not at the point yet that I "trust no man," but I have come a long way. I am learning that God is the only one who warrants my complete trust. I try not to place unrealistic expectations on other people, and instead trust the Holy Spirit to work in them. I am learning to rejoice instead of complain, and pray instead of worry. If someone is mean and grumpy, it's okay. If somebody doesn't like me, that's okay too. And I've actually come to view being "unfriended" on Facebook as a badge of honor. It usually means I spoke truth that got all up in somebody's business, and they didn't have the courage to take a long, hard look at themselves.
I am not saying I'm a "Lone Ranger Christian" who doesn't need relationships. God is big on relationships, and we are to build each other up in our faith. What I am saying is that I am learning to not trust in human relationships, because they are fickle. And I am learning, to my joy and delight, that when I trust God implicitly and guard my relationship with Him above all else, suddenly the pain and disappointment of other relationships does not affect me nearly as much.
Trust your Father in heaven, my friends. Psalm 84:10 says that ONE DAY in His courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. If you have not spent a day in His courts for a while, and you are getting sour about other people, it's time to get on your face before God and give Him the glory due His Name. The sweetness of His presence is like no other, and you will come away wondering why you didn't do it long ago!
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