Blind Trust in God
“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” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
The U.S sends blind runners to the Summer Paralympic games every four years. But how do they run around the track? Answer: the buddy system.
Athletes are paired with sighted guides who run with them step for step. They shout out potential obstacles and let them know how far they have left to go. Runners and guides are tethered at the wrist, which helps the runner stay in his lane. For the runners who need them, guides are a critical asset. Guides don’t just show up on race day. They share an intense training schedule and close bond with their runners so the two are in sync.
If you trust someone, you can relax your mind completely knowing that what they say they will do will actually happen—every single time, no matter what’s going on. They won’t run you off the track. Quite frankly, apart from my wife, I would say I have little trust in anyone or anything today. Trust, in other words, is not my go-to response in most circumstances. I assume that most people are going to run me off the track until they prove me wrong.
In the midst of all this dis-trust, God almost annoyingly beckons me to always trust Him. Always trusting God means—literally—that I can rest my mind fully on His integrity, authenticity, and justice 100% of the time, in every circumstance of my life.
If you are struggling with trusting God, here are a few things you might consider:
(1) Give up your idea about how things should happen. We may not get what we want, but we always get what we need in God’s economy (Rom. 8:28).
(2) Tell God that you’re worried, but then tell Him that you know that He’s in control. Remember too that you are also, to some extent, a “blind runner” who sees through a glass darkly (1 Cor. 13:12).
(3) Ask others to share their God-stories of trust or read biographies of leading Christian figures. Hearing how God has shown up in someone else’s life can teach you about trusting God.
(4) Be filled with gratitude. Thank God for what He’s already done in your life. A lack of gratitude is a roadblock to trusting God.
(5) Soak your mind in God’s word. When you doubt, read God’s promises. Replace your worried, doubt-filled thoughts with God’s truths. He is faithful. Scripture proves it.
A major misconception about guided runners is that they can’t be as elite as un-guided runners. But in a recent Paralympic game, four visually impaired runners finished the 1,500-meter race faster than the sighted man who won the Olympic gold medal a few weeks prior.[1] Go figure.
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle with trust the most? How do you communicate your trust to others? Are you someone others would consider trustworthy?
Today’s Challenge: Read Scripture today that focuses on trusting in God. For example, Joshua 1:9, 2 Samuel 7:28; Psalm 9:10; 13:5; John 14:1; Romans 15:13. Select a verse or story that speaks to you about trust. Meditate on it throughout the day. Write down one observation about trust in your journal.
—Robert Woods, PhD, Exec. Director, CCSN
Notes
[1] https://www.insider.com/how-do-blind-runners-compete-paralympics-2016-9