Teetering on Hopelessness
True trust is not passive resignation, but active belief in God's sovereignty and initiation.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the profound nature of trust in God, illustrating it as an active leap of faith rather than mere resignation to circumstances. He contrasts true trust, which involves a confident surrender to God's will, with a passive acceptance of trials that lacks genuine faith. Wilkerson encourages believers to recognize that God is not merely a responder to life's challenges but the initiator of their paths, assuring them that He has a divine plan and purpose for their lives. He reassures the congregation that God is intimately aware of their struggles and is in control of every situation they face. Ultimately, Wilkerson calls for a trusting heart that looks to God with confidence and assurance.
Text
Over and over, David testified, "In the Lord I put my trust" (Psalm 11:1). The Hebrew root-word for trust suggests "to fling oneself off a precipice." That is, to be like a child who hears his father say, "Jump!" and who confidently obeys, throwing himself off the edge and into his father's arms.
That is one aspect of trust. In fact, you may be in that place even now -- on the edge, teetering, wanting to fling yourself off into the arms of Jesus. You may have resigned yourself to your situation and called it trust, but that is no more than numbness. Trust is much more than passive resignation. It is active belief.
Many of us limit our trust to a rescue operation as if to say to the Lord, "I trust you to come and put out all my fires, save me from all my troubles, and deliver me out of all my trials. I know you will be there, Lord, when I need you." In doing this, we think our faith is stretched and pleasing to God. We don't realize that we are crediting the devil with being the causer and the Lord as the reactor. This viewpoint makes God seem like he simply reacts to all the devil's well-laid plans. But our God never reacts -- he initiates!
The trusting heart says, "All my steps are ordered by the Lord, and he is my loving Father. He permits suffering, temptation and trial but never more than I can bear, for he always makes a way of escape. He has an eternal plan and purpose for me. He has numbered every hair on my head. He knows when I sit, stand or lie down. I am the apple of his eye! He is my Lord -- not only of my life, but over every event and situation touching my life."
Dearly beloved, that is trust! Look to him today with a trusting heart and be assured that -- without a doubt -- God has everything under control.
Sermon Outline
- The Hebrew Root-Word for Trust
- The Difference Between Resignation and Trust
- Limiting Our Trust
- The Trusting Heart
- All steps are ordered by the Lord
- God permits suffering, but always makes a way of escape
Key Quotes
“That is one aspect of trust. In fact, you may be in that place even now -- on the edge, teetering, wanting to fling yourself off into the arms of Jesus.” — David Wilkerson
“Our God never reacts -- he initiates!” — David Wilkerson
“Dearly beloved, that is trust! Look to him today with a trusting heart and be assured that -- without a doubt -- God has everything under control.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- We should look to God with a trusting heart, knowing he has everything under control.
- Our trust should be active, not passive resignation.
- We should recognize God's initiation and sovereignty in our lives.