Glen - Are You Trusting God?

Are You Trusting God?

by Glen Cuthbert

While reading "I Kissed Dating Goodbye", I found a summary of a story from William J. Bennett's Book of Virtues. It's the story of Peter, a boy who tends to be impatient and is constantly daydreaming of the future.

One day while wandering in the forests, Peter meets a strange old woman who gives him a most tantalizing opportunity—the chance to skip the dull, mundane moments of life. She hands Peter a silver ball from which a tiny gold thread protrudes. “This is your life thread,” she explains. “Do not touch it and time will pass normally. But if you wish time to pass more quickly, you have only to pull the thread a little way and an hour will pass like a second. But I warn you, once the thread has been pulled out, it cannot be pushed back in again.”

This magical thread seems the answer to all of Peter’s problems. It is just what he has always wanted. He takes the ball and runs home.

The following day in school Peter has his first opportunity to put the silver ball to use. The lesson is dragging, and the teacher scolds Peter for not concentrating. Peter fingers the silver ball and gives the thread a slight tug. Suddenly, the teacher dismisses the class, and Peter is free to leave school. He is overjoyed! How easy his life will now be. From this moment, Peter begins to pull the thread a little every day.

But soon Peter begins to use the magic thread to rush through larger portions of life. Why waste time pulling the thread just a little every day when he can pull it hard and complete school altogether?He does so and finds himself out of school and apprenticed in trade. Peter uses the same technique to rush through his engagement to his sweetheart. He cannot bear and wait months to marry her so he uses the gold thread to hasten the arrival of the wedding day.

Peter continues to pattern throughout his life when hard, trying times come, he escapes then with his magic thread.

But sadly when he comes to the end of his life, Peter realizes the emptiness of such an existence. By allowing impatience and discontentment to rule him, Peter has robbed himself of life’s riches moments and memories. With only the grave to look forward to, he deeply regrets ever having used the magic thread.

How many of us waste our time wondering, dreaming and fretting about the future? I've been guilty of it, and I'm sure you have too. People are naturally curious, and the future provides the greatest unknown. Marriage is very far away for many of us, so why worry about it? I know a twelve year old girl that is constantly asking, "Could this guy be the one?" She still has at least eight years before she can get married! Yet, many of us do the same thing, asking, "Could this guy/girl be the one?" I'll tell you right now. They're not. At least not yet. Until that "yet" happens, do we need to worry about it? NO!

Just think how much more could we do for God, if we would focus on today, instead of tomorrow. God knows how it will go, and He is in control. All we need to do is trust Him. God is the Author and Storyteller of our lives.The story is already completely written, and He knows how it ends, but He chooses to read it to us one chapter at a time for a reason. Here are a few verses for you to think about:

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths"

Matthew 6:34a "Take no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself."

Psalm 27:14 "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."

Psalm 37:5 "Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."

There is no need to worry about who God wants you to marry. Don't try to peek ahead in the book! God doesn't want you to know that yet! Instead, trust that He cares about you, and that He will do what is best for you.

Have a blessed Easter, and remember the sacrifice that Jesus made, because he LOVED us.