Do You Trust In God?

Beloved,

First, I want to thank Zion Memorial so much for accompanying me to Fairburn, GA to celebrate my former pastor's, Reverend Robert Stanley, 35th Pastoral Anniversary. The whole weekend was a joy and I am so thankful that all made it safely to GA and back home. Opportunities like this to spend time together will make us closer and stronger as a church family.

Now, everything did not go without a hitch. The bus had some air conditioning challenges. In my flight to GA, some of my bags did not arrive on time and we had a major challenge with receiving some food that we ordered such that we did not eat until close to or after midnight on Friday.

Now, if it sounds like I am complaining, to a certain degree, I am; BUT, there is nothing wrong with complaining as long as you do it to the right person.

You see, when you complain to people just like you, you should expect for them to respond just like people like you; BUT, what if you took your complaints to God?

When we complain to God, we are going to the one who can do anything but fail and who, in the midst of our complaints, will often use these difficult situations to show, reveal and teach us something that we might otherwise miss.

Now, when we complain to others, we can often simply stoke the flames of self-pity and rage that do nothing but make a bad situation worse.

At the end of the day, it is a matter of trust.

Do you trust in yourself? How is that working for you? I have tried that and I can only do so much.

Do you trust in others? How is that working for you? I have tried that and others can only do so much. Plus, they have problems of their own.

Or, do you trust in God? How is that working for you? Now, I have tried that and I have seen God do everything but fail. I do not always get my way; but, God has a way that is mighty sweet.

King David put it this way in Psalm 25:1-2, "To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust."

Beloved, do you trust in God?

God has given you life and life everlasting with the promise to cover you, keep you, provide for you and protect you for the days in between.

If you can look back over your life, just for the last week, has God not come through for you?

While the bus had some challenges, we prayed about it and God cooled the weather to make it more comfortable.

While my bags showed up late, we prayed about it and I was able to retrieve them with everything we had packed for the trip.

While we did not get to eat what we wanted, we prayed about it and we were still able to eat.

God took care of us. God always does. God always has. God always will. We can trust in God.

As you go through your day, the temptation to complain to others is going to be there. Let me suggest an alternative that will help you and help someone else too.

Take the temptation to complain to others, retrieve and redeem the value in it and instead of complaining to others, pray to God about it.

Turn your temptation into an opportunity.

Show that you trust in God.

Beloved, we are praying for a few within the church family right now for their faith and trust in God to be increased. Please keep the Wilson family lifted up during this period of bereavement for the loss of Rose Wilson's son, Johnny. Also, please keep the Bailey family lifted up as Sister Valerie Bailey deals with another sickle cell crisis. Let our prayers show that we trust in God.

Also, we will not have HOPE Wednesday this evening as we take the time to get refreshed from our GA trip.

And, remember, God loves you and I love you too!

Be blessed,

Rev. Cain