Trust Him

Some people are claustrophobic – a sensitivity to confined or enclosed spaces.  They often prefer the aisle seat or the stairs instead of the elevator.  Personally, claustrophobia doesn’t affect me although I could quickly become that way if confined to those places with certain people!

 

God has a way of backing us into the corner sometimes.  The most natural response is, of course, panic but that’s not why He puts us there.  In John 21, Jesus asked Peter three times “do you love Me.”  Peter’s first two answers were “yes,” but it was the third time that grieved him. (V.17).  Jesus wasn’t hard-of-hearing nor was He displeased with the first two answers, rather, He was probing Peter’s most inner being.  Oswald Chambers makes a very profound statement, “nothing goes through to that place except the word of God.”  There are times in our lives when God allows circumstances to be the probe of our devotion to Christ – times when we must seriously consider if our faith is real or just something we “put on” like an overcoat.  It is in those most serious of moments when the real me is revealed: “The Lord’s questions always reveal me to myself.” (Chambers).  For me, it’s usually a wakeup call to how deep or shallow Christ is in my life; is He really my “Hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).  Is God probing you these days with a difficult circumstance, troublesome relationships, are you at a critical life intersection?  It’s no time to panic!  This One God Who probes is also the One God Who delivers, heals, comforts, defends, strengthens.  Experience all those things – trust Him!