It came to him that the human body, like the human soul, was a strange thing and capable of recovering from terrible shocks.”
–Zane Grey (Riders of the Purple Sage)
“For what God has said applies to everyone— it will not be changed! Not one person whose life is twisted by sin will ever recover.”
–Ezekiel 7:13 (NLT)
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The key to living a Christian life has always been faith. “Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6, HCSB) And we must remember that we are saved by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2:8) Now, how do we show faith? It is not really that hard, and if we follow the key phrase of this hymn our life will be much more joyful and faith will continue to grow.
“When we walk with the Lord, In the Light of His Word
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.”
–J.H. Sammis
What is it that can ever bother us? What is it that can even bring us down? Why should we doubt? In fact, doubting is the opposite of faith and trust. If you truly want to be joyful, no matter the situation you find yourself in, then trust and obey. Do the days seem long and the burden heavy.? At the end of the day you can’t wait to get rid of the burden and sit down in your easy chair or recline of the sofa. The day is done, but the burden will be there for you to pick up again tomorrow–oh joy! Yet, we are told to pick up our cross daily. We must obey, and He is there to ease the toil. His burden is light, but only when we remember to trust and obey.
“Not a shadow can rise, Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, Not a sigh nor a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear, Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief nor a loss, Not a frown or a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.”
The key to it all is trusting and obeying. We cannot hold on to things ourselves. We cannot strive to be autonomous. Grief, sorrow and the toil will seem oh so heavy if we don’t put everything down on the altar. People pray, “Lord, bless me,” but still want to go their own way and do their own thing. Blessings come, true blessings that is, only when everything is on the altar and we are fully trusting and obeying. Do you want a joyful life–then trust and obey. To walk by His side means just that–trusting and obeying. Do you truly say that you will do what He wants, what He tells you? If so, you are on the right road.
“But we never can prove The delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For a favor He shows, And the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Then in fellowship sweet We will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, Where He sends we will go,
Never fear, only trust and obey.”
We so often want the happiness that the world seems to offer. We think God has blessed us when we attain the material goods that man has to offer, when in reality we are missing the true concept of wealth. Many shrink from God because they think He wants to make them miserable and deny them the things that they think will make them happy. They are so wrong, for true happiness comes only when we trust and obey.
“Trust and obey,
for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.”