Trust

This past Sunday, after we worshipped with the Eastridge Church online, we saw an interview with Oprah Winfrey on her program, “Super Soul Sunday” of William P. Young, author of The Shack.  The book sold millions of copies and was made into a popular film of faith by the same title.  Mr. Young has written other books including a recent book, Lies We Believe About God. What was interesting about this interview was the life of Mr. Young and the transformation that has happened in him and his faith. He is very passionate about his faith and clear about who Jesus Christ is for him and humankind.  That transformation has taken years.

Essentially, Young had been fairly successful, but in his marriage, he slipped into an affair of which his wife discovered and confronted him.  It took years of total openness and honesty to clear the suspicion and mistrust that understandably took place.  To add more complication, Young experienced a major financial failure and had to sell his home and other possessions – essentially becoming bankrupt.  He and his family stuck it through. They ended up taking some small rental property on land that grew Christmas trees.  

One telling thing at this time was that Young had friends who could have written one check and cleared all debts! The opposite happened.  He went to his friends and asked them to not do a thing for him – that he would need them in more friendlier support of prayer and encouragement. But, Young’s wife said for her husband to write a poem or a story that would express his feelings and attitude for his children – it was all they could afford. In less than two hours, Young wrote what would become The Shack.   What a Christmas gift!

The interview asked a lot of questions of Young’s life, but more how he experienced his transformation and grew in his faith. That is quite complicated, but one take-a-way that I heard was this: to give up control and trust God. Easier said than done! I heard that Young took major risk every day to trust the grace of God to be with him – enough grace for one day.  Prayerfully, he continues to ask for that one day’s allotment of grace which he knows will go with him.  It helps to take the risks of trust; of letting go of control; and daring to risk investment in relationship with people. It is a daily risk accompanied by the power of that daily allotment of grace.

Young tells of a time when people had come to his home to demonstrate against him for what he had written in The Shack.  He went outside and asked them what they were concerned about and if any one of them had read the book.  No one had read it!  Then, he surprised them by acknowledging that he was the author.  I am not sure what the conversation was afterwards, but one thing stuck with me.  Young had brought many bottles of cold water to the crowd to drink since it was such a hot day.  It was a risk to show such grace and trust when needed.

Our take-a-way is to pray that we let go of our desire for security and control. We ask to be given a daily amount of grace to get us through each day. Then, we dare that God’s grace will fortify us through His Holy Spirit to show the love of Jesus Christ through the relationships we encounter each day. We will find it hard at times and a blessing at times, but God is with us every time.  

I share the verse my wife, Cathy has treasured in her life from Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Prayer: O God, take away my need to control. Grant me the bountiful gift of your grace this day and every day. Fortify me with Your Spirit in the risk to trust Your grace to be sufficient for every need and relationship I have. May You always guide and uphold me in Your Love through Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

Rev. Dr. John J. Duling