From Behind The Counter

Perspectives on the Landscape of Life

By DJ Note

 

 

Sit Tight And Trust

 

“Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time.”—Oswald Chambers

I watched an inspirational uTube from “Britian’s Got Talent” featuring a man singing Nessun Dorma. It began, “Believe in yourself… even when no one else believes in you.” (bold mine)

With his dreams on the line, the man ended in a crescendo that brought the house down in thunderous applause. Then white letters scrolled across the screen that read, “Never underestimate what’s inside you that makes you special.”

Great advice—if you don’t discount the Living God. The gift the singer so gloriously demonstrated is due to The One in whom our confidence should rest. Placing confidence solely in our ability to do or produce is a frightening prospect, if you ask me, because man is fallible. God is not.

Having accompanied my elderly parents to Nashville to visit family last spring, we arrived back at the airport for our return flight. Unable to ascend the steep stairs into the airplane, it took personnel the better part of thirty minutes to accommodate Mom with a ramp. Concerned over our delay, I asked the attendant if we would make our connecting flight in Denver. A night in a motel wouldn’t do. Dad was weary, and serious fatigue settled on Mom’s face. They needed to get home.

Please God; help us make our connection. I found myself repeating my prayer. Stop! He knows. Now trust.

As we approached Denver, the attendant came to me. “This is unusual. The pilot reports this is the plane going on to Medford. A fresh crew will be coming on so you’ll only need to deplane, then re-board.” 

Lord, Mom’s too weak to walk down and back up that ramp again. Please keep us on this plane.

“My mother suffers from severe osteoporosis and macular degeneration.” (I’d been messaging her crooked back all the way from Nashville.) “Is it possible for us to remain on the plane?”

“It’s against regulation.” She smiled then said, “but let me talk with the pilot.” She walked toward the cockpit, returning momentarily. “The pilot has to obtain clearance from the oncoming crew. Just sit tight when we land. I’ll let you know.”

In Denver, passengers deplaned as we waited. Minutes ticked by. Nervously Dad demanded, “We’d better get off so Mom can rest before we have to get back on.”

“Let’s sit tight and trust God.” My insides jittered.

P-l-e-e-e-a-s-e Lord. I was begging again, as if God had forgotten my prayer.  You asked, trust.

The Pilot approached with the attendant close behind.

“Hello, Ma’am. May I have your boarding passes, please?” He greeted my weary parents with a nod then said, “You folks relax. I’ll take care of this personally.”

Personally! He’ll take care of this personally! Isn’t that just like God?

And isn’t that precisely what He did on the cross—took care of us personally? And He continues to this day offering each of us a personal relationship, involving Himself with every intimate detail of our lives. Our confidence must rest in Him—His ways, His timing, His plan.

It seems The Almighty is determined to give us ample opportunity, on a daily basis, to learn that our confidence must rest in Him, not the world.

Now that I can sing with certainty!

 

Deborah J. Note writes from Eagle Point, Oregon.