Wherever You Are
When Believing Becomes Trusting
“You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” James 2:19
More Than Knowing
James gives us an important distinction. The demons believe there is one God. They know the truth about Him, yet knowing something is true isn't the same as trusting the One who is Truth.
The Greek word pisteuō means believing, trusting, placing confidence in, and even entrusting ourselves to another.
Biblical belief is much richer than simply agreeing with the right information.
It's relational.
Getting In The Boat
Imagine standing on the shore beside a small boat. You can examine it, understand how it was built, and tell everyone around you that you believe it will float.
Eventually, believing gets in.
The shore may feel safer because my feet are still touching something I can control. Trust places my weight in the boat and discovers it will carry me.
But then Peter gives us another picture.
And Sometimes Getting Out
Peter was already in the boat when he saw Jesus walking on the water. The boat was doing exactly what boats are supposed to do—it was keeping him above the water.
Then Jesus said, “Come.”
Suddenly trust meant getting out of the very thing that had been keeping Peter safe.
Maybe that's the beauty of biblical trust. It was never really about the boat. It's about the One we're trusting.
Sometimes trust gets in.
Sometimes trust gets out.
The One Who Is Faithful
Faith rests upon the faithfulness of the One being trusted.
Jesus loved, and from that Love He welcomed, healed, forgave, touched, fed, and served.
His life continually revealed the Father's heart so we could know the One in whom we're placing our trust.
That's what makes trust possible.
I don't need to manufacture more belief or convince myself that everything will work out the way I want. I can look at Jesus and see the Father He has revealed.
Faith rests in His faithfulness.
Belief recognizes what is true.
Trust simply says, “Jesus, wherever You are, that's where I want to be.”
Reflection
Do I know things about God that I'm still learning to trust?
What “boat” has become my source of security?
Where might Jesus be inviting me to trust Him today?
Prayer
Abba Father, let Your faithfulness become the resting place of my heart. Wherever You lead, teach me the joy of trusting You. Amen.