Always Trust in Jehovah!

TRUST IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

Can you bring a distressing problem to Jehovah in prayer and thereafter be at peace, knowing that you have done what you can about the situation and he will handle the rest?  Yes, you can!   (Read Psalm 62:8)  Learning to do so is an important aspect of developing a relationship with Jehovah.  Yet, trusting that Jehovah will provide what you need can be quite a challenge. Why?  One reason may be that Jehovah does not always respond right away. -Psalm 13:1, 2; 74:10; 89:46; 90:13; Habakkuk 1:2. 

Why does Jehovah not give us an immediate response to our every request? Recall that he likens our relationship with him to that of children with a father.  (Psalm 103:13) A child cannot rightly expect a parent to grant every request or do so right away. Some of a child's request may be passing whims. Others must wait till the time is right. Still others may not be in the child's best interests or in  the best interests of others involved.  Furthermore, to concede immediate to a child's every request would change the relationship  to one of master and slave, the child being the master.  Similarly, Jehovah may in our best interests allow time to pass before his response to our prayer becomes evident. That is his prerogative as our wise Creator, loving Master, and heavenly Father. Fulfilling all our requests right away would distort the proper relationship between us and him. -Compare Isaiah 29:16; 45:9. 

Another factor is that Jehovah is fully aware of our limitations.  (Psalm 103:14) Therefore, he does not expect us to endure in our own strength but offers us his Fatherly help. Of course, at times, we might feel that we  cannot go on anymore. But Jehovah assures us that he will never allow his servants to suffer beyond their limit of endurance. Yes, he will "make the way out." (Read 1 Corinthians 10:13)  Therefore, we have good reason to trust in Jehovah's assessment of what we can bear is right. 

When relief does not  immediately follow our prayers for help, let us wait on the One who knows just when to act in our behalf. Remember that he too is exercising patience, for he is ever eager to come to our rescue.  "Jehovah is waiting patiently to show you favor, and he will rise up to show you mercy. For Jehovah is  God of justice.  Happy are all those keeping in expectation of him." -Isaiah 30:18. 

Next time: Always Trust in Jehovah! -"THE LION'S MOUTH"

From the Watchtower magazine