Tiger, Turtle or Trust?

By Cindy Martin –

The winds of adversity blow at us from many directions: sometimes it’s the howling sting of poor choices; sometimes it is the gale force winds of unfounded persecution and sometimes it’s just the steady breeze of the fallen world in which we live. Regardless of where they come from, they all have a bite to them.

Two common responses to pain include reacting like a tiger where we lash out and fight back or retreating like a turtle into the perceived safety of our shell in an attempt to shelter ourselves from the outside world.

While there are definitely times to speak up and times to be quiet, I believe the underlying response God desires is that of trust. Trust in God’s complete understanding of the situation and His overwhelming desire to meet us in the midst of the struggle so that He can carry us through to victory. Isaiah 30:15 tells us “in quietness and trust is your strength” (NIV). Often times this is perceived as a weak and almost lazy response to the trials in our lives. I beg to differ. It is hard work to bow your knee before God and ask Him to have His way in the midst of the seeming chaos; to align your will with His and to have the grace and faith to wait until He in His sovereignty intervenes.

As this process unfolds, God knows we often need shielding from the storm and He reminds us in Psalm 3:3, that He is a shield about us; our glory and the Lifter of our heads. We can take further instruction from the prophet Daniel who was falsely accused and maliciously conspired against. He did not pick up a placard to protest the actions of his perpetrators; he didn’t even go to the king to plead his case or try to explain the deviousness of those plotting his death. Instead he faithfully and quietly continued to obey what God had asked him to do – to pray. God honored His faith and delivered him. To be sure, he was thrown to the lions, but what the enemy intended for evil, God intended for good. The backdrop of his situation provided an amazing opportunity to put God’s magnificent power on display.

Personally, I take comfort in the fact that no matter how fierce the winds may get, when Jesus says, “Peace! Be still!” (Mark 4:39 RSV), they have no choice. They must obey!

Prayer: “Lord Jesus, thank You that You anchor us in the storm and that the winds of adversity are silenced by the sound of Your voice.”