Do You Trust Me?

I originally submitted this post as a guest blogger for Xochi Dixon in 2011. Since the page is no longer available on her website, I wanted to share it here. Part 1 of 2…

Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” Genesis 22:2 (NIV)

One of the most beautiful—yet difficult—pictures of surrender in the Bible is a story about Abraham and his son Isaac. Abraham waited a long time for a son. In the process of waiting, he learned to trust God. After years of waiting and praying, he finally held the fruit of God’s promises—his son Isaac. It’s a beautiful example of God answering prayer.

But the story doesn’t end with the birth of Isaac. In Genesis 22, God asked Abraham to give up his little boy. God told Abraham to sacrifice his only son as a burnt offering.

Can you imagine waiting all those years for your deep desire to be met? Once God answers your prayer, he immediately asks you to give up what he just gave you. That is tough. By asking Abraham to give up Isaac, God was inquiring, “Do you trust me?”

When Abraham’s son noticed they were headed to the mountain without an animal to sacrifice, he asked his father a difficult question. “Where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

Abraham answered his little boy—no doubt tormented by what God requested—by saying, “God himself will provide.” Abraham was confident God’s plan was best, even though he didn’t understand it. He didn’t want to give up his son, but he trusted God to be his great and only provider.

What is the Isaac in your life?

My first priority is often not the same as God’s first priority. God’s main concern is for me to become more like him. He asks me to surrender my plans and timetables on the altar, let go, and turn them over to him. I want to be like Abraham. When God asks me to sacrifice my plans in exchange for his, I want to trust that he will provide.

Even though Abraham doubted God in the past and made some big mistakes, God still gave him this opportunity to trust. Admitting you have questions is not wrong—it’s honest. You can be honest with God. But when you ask God difficult questions, you should know his response will probably be, “Do you trust me?”

Like Abraham, I don’t get it right every time. It’s a journey of faith and a daily battle. Here is the prayer I often pray:

Lord, make my priorities match your priorities. Change my heart so that I desire what you desire. You know my needs better than I do. Meet my needs according to your will. Teach me to trust you more each day. Amen.

Content Copyright 2012. Allison @ Anointed With Grace.
Photo and Design by Allison K. Flexer.