Conditional Trust?

The boys and I leave for school early each morning before the sun rises, so it’s still dark outside.  On one particular morning as we drove to school, it was not only dark, but it was also raining, accompanied by thick fog. I couldn’t relax as I squinted my eyes to oncoming headlights, doing my best to stay on the curvy road. This particular road that leads to the school is really difficult to maneuver, especially in these dark, rainy, and foggy conditions. I started thinking about other roads that have reflectors placed between the yellow lines. You know, the ones that light up when the lights from your car bounce off of them? They help guide you in the direction you should go, especially when poor weather conditions don’t allow your eyes to see clearly ahead. It’s funny how I never really noticed those reflectors until I needed them.   

The circumstances that morning altered my ability to easily navigate the road ahead. Even though I know the route to school—like I know how to get from my bed to the toilet in the dark three times each night—my trust still wavered simply because of the conditions I faced. 

This is where I want to park this post: conditional trust. Jesus tells us in the book of John that we will face trouble. The Message says, “we will continue to experience difficulties” (John 16:33).  That doesn’t sound very exciting or encouraging does it?  No, but Jesus is speaking from experience. He navigated through sunny days, and He navigated through stormy days too.  Yet, He stayed focused on truth. 

There will always be times in our lives when the conditions are stormy and rough, making it hard to see what’s up ahead. Our confident sense of direction may diminish when the yellow lines painted on the road begin to fade due to the conditions we face. It may get somewhat scary not knowing what’s ahead, but let me ask this question: do we even know what’s up ahead when the conditions are good? After all, when conditions are good, we tend to ask less questions and lean on our own understanding, rather than staying focused.  Ecclesiastes 7:14 reminds us, “No one knows what tomorrow will bring.” 

So now, let’s pick up the speed here: learning to trust God in all conditions. We may not always have the physical reflectors in the road to guide us when the storms of life are pouring heavy on us, but we can trust in the one who is a lamp for our feet and light for our path. It may get hard to remember the way when our minds feel foggy, but we can trust in the one who will make our paths straight. Our unconditional trust in Jesus will become a reflector of His light, that not only guides us, but the people following us too. 

 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will you have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33