Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ, Saints!

Today’s devotion is aimed at spending some time thinking more deeply about trusting and entrusting our lives, in faith, to the Lord. "Trusting" and "entrusting" are vocabulary words that are nuanced and can easily be intertwined, even used interchangeably at times. It may be helpful to untangle them a bit for today’s devotion. 

Trust is a broad term we often use in a general sense; I trust that you will do the right thing, and we trust the driver next to us to stay in their own lane (and off their phone). Entrusting, however, is more than just trusting; it involves a deeper level of commitment. In our daily routine, we trust a lot, but I would suggest that we don’t entrust as much. We may trust a friend, but do we entrust them with our home and our car? What about entrusting them with our lives, or the lives of our children? Ask any cancer survivor, they trust they need treatment and maybe even surgery, but will any oncologist or surgeon do? No, we are discerning and careful as we entrust our lives, our most valuable possessions, and loved ones at a deeper level. Entrusting someone with something is more profound than simply trusting. What about trusting the Lord? We trust in the Lord, but are we entrusting our lives to Him?  

A wise Proverb says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6). Holy Scripture calls for a total and complete reliance on Jesus, not just in specific situations but in all aspects of life. Entrusting our lives involves faith in what is unseen, trusting that the eternal is more secure than the temporary. The Apostle Paul discusses this concept in 2 Corinthians, stating, “We walk by faith and not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). 

Saying we trust the Lord is one thing; entrusting our lives to the Lord is quite another. It involves a deeper trust, a willingness to surrender our will to God’s plan, and a willingness to obey His will even when it is difficult to get a glimpse of it or the future. Furthermore, finding and maintaining peace in His presence, despite my wandering will, uncertainty, and anxiety, is a tall order to overcome. 

Put another way, as a follower of Jesus, I know I must trust Jesus. If Jesus and I are going for a journey down the dirt road of life, and I have Him ride shotgun - you know, to play the music I like, and to help give me directions and navigate when I ask for help and am uncertain where to go. That's a pretty cool Shotgun Rider I can trust. My success, however, depends on my ability to understand and follow His directions closely. As a result, based only on my attention and ability, there will surely be wrecks along the way that are likely to cause damage and destruction to myself and others. On the other hand, if I entrust myself to Him, I am the shotgun rider, giving Him the wheel and complete control of the pickup, allowing Him to drive and surrender my will to His direction.   

Jesus gives us more than a glimpse of this in Scripture on several occasions as He surrenders His will to the Father. Jesus explains that surrendering to His Father is His purpose in John, “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me” (John 6:38). In the garden of Gethsemane before His crucifixion, Jesus prayed in agony, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine" (Luke 22:42). Jesus' own actions as He was dying on the cross serve as the ultimate example of entrusting oneself to God's will, as recorded in Luke, "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit"(Luke 23:46)

Jesus’ example is amazing and inspirational, but we aren’t Jesus, right? Far from it! He lived a perfect life in obedience to His Father’s will as a true man despite His agony. Jesus was also a true God, possessing a divine nature and authority, but He chose to rely on the Holy Spirit to give Him strength, power, and discernment to live out the Father’s will. This is good news, Saints, because it provides a model in our own lives, as we possess no divine powers like Christ. We, too, have a guide in the Holy Spirit, through prayer and reading God’s Word to live out the Father’s will.

How can we entrust Jesus to truly take the wheel? Here are a few ideas to consider for a successful journey, as we entrust our lives to Jesus. 

On this journey, it may be helpful to:

Rely on Christ.

Recognize that Jesus isn’t just our shotgun rider, and practice giving Him the wheel. Trusting that Jesus is God and in control of our lives, and we’re not! Jesus says, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).

Rely on Help.

We don’t have to go it alone. Jesus clearly is our Advocate and intercedes for us. The Holy Spirit reminds us it’s okay, and Jesus is driving. Jesus said, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17).

Pray always.

Regular prayer is essential in understanding God's will. It can be a roadmap to inner peace that transcends our current situation, which is an indicator of seeking His will. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).

Read Often.

"I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you" (Psalm 119:11). Being in God’s Word helps our minds and hearts to stay aligned with God’s will; it is an inerrant source of guidance. On our journey, we need many rest stops. God’s Word keeps us forging forward in hope.  

Worship.

“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25). Participating in regular worship with fellow believers is important, encouraging, and provides another opportunity to reflect and seek God’s will. We don’t have to journey alone; there is safety in numbers, and a caravan with others on the journey keeps us safe.  

Don’t speed.

Embracing a patient pace on the journey creates time for a good plan. Walking in God's will means walking alongside the Lord, not rushing ahead in pride or lagging behind in disobedience. Creating a margin in our busy journey helps us to seek the Father's will. “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”

I hope that you’ve enjoyed today’s devotional thoughts. I know they are just as much reminders for me on my faith journey as they are for anyone who may be reading. Whether you’re thinking about learning how to drive, have a learner's permit, are just starting, or have been at it for a long time, a successful journey in life is only possible if we remember to entrust our faith and life to Jesus Christ, our Savior, and give Him the wheel. Blessings on your journey, Saints. Amen! 

In Christ’s love, and mine,

Dr. Jeffrey S. Beavers, CEO

Crean Lutheran High School 

dr.beavers@creanlutheran.org

Dr. Beavers is a husband and father of three. He is a Minister of Religion, Commissioned in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, and serves as the Executive Director |CEO of Crean Lutheran High School. He has served there since the school’s founding for nineteen years. He is blessed to be a lifelong follower of Jesus Christ by God's grace. His family worships at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Orange, CA.