I was visiting a certain country recently, to encourage a pastor friend, and teach some of the truths which are foundational to Ellel Ministries. In the course of my conversations, the pastor expressed concerns about the future, due to financial pressures now requiring him to pay a substantial rent for the buildings his church meets in. At the end of our talks, he said that the only way ahead was to trust God to provide the impossible amount of money needed.
The following day I was travelling with a group from the church in a minibus at what to me seemed lethal speeds. Sitting in the front seat and seeing the oncoming traffic heading straight for you at a speed of 170 kilometres per hour when you are also travelling at that speed tends to generate a bit of stress! There was nothing I could do, especially as the driver didn’t speak English and my grasp of his language was not extensive. After a while I remembered my pastor friend’s comments about trusting God, and amazingly found myself able to relax and enjoy the journey – most of the time.
There are often experiences in life which are beyond our control and can cause us anxiety. The courses we run on stress and anxiety are always well-attended because this problem is a common problem for Christians, just as much as it is for the rest of the human population. However, we would do well to start with remembering that Jesus advised his disciples not to be troubled but to trust.
The more we get to know God, the more we shall be able to trust Him in our times of anxiety. There may be issues which make trust a problem for us, and these can be addressed in prayer ministry, but instead of getting anxious it is better to use our energies on praying for God’s safe-keeping. I would rather trust God than the skill of ungodly drivers anyday!
Prayer: Help me, Lord, when I’m in situations that I can’t control, to trust you to be in control of my life. Thank you that my destiny is in Your hands. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
John 14:1, NIV
Ellel 365 - Online Training School
Support the work of Ellel Ministries by buying your Christmas Cards from Just Cards Direct
John Berry (JB) is Manager of the Modular Schools and part of the Leadership Support Team at Ellel Glyndley Manor. He also leads the Church Liaison Team for Glyndley which includes his wife Jennie, and was in Baptist Ministry for over 30 years before joining Ellel Ministries. His heart is for the equipping of the church for its ministry, and he sees the healing and deliverance ministry of Ellel as an essential part of this. John has travelled widely in the course of his work, and enjoys being a grandfather 6 times over with a seventh one due at Christmas.