trust and obey

In the first grade, my teacher, Mrs. Huarez taught us the hymn “Trust and Obey.” It was a great song for all of us first grade students to learn, I’m sure. Every six year old needs lessons in obedience. I still remember the words to this day…

When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way;
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

For the longest time I have thought that those were two very good things to do as a believer. trust and obey. I should trust my Heavenly Father and I should obey Him. Back then, in the first grade it seemed so easy.

It’s not.

I thought I understood it until I started trying to teach Isaac to swim. All summer we have been working on jumping into the water from the edge of the pool. It goes something like this: I give him the run-down before we get in the water and we talk over exactly what is going to happen. I assure him that I will catch him. I make all kinds of promises regarding the outcome like, he won’t go under, or I won’t let go – that sort of thing. But, when it comes down to it and he is standing on the ledge, and I’m down in the water waiting, he can’t do it. He insists on holding my hands to get into the water.

He’s just not prepared to trust me. How do I know? He can’t seem to obey my instructions.

Really Isaac is mirroring my own response to the Heavenly Father. Often there are times when I show Him how little I trust Him by lacking the faith to move forward in obedience. Because the truth is, “trust” and “obey” are not simply two separate little requirements of a believer. In fact, they are linked. inseparable. When it comes to the hard stuff, the really really hard stuff, obedience is the only evidence of a child who truly trusts his Heavenly Father.

I can think of two times over the past week where He has held his hands out to me and said, “Jump! I promise I’ll catch you!” But, I’ve stood with my toes at the line, unable to leap into his open arms. even though I know His promises. even though I desperately want to trust Him.

So, I’ve been re-reading Hebrews 11 – I read these words tonight:

⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

I realized as I read the chapter over and over – these men who are listed as men of faith, committed out-landish stunts of obedience. They made the roll in the 11th chapter of Hebrews because they obeyed. The way to please my Heavenly Father is not simply having faith – It is having enough faith to obey even when it is risky.

If I’m honest with myself, I have to say that I do not know how to do this consistently. But, I’m trying. I’m praying that He will give me the faith. I suppose that means I’ll continue to face circumstances that require me to practice my obedience. But, as I continue the journey, I can keep singing the hymn I learned so long ago. Come to think of it, maybe I should teach it to Isaac too!