Especially when it comes to our personal issues and problems, faith and trust go hand-in-hand as part of our relationship with God. We sing songs that contain themes like surrendering to God, trusting in him, and holding on till Jesus comes. In all honesty, we sing in church words to a melody but can easily be oblivious to the message.
I cannot tell you how many times I have heard people say that they are taking it to the cross and leaving it there. They could be talking about financial woes, the need for healing, relationship issues and so much more. Their intention is honorable. They want to convince themselves that they are spiritually sound, so worry does not have to occur as part of daily life. However, when stress or change of circumstances occurs, we might waiver in giving it to God.
It is almost a contradiction of terms to say that we are taking a certain issue or problem and laying it there at the feet of the cross so we might walk away and let Jesus do something about it. Any honest person would admit that they want to give the responsibility for the outcome of some need to God. It would be wonderful if we could kneel in prayer privately before the Lord and then divest ourselves of any worry or anxiety. How joyful it would be to convince ourselves that the responsibilities are all God’s.
In many cases we have a big problem! Hoping to exercise faith, hoping to trust God, we bring whatever that issue is to him. After walking away from it, it is far too easy to steal that problem back out of the hands of Jesus so we might worry and have anxiety. How unseemly it is in an effort to serve the Lord that we return to resume a concern and responsibility for the outcome so that it ends up being back on our own shoulders. We want to have faith. We want to trust God. Yet far too often we let ourselves down. We may pray and give it to Jesus but when we think he’s not looking we sneak back to the cross and steal it.
This is a true test of our faith and trust in God if we can just give it to him and leave it alone. Perhaps, there are times God allows something to happen in our lives that we would give it to him so that it could result in a spiritual growth spurt. If we want to trust him, to have faith in him, we must totally surrender it into the hands of Jesus. We must have a joy that whatever that was we gave to him will be a source of new resolution even with the possibility of a new happiness.
Test yourself. Whatever it is that you been thinking about give it to him and leave it alone. Can you do that without thinking about it and worrying about it? Can you give it to him while waiting for his answer? The difference between us and people in biblical times is they truly did give the problems to Christ waiting for his response. As you read scriptural accounts of miracles, take note that these people did not give their need to Jesus and then when he looked the other way steal it back from him. We must get out of this habit of stealing from Jesus.
Christian Writer 