Do You Trust Me?

This week I've had the new Aladdin soundtrack on repeat in my car (and therefore in my head), and certain of the lyrics have jumped out at me. So over the next while I plan to do a little Aladdin theme series of posts.

One of the most iconic Disney songs ever begins with these words:

“Is it safe?
- Sure, do you trust me?
What?
- Do you trust me?
Yes.”

We want safe. We want easy. We want guaranteed.

But sometimes God calls us to step up and step out onto a magic carpet ride with him, where there are no safety nets or guarantees (apart from the consistency of who God is).

When Jesus called Peter to step out of the boat (in Matt 14:29), he did it with a simple, "Come". And I believe he calls us too, calls us into an incredible adventure and journey and experience with him, filled with unbelievable sights and indescribable feelings. He calls us into the unknown, to step out of our comfort zone, out of the boat onto the water, because that's where Jesus is, and that's where his kingdom advances.

In Acts 20:22 Paul said, "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there." The Holy Spirit will call us and compel us to places and things that we don't know and can't control. And in that resounds the question, "Do you trust me?"

Sure, perhaps we trust him with things like our salvation and holding up the world so the sky doesn't implode on our heads. But what about the other things? What about your future, your career, your bank account, your relationships, your decisions?

What is it that feels just a little bit safer when you think you are in control of what's happening? Would you dare to believe that even in that scary thing, our God can be trusted? That even in the things that seem as though God has let you down, where the world tells you God has failed you -- even in those things our God is faithful and trustworthy and true. He has not failed you and he will never fail you.

In every single aspect of your life you can fully trust in Jesus. He's got this!

Will life be predictable and boring and safe? Nope! As Mr Tumnus said about Aslan, "Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good." Our God is good and he is trustworthy. And as he asks us if we will trust him, may our answer be a resounding YES as we step out into an unparalleled adventure with him.

All Joy

I have a mug that tells me “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). Joy that strengthens: this sounds good to me! But then in James 1:2 it says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.”  All joy found in trials and struggles: what is that?!

So what exactly is this joy of the Lord? And how on earth am I supposed to count everything all joy?

First, it's important to note joy isn't happiness. Webster’s old 1828 Dictionary defines happiness as “the agreeable sensations which spring from the enjoyment of good.” Joy, on the other hand, is defined as “the passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good.”

Notice the word “expectation": Joy does not need current tense good experiences in order to exist. Joy can come from the sheer expectation of good. Happiness, though, is a direct result of the enjoyment of good; i.e. it is circumstantial. Joy is bigger than that.

This joy comes from knowing Christ, abiding in Him, and being in His Word and in prayer. (Psalm 16:11 “In your presence there is fullness of joy.”)

Jesus is the perfect example of finding joy in the expectation of good to come. When Jesus was on the cross, there was definitely no enjoyment of good in that particular circumstance, but Hebrews 12:2 says that he still found joy. “Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Seeing beyond his current [most awful] circumstances to the joy of reconciliation and redemption and resurrection enabled Jesus to have joy.

2 Corinthians 6:10 - “As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.”

I think those two words “possessing everything” are one of the biggest keys to finding joy in all things. You see, as Christians, we can find joy in all things because we possess Christ, and no one can take Him from us. Not only that, but Romans 8:28 gives us the comfort that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him.”

Put these things together, and I believe we will be able to find joy even in the most difficult dark times. As Oswald Chambers said, “A saint doesn’t know the joy of the Lord in spite of tribulation, but because of it.”

The joy of the Lord is simply the expectation of the perfectly good God always at work in our lives and in our worlds. And he is always there, so there is always joy. All joy, all the time.

Game of Thrones

If you are anywhere on social media, you've probably seen something about the grand finale of Game of Thrones. I'm not a watcher, but I have passively absorbed knowledge about it over the last 10 years, mostly through memes. Interestingly on the final day of Game of Thrones, I happened to be reading Revelation 4 - The Throne in Heaven.

So that got me thinking: who is on the Iron Throne of my heart? Have I given away the reign of my life to ones that aren't worthy, aren't the rightful heir? Is my heart being ruled by things that are destroying and taking from my world and those around me? Or is the One on my throne the all-powerful, all-worthy, all-knowing righteous King of Kings?

Am I aware of the war that rages on for the claim to my heart? There are forever illegitimate claimants trying to lord over my life from every side -- success, jealousy, wealth, safety, pride, rage, reputation, lust, greed, selfishness (Gal 5:19-21). Am I guarding my heart from these things (Prov 4:23)?

Not only is there the throne of my heart, but also the throne in heaven. In Revelation 4:2 it says "there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it."

Amidst all the insanity and craziness of the world, perhaps it can sometimes feel like the throne is empty; that God has abdicated his role. But no, God is safely, firmly, consistently on his throne. He is not anxiously pacing, not running around like a headless chicken, not standing and shouting, not frantically trying to defend his throne. He is seated on the throne of heaven. He is still sovereign, he is still fully in control.

And even more, God is so worthy to be on the throne. Verse 11 says “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” Our God on the throne of heaven is infinitely powerful, absolutely wise, unconditionally loving, fully sovereign, incredibly merciful, eternally existing, omnipresent and perfect in all his ways. He is entirely worthy.

Knowing who it is that sits on the throne of heaven brings me such peace, security and hope. Not sure about you, but that's exactly the kind of King I can gladly bend my knee to as I offer him, every day, the Iron Throne of my heart.