For those who know me well, perhaps you have heard me share how the Lord has called me to the carpet these last four years on the issue of Trust. Over and over in the depths of my heart I have heard Him say, “Do you Trust me?”

If you are anything like me, you probably would answer, “Yes Lord of course I trust you. I do this and I have done that.” And yet, He wants more, He wants us to trust in every part of our life.

But here in lies the frustration…me hitting my stubborn head against the brick wall…what does this kind of trust look and feel like in real life???

I was raised in the Midwest. I was raised by a single mom who has the greatest work ethic I know besides maybe her father a WWII vet. Therefore, I know in my bones that when things are going bad you just work harder.

The harder and more you work the better the results will be. The more time you put into your work the less anxiety and fear you will have. This is the simple “pull yourself up by the bootstraps” attitude that Midwesterners are known for.

But in the supernatural world this does not work!!!

In the spiritual world, whether it is our own growth in holiness or our efforts for building the Kingdom of God...it all depends on the Lord!!!! In fact, the more WE try the more WE get in the way.

Fear and anxiety therefore become signs of the absence of trust in the Lord and instead of working harder we need to let go and give over more to Him.

The question that I have been wrestling with is this: If spiritual fruits or spreading the Kingdom are completely up to the Lord then why should we put effort or more effort into it at all?

First, because we do not want to fall into presumption. There are two kinds of presumption; one that says, ‘I can do it by myself’ (think Midwestern attitude) and the second that says, ‘God will give me forgiveness without conversion’ (CCC 2092). We need to find that authentic balance of “Pray as if it all depended upon God and work as if it depended upon us.”

Secondly, we work at this because we need to be obedient. The Lord has given us all the task to “go and make disciples” (Mt 28:19) and in that call He has given us each individual tasks that only we can do.

Thirdly, when we work in the Lord’s Vineyard it is Him working through us. At the same time, this working in Him is accomplishing something in us. This working in Him is making us more like Him!!!

Jesus said it Himself, He does not simply want us to be servants, but He desires us to be friends (Jn 15:15). The Lord does not want slaves He wants partners. Partnerships must have TRUST.

The more we trust, the more we will grow. The more we trust, the less anxiety and fear will have ahold of us. The more we trust, the more the Lord of the universe will be able to carry us and accomplish all things in us (Phil 4:13).