One thing I've learned from my 48 years of life is when someone says, "Trust me," that really means you might want to think twice about trusting that person. Jesus never told people to trust Him, but to believe. If you witness a miracle, especially a series of miracles, such as blind eyes opening or paralyzed men getting up and walking, you probably should trust that person. Those with an anti-Christ (aka Pharisee) spirit or a spirit of religion often cannot hear or see what the Holy Spirit is doing or saying because of rebellious spiritual opposition.
God is totally and completely trustworthy. But we have to BELIEVE He is trustworthy. We have to agree with the truth and fully realize that He is worthy of our love and attention. That's how the truth sets you free -- you become free when you KNOW (are intimately involved with) the TRUTH and we know Jesus IS the truth. Knowing Jesus is knowing the truth. He sets us free from the traps of Satan; nobody else can because no other spiritual leader is God. In other words, you are not set free from stinkin' thinkin' until you actually live out the truth. That's actually what the phrase "to believe" means -- to live your life according to the truth as you know it.
Spiritual discernment is the way to determine what truly is true. You will have to relinquish your treasured thoughts that don't line up with God's will for your life. We in deliverance ministry call this type of thought a "guardian lie". Guardian lies are what we have believed about God, ourselves, others, places, et cetera, that have kept us from living in the truth about these things. Have you ever had an apprehension, like taking a test, but that apprehension (aka, worry) was a lie because you actually did well on the test? That apprehension is called "performance anxiety" and must be handed over to Jesus.
Lies start out seeming like a safety net for our lives until we depend on our emotions and the lies gain more and more power over us the more we trust in them over what God (aka The Truth) has to say. Most (all?) people who reject God blame Him for something they think He did wrong. Job found a way in his heart to trust in God. Job assumed God was the one assailing him even though it was the devil stealing, killing, and destroying everything in his life. We must believe the truth!
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One key to freedom from depression is we must get to the point of trusting another person even if it currently seems impossible. We must summon the courage while we do what we must do regardless of the anxiety. Anxiety is often a passing fancy that often comes when we make ourselves vulnerable to others. "This, too, shall pass." Vulnerability can sting. When we have not been well acquainted with it, it can seem like an alien inhabiting our space, but let me assure you, this, too, shall pass. ‘Familiarity may breed contempt,’ but it can also beget the breakthrough we need.
We've all been hurt, but not all have been hurt in the same ways. The challenge in trusting is in allowing others the freedom to will and to act so they may express themselves even though we could get hurt all over again. Regardless, we must allow ourselves that same freedom to go and live the life God has called us to live even though we may wind up getting hurt, hurting others, or even ourselves. C'est la vie ... no matter how anxious or depressed we may feel at the time, we owe it to God, to ourselves, and others to be the person God made us to be and be stubborn (in the right way) of not settling for less than God's best.
“ 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.”
I recall many times when I had trouble just stepping outside. The prospect of going on a date with my wife was very painful and caused me to shrink back with fear and, sometimes, we had to cancel the sitter, the meal, and the performance. I'm a full grown man and am not "Tiny Tim" in any way, but the spirit of heaviness (depression) caused me to feel like a grasshopper (intimidated) to others. I knew what the 10 faithless Israelite spies were thinking when they returned to the encampment at the Desert of Paran with a bad report. I felt that the land I call home was devouring me, an inhabitant, though it was clearly only in my mind, my soul, because nobody else in my life was experiencing the same things.
What had I been 'spying on' that would inspire me to not trust that God had my back? It was a spirit of fear that caused me to be intimidated. When I got right with God and prayed in earnest, Holy Spirit explained to me that I had espoused the spirit of intimidation from my days in the occult, bodybuilding/powerlifting, utilizing the sales technique of intimidation, and trying to manipulate others into seeing/doing things my way. I assure you that utilizing the techniques of the devil will eventually get you the horrendous, tormentous 'reward' of the devil -- the Lake of Fire ... even if you think you're a Christian.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
(Proverbs 3:5-6)
Prayer
Father God, I come before You in humble adoration of Your humility, grace, and mercy. You could have eliminated me when I sinned for the first time, yet You relented and showed me mercy. You would have been justified in putting me to death for the second sin I ever committed, yet You desire that none should perish, but that all would come to repentance. You could have put me to death for any one of my millions of sins, yet You want nothing but the best for me. My mind is swimming in mercy and I know I have not found the end of Your mercy, but the beginning. Thank You, Lord, for giving me chance after chance after chance to get it right, yet I still make mistakes and You still love me all the same.
How could I not completely trust in You knowing You have allowed my decisions to bring me to this point in my life. Free will is an awesome gift, my Lord! Awesome like You! I apologize for taking Your grace and mercy for granted, and honestly, taking You for granted. I have believed lies the devil has put in my mind and lived my life according to them instead of Your Truth. Reveal the lies I have been believing so I can live free from the lies and bondage of Satan. Help me to trust in trustworthy people and, especially, in You. I hand my heart to You, my Lord and my Savior. Have Your way in me. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
Another great banner meme from Imgflip!