The surrendered life is a life of ruthless trust in God. Brennan Manning in his great book, Ruthless Trust, says that being ruthless refers to action that is taken "without pity". Ruthless trust, then, is a trust in God without self-pity. It is a trust in God that refuses to cave into the modern push for self-absorption and the elevation of personal interest as the highest good. Ruthless trust believes in the grace and mercy and love of God no matter what else may try and distract us from it.
Manning says that childlike surrender in trust is the defining spirit of authentic discipleship. Fear then (the opposite of trust) must be the defining spirit of in-authentic discipleship. "Fear of the unknown path stretching ahead of us destroys childlike trust in the Father's active goodness and unrestricted love."
My favorite quote from Manning's book is this:
"The Way of trust is a movement into obscurity, into the undefined, into ambiguity, not into some predetermined, clearly delineated plan for the future. The next step discloses itself only out of a discernment of God acting in the desert of the present moment. The reality of naked trust is the life of a pilgrim who leaves what is nailed down, obvious, and secure, and walks into the unknown without any rational explanation to justify the decision or guarantee the future. Why? Because God has signaled the movement and offered it his presence and his promise."
Trust is not something that we merely talk about. Trust must be lived daily which means that it is going to be tested a hundred times each day. And each time we must simply respond in faith (not by sight) saying, "When I am afraid, I WILL TRUST IN YOU." (Psalm 56:3)
Manning says that childlike surrender in trust is the defining spirit of authentic discipleship. Fear then (the opposite of trust) must be the defining spirit of in-authentic discipleship. "Fear of the unknown path stretching ahead of us destroys childlike trust in the Father's active goodness and unrestricted love."
My favorite quote from Manning's book is this:
"The Way of trust is a movement into obscurity, into the undefined, into ambiguity, not into some predetermined, clearly delineated plan for the future. The next step discloses itself only out of a discernment of God acting in the desert of the present moment. The reality of naked trust is the life of a pilgrim who leaves what is nailed down, obvious, and secure, and walks into the unknown without any rational explanation to justify the decision or guarantee the future. Why? Because God has signaled the movement and offered it his presence and his promise."
Trust is not something that we merely talk about. Trust must be lived daily which means that it is going to be tested a hundred times each day. And each time we must simply respond in faith (not by sight) saying, "When I am afraid, I WILL TRUST IN YOU." (Psalm 56:3)
2 comments:
David,
Spiritual fireworks went off inside my heart as I read Ruthless Trust. It reminded me of several traumatic experiences as well as times I experienced God's sustainence in the midst of them. The foundation of trust is even more sure--based on the self revelation of God in Christ and what he did on our behalf. As I get caught up in his story and make my life conform to his purposes in history I am no longer absorbed in my own little and self centered story. Having the opportunity to trust in God is a good thing, counter intuitive as it seems at times.
Mike Tatham
Knowing that God will work all things to His glory and our good, should make it easy to trust...wouldn't you think? The enemy and human nature, though, find worry a great distraction from the love and provision of God. As I am continuing to walk through the unknown - which will continue for sometime yet - God faithfully and fully keeps me. When I am tempted to fret, worry, fear - He brings His Word to me - to remind me that I AM HIS. He is a star-breathing God - who loves me. God will never leave us or forsake us. We cannot assume that God will leave us, forsake us, let us down, because that is what man does. No...God IS the constant in life - through His Son Jesus Christ
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