By Darla Butterfield July 12th, 2024
It was five years ago this summer that the trajectory of our lives was forever changed. My husband was laid off from his job unexpectedly, but soon had two job offers to choose from. One was a smaller company close by our house. The other was an awesome, larger company but would require an insane commute across the Bay Area. As we prayed and sought the Lord, His direction was clear to both of us. Josh was to take the job that would mean he would sit in traffic for hours each day and have less time at home with us.
This made no sense to me! Financially and job security wise, yes this was a better company. But why would God want my husband to be with his family less? Why would he want Josh to suffer the physical toll of a horrendous daily commute?
Yet, God’s voice was clear to both of us. He continued to reassure me that He had a plan. When those doubts and questions would come, I would hear His voice speak into my heart…
Daughter, do you trust Me?
Five years later and I can now see what God was doing all along. Josh taking that job was the initial step in leading us to his job transfer up to Oregon and the life God had for us up here. It was the first of many steps of faith we would have to take in the journey that would lead us to a new neighborhood, church, schools for my kids, and Arise Women’s Ministry.
We listed our house in California in February of 2020 before I ever set foot in Oregon…Daughter, do you trust Me?
Our house sold the first weekend it was on the market and then the world shut down from Covid…Daughter, do you trust Me?
We flew up to Oregon to look at houses during Spring Break 2020, the last weekend it was even possible to view houses in person…Daughter, do you trust Me?
The job offer for the position in Oregon was less than we thought it would be…Daughter, do you trust Me?
We moved in April 2020, sooner than we had originally planned…Daughter, do you trust Me?
I homeschooled my kids for the 2020-2021 school year…Daughter, do you trust Me?
I enrolled my kids in public school here in Oregon for the following school year, masks and all…Daughter, do you trust Me?
I said yes to writing a Bible study for Arise on Joseph in the fall of 2021, something I’d never done before…Daughter, do you trust Me?
Josh had some concerning health symptoms that continued to get worse in the fall of 2022…Daughter, do you trust Me?
Josh received a health diagnosis in April 2023 that was a chronic condition with no recognized treatment or cure…Daughter, do you trust Me?
I said yes to ministry, however God would lead me, even when it means I’m stepping out of my comfort zone and don’t always know how God will financially provide… Daughter, do you trust Me?
That phrase Daughter, do you trust Me? is a reminder God uses in my heart when my mind trails off into thoughts of worry, doubt, fear, or I want to control something that is clearly not mine to control. It’s a reminder that throughout scripture we repeatedly see God asking His people to trust Him…and He always shows up as faithful and trustworthy.
A strategy you can use to combat the lies of the enemy is to replace the lie with the Truth of God’s Word. Below are those four common trigger areas where we see we are not trusting God followed by verses we can use to replace the lies with the Truth. Write down the verses that speak to you the most and save them somewhere so you can access them easily. You can save them on your phone, write them down on notecards to place around your house, on your mirror, or save in your purse. The more you read over the Truth, the easier it will stay in your memory to remind you to trust God!
1. When your thoughts or emotions lead to anxiety or worry…
”Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:25-34
2. When you doubt that God will show up and be faithful…
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23
“Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” Exodus 34:5-6
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8
“Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.
How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.” Psalm 36:5-9
3. When you fear what may happen…
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
“For I am the Lord your God
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13
“God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.” Psalm 46:1-3
4. When you try to control things in your own strength and need to remember who is really in control…
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21
“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone—
while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?” Job 38:4-7
“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:15-17
What’s your answer to the question, Daughter, do you trust Me? He is worthy of our trust!
*NIV Version used for the verses quoted.
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