The “trust fall” was all the rage when I was young. It’s an exercise in which people stand straight up, close their eyes, and fall backwards, trusting that others will catch them before they hit the ground. It was supposed to be a team building activity, but it showed up in friend circles too. From the time of the 1970s to the 2000s when it was popular, I had several people ask me to participate. And every time, I found that I could catch others, but when it came to my turn, I just couldn’t do it. I would stand straight, close my eyes, and start to fall, but I always “caught” myself before I went all the way back. I was just never able to get to that level of trust. That is until I trusted the Jesus.
A Time of Trial and My Big Moment
Not long ago, I was in a time of trial like never before. The Lord had me working on a project for Him that was physically, mentally, and emotionally taxing, and the enemy was kicking me while I was down. I went to church that night like a wounded animal, more out of habit than desire. I was worn down and worn out.
Then the pastor asked if anyone needed special prayer. Several came to the front for sickness and infirmities. My need was spiritual, but my church was willing to pray. The pastor touched his finger to the bottle of olive oil, and my sisters came to stand around me. My eyes closed in prayer, and as soon as I felt him touch his finger lightly to my forehead, a sensation of being completely light came over me. I didn’t wonder, I didn’t worry, and I didn’t even consider if anyone was behind me or not. I simply fell straight back. Someone WAS there and helped me lay flat. I stayed there for a minute, amazed. I had finally done a trust fall!
As I got back to my feet, a sister in Christ told me, “Jesus says He’s got your back.” Then she gave me a hug. “This hug is from Jesus.” She couldn’t possibly know that pretty much since the moment the Lord saved me, I had been asking for a hug from Jesus. (“I don’t know if You do hugs, Lord,” I said. “But if you do, I would love a hug someday.”) I hugged her back, hard, like I was hugging my Savior Himself.
But Trust Isn’t a Moment, It’s a Lifetime
As amazing as that experience was, that was just one situation on one day. I was in a deep, desperate need, and He (along with my brothers and sisters in Christ) showed up, big. But trusting the Lord is so much more than the big things. We also need to trust Him in the every-day and the all-the-time.
We trust Him when we:
Fall into bed, weary from the troubles of this life. The Bible says He WILL renew our strength.
“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).
Fall on our knees, praying again for the same thing we’ve prayed for a hundred or a thousand times. The Bible says that He will answer us and only give us what is good.
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8).
Fall short and grieve the heart of God. That’s when we can ask, and the Bible says that He will forgive us every time.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
When our plans fall through, and we face the disappointments in this life. He is the God of ALL HOPE and promises to fill us with joy and peace when we place our faith in Him.
“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost” (Romans 15:13).
Have a fall out (relationship breakdown) or are abandoned by others. That’s when the Lord will be there to love and care for us so we never have to be alone.
“When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up” (Psalm 27:10).
Fall behind in our calling, purpose, or sanctification. (Some of us just take a little longer to “get it.”) The Bible says that the Lord is patient with us and shows favor even when we don’t deserve it.
“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy” (Psalm 103:8).
Fall for the enemy’s lies. When we give the devil ground or allow him to harm our peace, the Bible says the Lord will guide us to the truth.
“Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come” (John 16:13 ).
Fall apart under the weight of the world. Trials and tribulations may feel like they will break us, but the Bible says that when we cry out to Him, He will hear us and deliver us.
“The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles” (Psalm 34:17).
Life With the Lord Is a Trust Fall
“The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down” (Psalm 145:14).
Whether it’s in the big things or the little things, God is faithful. After all, life is a journey over rough and rocky terrain. There are bound to be times when we fall. And when we do, we can trust Him. He will renew our strength, answer our prayers, fill us with hope, take us up, show us favor, guide us to truth, and deliver us. He will just keep helping us to our feet until we get to the end of the road.
If you like to look closely at scripture, try Hold on to Hope: Bible Verses About Hope. Or, try Bible Verses About Healing. Please sign up to receive my blog in your email inbox. You can find that at the upper right of your screen (or at the bottom on a phone). Also, check out my YouTube Channel where I read the blogs out loud and have a playlist of hymns.
