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JEREMIAH 17:5-10 

1 CORINTHIANS 15:12-20 

LUKE 6:17-26 

A committed Christian and hardworking lady was denied her promotion because her immediate boss heard her say that “promotion comes from God” as a way of encouragement to other employees of the company. Her immediate boss got irritated and sent word to her that if she does not retract her statement that “promotion comes from God” and come to his office to apologise to him and beg him to recommend her for promotion he will not initiate the process leading to her promotion. The committed lady was resolute and later decided to petition the Board of directors of the company. She prayed and fasted after she delivered the petition. She prayed to God to truly prove that promotion comes from Him for she will not go and bow down to her immediate boss or do his bidding to secure her promotion. The Board chairperson was due to leave his position as the chairperson but a night before his departure, he called for the petition to be brought to him, after perusing the lady’s files, he observed that the lady was hardworking and deserved to be promoted. He immediately had her promoted. While she was on leave, she received a call that she has been promoted to the headquarters of the company at Accra as one of the top officials of the company. When she got to her office, all other employees including those who edged her to beg her immediate boss for the promotion, gave her a standing ovation and exclaimed, “you have proven that promotion indeed comes from God, your trust in God has made you victorious.” This brief testimony brings us to the theme for our reflection, “ In Him we trust” 

Dear friends in the Lord, we shall reflect on three reasons why we must trust in God. 

1. We trust in God because human benefactors are limited in capability  
2. We trust in God because He has proven through Christ that He has power over life and death  
3. We trust in God because He blesses those who trust in Him all situations 

Firstly, beloved in the Lord, no human benefactor or helper can sustain us forever. God is unlimited in strength and power therefore we must trust in Him. Jeremiah warns us not to put our trust in mere mortals, the person may be your husband, wife, child, boss, or any other person of power or influence for “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD. (Jeremiah 17:5). In other words, to trust a mere mortal means we doubt the existence and glory of God in our life. Human beings may disappoint at the end of the day but “The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:24) 

Secondly, mortals or human beings die therefore it is important to put our trust in God who has power over life and death. Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour is worth our trust because He overcame death. Paul testified to this fact when He wrote that “… if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.  If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.  But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:17-20). Our family members and friends who promise to help us may die any time or become permanently incapacitated but God is eternal and His promises are sure therefore “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6) 

Thirdly, trusting in God in all situations brings blessings into our lives. Jeremiah again assures us that “… blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.  They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes;  its leaves are always green.  It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8). We must not only trust God when things seem to be going on well with us but even in poverty, hunger, sorrow and times of persecution we must continue to trust in the Lord for Jesus assures us that “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man (Luke 6:20-22.) On the other hand, Jesus pronounces woes on those who put their trust in their riches and please people because they put their trust in them. God rewards our trust in Him especially in times when our faith is being tested by hardship and challenging situations.  

In summary beloved in the Lord, we must trust in God because human helpers or benefactors are limited in their strength and capabilities but God is not, we must trust in God because He has proven through Christ that He has power over life and death, last but not the least, we must trust in God because He blesses those who trust Him in all situations. May the Holy Spirit strengthen us to continually please God by putting our trust in Him now and always. Amen 

Jean-Paul Agidi (Rev)