To Know Him is to Trust Him
Welcome to the Overflow! Whether you’re an old friend or a new one, I’m glad you’re here. This is a place where faith is spilled and souls are filled. I hope you’ll make yourself at home and stay a while. If you like what you find, feel free to sign up on the side bar to subscribe to my blog so you can receive a triple of inspiration in your inbox now and then.
Better yet, we could meet face to face! I’m scheduling speaking engagements for the 2019/ 2020 school year. I’d be delighted to bring a message of encouragement to a ministry event near you. (If you’d like to know more, contact me at overflow@aliciabruxvoort.net)
Today I’m over at Proverbs 31 talking about those times when God says “no.” If you haven’t read my devotional, you can read or listen to it here. But before you go, I want to tell you what a testy toddler taught me about trust long a go…
The toddler on the floor pounded his chubby fists on the carpet and let loose an angry cry. “I want my Mommy!” he screamed with red-faced fury.
And I want to go home, I thought to myself as I reached my hand into the toilet bowl and plucked out the Hot Wheels car he’d just tried to flush.
I bit my bottom lip so my thoughts wouldn’t slip from my mouth. I was the babysitter, after all, not the baby.
I’d agreed to care for this rosy-cheeked toddler and his sister while his mom was at work. But I certainly hadn’t expected to spend most of the morning tending to a two-year-old who was huddled in a heap of frustration on the floor.
My creative spirit and compassionate heart had earned me a reputation in our small own as “babysitter extraordinaire.” Throughout the years, I’d juggled a multitude of munchkins. I’d chased toddlers and chauffeured tweens; I’d done diapers and dishes and living room dance parties.
And I’d rarely met a child I didn’t like.
But, on this particular day, with this particular toddler, I wondered if I’d finally met my match.
We’d gotten along fine until I’d spoken the word that had changed the course of our morning…. No.
“No, you may not pull your sister’s hair.”
“No, you may not throw your Cheerios on the floor.”
“No, you may not put your toy car in the toilet.”
I’d said the word without ever raising my voice. But despite my gentle correction, the rambunctious toddler in my care had unraveled. Not just once, but time and time again. And though I was fifteen years his senior, I was tempted to join in his childish outbursts.
I blinked back the tears pooling in the corners of my eyes and spoke brightly above the wails. “Your car wasn’t made for swimming, but we could race it across the floor!”
I spun the tiny wheels of that toilet-diving toy and flashed the testy two-year-old a whimsical wink. “Come on,” I urged, “Let’s go play.”
For a moment, I thought he might reach for the outstretched hand I offered, but then he furrowed his eyebrows and refused to budge.
My stomach lurched, and I braced myself another chorus of cries.
Before I slumped back onto the floor to tend to my fitful fighter, I took two steps beyond the bathroom door to check on his big sister. Thankfully, she was as content as he was cranky.
She looked up from the book she was reading and gave me an empathetic gaze. “He doesn’t cry when Mommy says no,” she said with eight-year-old authority.
The discouragement I felt inside must have stretched across my face, because immediately she shrugged her slender shoulders and flashed me a sweet smile. “It’s just ‘cuz he knows that Mommy loves him…”
Her unsolicited wisdom dangled in the air between us, and an epiphany dawned in the middle of my muddle.
The boy on the bathroom floor didn’t know me.
He didn’t know that I was for him instead of against him; that I would help him instead of hurt him. He didn’t know I was committed to his safety and desiring his success.
And because he didn’t know my heart, he didn’t trust my “no.”
Of course, testy toddlers aren’t the only ones who wrestle with trust.
Any child of God who’s ever heard the word “No,” slip from her Heavenly Father’s lips may have plunged the depth of the struggle.
It’s difficult to trust God with all our heart if we aren’t acquainted with his.
But just because we struggle doesn’t mean we must wail and whine.
Our willingness to trust is rooted in our awareness of His love.
Psalm 9:10 reminds us that trusting God and knowing God go hand in hand.
Those who know the Lord trust him, because he will not leave those who come to him.
The more intimately we know God’s heart, the more intentionally we’ll trust His ways.
The more surely we know His character, the more swiftly we’ll accept his answers.
So, next time God’s answers leave us confused or conflicted, let’s not grit our teeth and simply try harder to trust Him.
Let’s press into His presence and ask for the grace to know Him better.
Because when we know His heart, we’ll be able to trust His “no.”
Today, I’m giving away a free mug to remind us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts. If you’d like to enter your name in the drawing to win this gift, just leave a note in the comments telling us how God is inviting you to trust Him more lately.
Sitting still in mid life is a bit overwhelming. Once again we find ourselves trusting God while our savings has been slowly emptied and the future is uncertain. Trusting Him instead of panicking is my daily goal until he reveals our next step.
The story you told about trusting God in closed door situations was spot on! My husband and I were given a vision for ministry almost 2 years ago, and it’s still very slowly progressing towards fruition, but we have seen God’s hand through it all, providing for our needs—especially financial needs—in such a timely manner. He has also used a personal, seemingly insurmountable personal issue to increase our family’s faith and trust. Thanks for the encouragement.
God has said “No” to me for the last 4 years and I was pretty patient the first couple of years, but for the last couple of years I’ve been railing against Him, just like the toddler you told about. I KNOW God loves me, I KNOW it’s for my future good – here and in eternity, but I don’t WANT my future good – I want it NOW!!! Father, forgive me for being bratty and wanting what I want NOW! Thank You for loving me in spite of myself. Help me to persevere and to remember – Good things come to those who wait!
I am the mother of a 26-year-old daughter with autism. Every day is a challenge. My faith is tested through the fire time and time again. When I go to a quiet place to be with God to talk with him and to pray- like today, with tears in my eyes I simply ask Him, “please help me” He reveals himself by leading me to read, ” “Will You Just Trust Me”? It’s so difficult sometimes but when He reveals himself In this way, with this beautiful encouragement, it is a great reminder of his faithfulness !
My 23 year old daughter has decided to cut me out of her life. She’s pounding on doors that shouldn’t be opened. She trusted me as a young child but isn’t trusting me as a young woman.
I’ve cried buckets of tears. Satan is trying to deceive me with lies about God while I am vulnerable, but I know his ways because I know my Lord. It is through constant prayer and surrounding myself with his word…his presence…his heart that I can make it through this.
Thank you for your comforting blog! ❤️
“Let us press on to know the Lord.” Hosea 6:3
The more we know the Lord, the more we know ourselves. Lord help me to know you more, draw me close to you so I may learn to trust in you day by day, moment by moment. In His Name, Amen
Trusting God would make things so much easier…it’s hard to do in our own lives.
I am trusting that God has something better for a friend who is going through a really hard time right now. Sometimes it’s easier to trust God with other’s lives, y’know?
But I have a young woman I am mentoring from a missions trip that this is her favorite verse, so if I win the mug I will give it to her next year when I go on the trip again!
Thank you for this- it was just what I needed to hear today! Glad I found you!
I thought I had the job GOD had been preparing me for all my life. But after a little over 2 years in my I thought GOD given job, the door slammed in my face. I was heartbroken. Why GOD, I was shocked and hurt and angry. I’m not sure yet, where I’m going but I have faith, GOD is leading me. I have become a caregiver for a special needs person and a volunteer with Hospice. Where He Leads me, I will follow.
This morning my devotional scripture is John 3:16-17 which struck me as even more amazing as the words one and only son made me consider my one and only son. . .
And it brought to mind the fact that my human understanding. . .riddled with despair, doubt and the devastations of a sin FULL world. . .really struggles to imagine, truly and honestly, imagine a LOVE SO GRAND!!! The closer I get to the Lord, the more I seek to draw closer. This morning I asked Him to continually open my mind, my vision,and my heart to the vastness of His love. As I seek to not only embrace it. . .but become as much of it as possible this side of paradise. He is inviting me to trust that He loves me so very much with a steadfast love that endures forever. The first thing we ever learn about Jesus is that he “loves me this I know”. . .but the magnitude of that love just grows with knowledge and understanding of all that means. . .but I just believe it is truly too great to ever really understand totally in this world.
“It’s difficult to trust God with all our heart if we aren’t acquainted with his. “
This quote really spoke to me this morning. I feel like I trust God with all my heart. That he loves me, wants the best for me and that his will is the direction I want for my life. I’ve been having a rough time with all the changes in my life this past year. This quote convicted me. Maybe I need to get better acquainted with God? I look forward to the day that I have peace in these changes that come my way. I need accept that it’s God is taking me in this new direction and embrace that change.
Thank you for the inspiration. God is good.
Thank you so much for your words. I want very badly to know His heart. I focus to much on outside circumstances.
I have very bad health anxiety. I know that knowing Him more is the answer to that.
In 2014 I received a post bachelor teaching certification. I thought I knew exactly which school system God would want me to work on and there was an opening in my field. God closed that door. I kept applying every year thinking now God will open it! Or maybe it was the other school system just down the road a ways. But God opened doors I really didn’t want at first. I have not settled into any school system for more than a year yet and it had been a very difficult road. This past year I like ved my work, but there was some environmental issues and I was sick most of the year. I am planning to go back at this point but I dread how sick I know I will eventually be and all the medication I will need to take to try to keep things under control. But God hasn’t opened any other door at this point so I am trying to trust Him and go forward. I can’t imagine not teaching–I love my work, my students. But I don’t understand why God would have me go where I will be so sick when there’s openings elsewhere.
I pray that God would open your eyes to His purposes, trusting that He places you where He wants you. We do not have to understand; we do have to be obedient.
For His reasons, God has placed you where you are. Will you rejoice and be glad in it?
Oh my does this hit home! Changes in life recently have caused distrust to rise in me! Not in God but in man, I say!! However I have to remind myself my trust is NOT in man but only in God!! Trust Him more and more! ! Thank you Alicia
So many things are happening in and around our lives right now. We live in a quiet townhouse development, and our rental neighbors desperately need prayer in their unfortunate situation. We are trying to see whether God wants us to move or stay. Is our mission field here in our development, or in another part of town. Do we move closer to hubby’s job and son’s school or stay in this town. Hubby’s mom has breast cancer (please pray!), and this brings things into play as well. TRUSTing (caps are deliberate) in the Lord is becoming huge right now. Thank you.
We have a 29 yr. old son that we had to use the help from Setting Boundaries w/Adult Children to finally get him out on his own and supporting himself and to help/guide us in the huge emotional struggle/dilemma we were in. It’s been 2 yrs and he’s gone thru ups and downs, finally doing pretty well as a manager of a little cute restaurant about 30 min. from us. Daily we continue to pray for him to become closer to our Lord. He was close at one time, like 6 yrs ago. He even asked me if I wanted to read his prayer journal. I did later and was blown away with his honest and beautiful prayers. So we pray that he would remember that first love and return to it. Learning to let go and trust God with our adult son is still an almost daily thing. Our son has never been one to always stay in touch, so we go weeks w/out hearing from him. We have had to learn to live on Gods word. His promises. And trust His character. There is no other way. The amazing richness of His word has been our lifeline. It truly is a balm for anxious hearts/minds. This world my son and all our kids live in is just a click away from so many deep perversions. But, there is also so many good choices just a click away too! We continue to pray for his future wife (been doing that for years) for the intentions of his heart, for him to be sober minded and have a sound mind, for good friendships. Our list goes on and on over and area of his life. Then we rise up and say out loud, we trust you Lord with our son. Even though we are not seeing the changes/answers that we are praying for….yet! We choose to trust and obey. Then to get busy with living our lives to the fullest. Loving joy, laughter and work. Loved your devotional and the image it created ! Perfect timing as He always is. Thank you!
I needed this devotional this morning. I need to trust him more, especially with many things on my heart today. Thank you!
So good! I was just reading this chapter in my Bible this morning. I have a hard time letting go, I always want to control things, so I think God may be telling me to relax and trust Him to do what I try so hard to do myself. Thanks for this post, I always enjoy your inisights.
thank you. GOD bless you and your family. I am craving GOD things.
I have had seizures for 13 years and it keeps me from getting to be the type of Mom & wife that I want to be…it is so discouraging! However, Proverbs 3:5-6 is hanging above our mantle! In 2011, the Lord told me he was going to heal me! However, we’ve not seen it yet! So, I’m trying to trust HIS timing.
I praying GODS healing power over your seizures, IN JESUS NAME, AMEN!!!!!
This is s timely message for me. Today I sent our two teenage grandchildren to high school, their second day. I never thought I’d be raising grandkids but God has given us this ministry for this season. I am trusting Him daily, believing He will equip me to do this task. It’s a trust walk every step of the way. I’m so thankful that He is always trustworthy.
This completely validated my look on receiving a “no” for what I believed was the perfect job. Others have been looking at me like I am a fool for knowing God has something better in mind for me and I need to be patient. It is not an act of not accept, but understanding that my God is walking with me and I trust He knows best. Thank you for this story today. My smile is even brighter.
That I was led to your blog today and feel guided to share it with another, well…that is a blessing!
Thank you for your inspiring words.
This devotional was so timely. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
This and your devotion at Proverbs today were SO good Alicia! And so great to see you at She Speaks 2019. Thanks for this challenge to “ask for grace to know Him better.” I need this reminder, as I’m a grit my teeth kinda girl. It doesn’t work very well for me. Your articulated the “why” perfectly.
Thank you so much for this message, Alicia! I really needed to hear this, this morning! I am such a worrier and God is inviting me to trust Him more in my significant other’s life. He has a medical issue that takes a toll on my mind every single day. I worry myself sick about him. I just don’t ever want to lose him and that is something that I constantly think about. I just need to remember to trust in Him and be happy in the moment. I begin my day with Jesus in hopes to grow in trust with Him. Lord please let me rely on you and trust in the plans you have for my family and I.
I love this. We trust God because we know Him and we know that he loves us and has our best interest at heart. I arrived at this page through the Proverbs 31 devotional this morning. I’m so glad I did. I needed to read and fully understand both.
Thank you for the insightful words.
Thank so much for such a timely message of encouragement, inspiration, hope, trust and our faith in our loving God! Who always looks out for the Best interests of us all, teaching valuable lessons that we need to learn about ourselves and most importantly, Him and His Infinite Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding. Proverbs 4:7
Work. I feel so d discouraged about my class that’s I’m not sure what to do anymore. I teach preschool but my kids resignates with the toddler inn the story. Im just unsure if he wants me here. I’m worn out. I like my kids but it’s hard. They don’t listen. I’m. Thinking About starting my own family through adoption as a single mom by choice and that’s scary. Since dad died ins had to rely on God much mores than before.
Thank you for this. I have learned trust recently when my situation at work was not ideal. I prayed for a new opportunity. It took some time, many rejections but God provided the perfect job close to my home! I had to trust that he would get me out of a bad situation and provide and he did!
Thank you, Alicia!
I have a few days to find a new home and Im having a hard time knowing where God is leading me.
I was recently issued a Section 8 voucher. In order to secure a place by September 1st I need to sign a one year lease before August 10th.
I’d appreciate your prayers today friends for both myself and my sister.
My only family is my twin sister who is battling alcoholism. It’s very hard to try and seperate myself from her because I love her so much.
Yesterday, all day she was yelling at me to go to the liquor store for her. I said, no. She drank a gallon of whiskey in two days a few days before. I received the voucher so quickly because she was abusing me and was arrested for domestic violence.
I truly have no idea where God is leading me.
Thank you.
P.S. I am involved in counseling.
Praying for you today.
God bless you, June. I can only imagine the stress and burden this must be for you. I just want you to know, you NEVER have to carry it alone. God, please lift up June and give her strength and endurance to succeed. God, please wrap your arms around her sister and guide her to you in this time of need. We love you, Lord. We praise your holy name and thank you for all of the blessings we have and will receive. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Thank You so much!
Watch God use this testimony for His glory and your good…we worship and praise His through these valleys, even on the darkest days. My tears are flowing even as I type, because we must continue to love and lift each other UP, in the midst of our own messes ….love and strength to you….
I love this story of pounding on doors thinking we know best. I told myself “ it’s never good to force God’s hand”.
My dad just had a small stroke that had affected his vision, probably permanently. He’s in the intensive care unit and I couldn’t stay with him, because my husband had to work today, so I needed to be home with our girls. I’m praying to trust that the Lord is with my parents and that they will be able to maneuver the medical talk. I’m praying for resolution to his stroke, that it will not be progressing needing surgery. Lord heal my dad, I pray.
PRAYING FOR YOUR DAD , AND YOU TOO!
How I love it when God gives me little glimpses of Him. Today’s message was just what I needed. For so many reasons. Thank you.
I was the most discouraged and upset last night about the future and what’s next – I slept terribly. Things are changing at work that make me afaid I’ll be laid off but I’ve casually applied for without even a call for an interview. Going back to school to get my BSN keeps creeping up in my mind , but it seems unattainable to live on one income. I can’t see the future and I don’t see God’s answers. I read Proverbs 31 this morning which led me here – what timing. I will trust in the Lord…and lean not on my own understanding. Or pray for His help to…
God has plans for you and I know life can be so hard in a season of change and doubt. I pray for peace for you and that your heart can be comforted by God and his word. I am in a similar situation- wanting to go back to school but afraid of the loss of income. You are never alone. God, I pray your child here will have peace and a clear mind to trust you and trust in your ways. We love you, Lord, and we are so grateful for what work you have done in our lives. Please help us trust in you so we can make confident choices about our future. We ask these things in Jesus’ holy name. Amen.
After 18 years in ministry I thought I was at a place in my life where I could trust God to do anything…until just a few days ago when he planted a seed in my heart that will lead me to do something I’ve never considered myself to be capable of. I’m finding that trusting him to do the things we expect is easy, but when he drops something unexpected and almost unfathomable, our ability to trust is truly tested. However, I’ve learned that he is a God of the unexpected, and if he begins a work in us he will be faithful to complete it. My only role is to say “yes Lord,” and to trust more.
I’ve been surrendering over and over since 2008 when my world was rocked with betrayal. I can’t seem to stay surrendered to the Lord. I keep taking back control, which always proves to be useless. I know that trusting the Lord is key to surrender….trusting Him to care for me. He’s just waiting for me to trust Him. I praise the Lord for His faithfulness and new mercy every day.
Wow! I really needed this reminder! “And because he didn’t know my heart, he didn’t trust my “no.”” This statement revealed to me that I don’t know my Father’s heart as well as I should to be able to understand His “yes” and “no” answers. Thank you for this encouragement.
Thank you for this wonderful word of truth. The struggle is very real in my household at times. My plate is overflowing daily and I’ve been in a slump. I’ve been too busy for God lately and I don’t like it. It’s not that I don’t trust, I’ve just let everyone and everything be first except myself and my time for Jesus. Even as adults we don’t understand ‘No’ but what a message that the sister had about love. Jesus loves always.
I’ve been struggling with trusting Him the last several months. I KNOW He is faithful and will deliver on his promises, but this past year has been a very rough one for our family. Feels like we’ve been knocked down every time we’ve tried to get back up. I KNOW God is still there, I trust that He has a plan, I’m just having a hard time holding it together for the entire family…
Dear Robin,
I feel for you. I tried for years to be strong for others and it can be so difficult when you feel the pressure to “hold it together.” I pray that the Lord will help you rest as you let Jesus be the Holder of the universe, the solutions, the problems themselves, and the blessings hidden underneath and on the other side. And more than that, He desires us all to trust Him to hold us and our families. Your testimony of faithfully trusting Him in this time will let people see His faithfulness and will bring rewards for your faith. And remember He is the maker of tears and Father of all comfort.
–Colossians 1:15-18 ; Ps. 42: 10-11
Thank you for this message Alicia. So true that trust is about knowing the heart of the messenger. I am struggling to help a friend who is struggling understand her “No” right now and I really pray that God would answers her prayers. And even if He doesn’t answer right away would He reveal how much He loves her and desires what’s best for her. Thank you for your message of hope.
This is my go to scripture, for sure!! ….many times a day! 🙂
But I want to say here, I love the way you shed light on knowing God! And how knowing him and his heart for us and trusting him go hand in hand! Thank you so much for sharing that gold nugget!! ❤☝️
What a wonderful comparison. However, this year has been extremely confusing. Completed my MSN (@ 56), been on the same job for over 20 years. Miserable and no advancement. One has prayed the entire 3 years while obtaining one’s goal. It is going on 8 months and nothing has come opened and just as confused as the first day of class. I need prayers for patience and guidance. In Jesus name!
God Bless you, Jamie. I pray for patience and guidance for you, but also strength and endurance! You are a champion and good job for working so hard. God always hears you and his love endures forever.
God is inspiring me to trust him. I have a paranoid pschphrenia husband he accuses me of cheating trying to kill him have him raped everything horrible but I want to divorce him all the time but Jesus didn’t give up on me so I stay.pray for me
I have been feeling frustrated and grumpy lately, as it has seemed like MY plans aren’t going the way I wish they would. Thank you for reminding me this morning that because I know God loves me and I know his heart…I can trust that his plans for my life are best and I don’t have to worry or fret. I can rest in his love for me!
I too very much enjoy your writings! God has so gifted you to convey His heart with your readers. Thank you for using your gifts to help others. Having no children of my own, I have been blessed to care for and work with children for the past 30 years after losing my job in the Post Office for medical reasons. And those kids taught me so much more than i could ever teach them. I never dreamed that i would be a nanny and open a home daycare! God had a plan all along. It wasn’t always easy to Trust His heart, but I am learning more and more about it all the time, as i grow closer and closer to Him. Knowing Him makes Trusting Him so much easier to do.
This is so inspiring. I woke up in the dumps this morning and decided to look for something on the internet that could lift me up.
Thank you for the good words. It pays to trust in the Lord.