Happy Trust

Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

I'm Wynn Collier, and I wrote today's piece titled, Happy Trust. A woman rescued Rudy from the animal shelter days before he was to be euthanized, and the dog became her companion. For ten years, Rudy slept calmly beside Linda's bed, but then he abruptly began to jump next to her and lick her face. Linda scolded him, but every night, Rudy repeated the behavior. Soon, he was jumping on my lap to lick my face every time I sat down, Linda said. As she was planning to take Rudy to obedience school, she began to consider how insistent Rudy was, and how he always licked her in the same spot on her jaw. Sheepishly, Linda went to a doctor who found a microscopic tumor, bone cancer.

The doctor told Linda that if she'd waited longer, it probably would have killed her. Linda had trusted Rudy's instincts, and she was happy she did. The scriptures tell us repeatedly that trusting God leads to life and joy. Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, the psalmist says.

Some translations make the point even starker. Happy are those who make the Lord their trust. Happy, in the Psalms, communicates abundance, an erupting, effervescent joy. When we trust God, the ultimate result is deep, genuine happiness. This trust may not come easily, and the results may not be everything we envision, but if we trust God, we'll be so happy we did.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is Psalm 40 verses 1 to 5. I waited patiently for the Lord. He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire.

He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in Him. Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us.

None can compare with you. Were I to speak and tell of your deeds, there would be too many to declare. Let's pray. Dear God, we want the kind of happiness that only you can bring, but it's very hard for us to trust. Will you help us to trust? In Jesus' name, Amen. Today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.