“In you, my God, I place my trust.” (Psalm 91:2)
What if trusting God became like breathing? What if it became natural and normal to trust God in all of our fears, anxieties, crosses, and traumas? How can we replace worry or fear with deep peace, sure guidance, and hope regardless of the situation?
Whatever is wrong in our life we can take that deep breath and trust with the words, “Jesus, I Trust in You.”
Father Jerry Byrd’s homily, “Trust Him,” gives us four ways to deepen our trust in Jesus.
Four Ways to Trust God
1. Believe Christ loves you!
The leading principle of trust is believing Christ desires our good. He wants us to rest and abide in Him because Christ is the source of all goodness. He says, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. “ (John 10:10.)
This belief allows us to know who Christ is as our Saviour, Fr. Byrd said. Christ died for us but He also lives for us in the present time.
2. Know Christ as your Saviour First
One of the most common mistakes people make is thinking that acts of failure or sins keep us from Christ, said Fr. Byrd. We believe that Jesus is only a judge of our faults. Instead, we need to recognize that Jesus is our Saviour first. Jesus is just, generous, and merciful, said Fr. Byrd.
One of the most powerful illustrations of this is the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The father is watching for his son to return. When he does he embraces Him first. He places a ring on his finger. He forgives all.
With God, there is no lack of mercy and love for us. We must trust that when we confess our sins to Him, Fr. Byrd said.
It’s this love that helps us trust in the words of Jesus. it also shows that the words of Jesus have great power and protection.
3. Trust Jesus Will do EXACTLY What He Says!
Christ makes many promises to us. In the Gospel, he shows his actions only take a word from Him. Christ heals people with only a word.
“I know God will give you whatever you ask of Him,” Martha said to Christ with her brother dead in the tomb.
These verses in John 11 show that Christ can do anything. He raises Lazarus to life again even as Martha thinks of the practical considerations that should stop this from happening: it’s been four days, and there will be a stench of death. Christ pays no heed to these circumstances. He orders the stone to be removed and by His words says:
“Lazarus, come out!”
Lazarus came out. He lived a full life. He trusted for the rest of his life because tradition states Lazarus lived through many trials:
- After the martyrdom of St James the Greater in Jerusalem many Christians were evicted from the city and placed upon a boat without a sail or a rudder. Miraculously this group, which included Mary Magdalene, Lazarus, and Martha, reached the southern shores of France in Saintes Maries de la Mer.
- Tradition says Lazarus became a missionary to Gaul, the first bishop of Marseilles, France, and a martyr in the persecutions of Domitian.
- Recently, Lazarus received a new recognition as Pope Francis designated July 29 in the General Roman Calendar as the Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus
Lazarus isn’t the only saint that witnessed trust in the words of Christ. The Roman Centurion in Luke 7:7 witnesses the power of Christ’s words. The centurion didn’t even care if Christ came to his home. Christ’s word was enough.
“Only say the word and my servant will be healed,” the centurion said in Luke 7:7.
The centurion knew a great truth about Jesus. He knew Jesus is always with us whether we see Him or not. His word is enough for everything!
4. Believe Jesus is Close to You
Jesus promises to always be with us many times in the Gospel.
“Behold, I am with you always,” he states in Matthew 28:20.
He is close to us when two or three are gathered in His name, He is in Church with us in the Tabernacle and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
He waits for us. He wants our yes.
“If we don’t trust then we will believe the enemy’s lies,” said Father Jerry Byrd. “If I do trust, I’ll find promises and peace.”
A Bonus Way to Live Trust
One of the best ways to gain trust is to pray for it. The Litany of Trust helps us build trust in our life through prayer, helping deliver us from our fears. It acknowledges the words, “Jesus, I Trust in You,” in a deep way.
Father Byrd encourages everyone to pray The Litany of Trust written by a Sister of Life Faustina Maria Pia.
Download the free PDF version.
A more in-depth book study, “Jesus, I Trust in You: A 30-Day Personal Retreat with the Litany of Trust,” was also written by Sister Faustina Maria Pia.
