Faith and Lessons on Trust

May 15, 2025 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

Oh Lord, I give my life to you. I trust in you, my God! Psalm 25: 1 NLT.

This short verse opens Psalm 25. I find myself increasingly drawn to this simple but profound prayer. This week, our family has dealt with life’s troubles.

My older sister Carol is getting ready to transition to heaven. This was not unexpected, but it is still difficult. She lives four hours away. I struggled to decide if I should drop everything and go be with her and her daughter. So I prayed this prayer, Lord, I trust you. When I talked with my niece, I realized it was best for me to stay here. They have hospice care, and that seems to be all they need right now.

My granddaughter just got her driver’s license last week. Tuesday afternoon, she was driving with her mother. A man pulling a trailer got distracted. He plowed into their car. The car is now being evaluated to see if it is worth fixing. The other driver took full responsibility for the accident. The good news, no one went to the ER. We are grateful. It was frightening to hear about. Yet, it was another chance to say: thank you Lord for keeping them safe and I continue to trust you.

This morning my son-in-law fell. The pain was so intense he passed out. Now, they are running many tests to see if there was any internal damage done to any of his organs. Amid all these tests, I am declaring, “Lord, I trust you”. I trust you to show the doctors any critical issue. I trust you to meet their needs. Keep fear far from them. Just hear:d. No fractures seen. CT scan looks great. Use of ibuprofen/tylenol alternating for pain along with lidocaine patches. Monitoring his heart for twenty-four hours and a breathing tool to prevent pneumonia. Declaring my trust in Him helps me release my faith during stressful times. It also helps me capture wild and wayward thoughts that would lead to fear, and all those “what if” scenarios!

My sister’s end-of-life situation is part of living in this world. So many wonderful memories and the fact she knows the Lord makes a hard thing a little easier. The car accident was shocking and unexpected. By the time I received the call, there were people on the scene helping. The other driver took many opportunities to reassure my granddaughter it was not her fault. Each of these things help build trust in Him even more.

Psalm 25:4 reveals another of David’s prayers that I use. Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. My friends, if we surrender to His will, He will lead us. If you are seeking His will for direction, you must determine beforehand to follow whichever road He shows you! Settle in your heart that no matter what it looks like, His road is best. Remember along that path, you will encounter truth and you will learn some lessons. Some of these lessons may be for you, or they may be to help others.

There is another aspect we need in this area of trust. We find it in verse 6. Praise the Lord! Praising the Lord in stressful times acknowledges Him again. Praising Him unlocks even more trust in Him. For he heard my cry for mercy. David declares: The Lord is my strength and shield. No matter how weak and out of control we may feel, God hasn’t changed. He is still stronger than our adversary. His shield is protecting us. We are not alone in our troubles unless we want to be. I am trying to grow in my trust, like David declares in the rest of this verse. I trust him with all my heart. This is a process. A few nights ago, my friend was facing a difficult situation. I began praying for her. My heart was broken for her. I declared through song: My Lord knows the way through the wilderness, all I have to do is follow. Strength for today is mine all the way, and all I need for tomorrow. My Lord knows the way through the wilderness, all I have to do is follow. I may have sung it with tears, but singing it released my faith. I added her name in the song, declaring the Lord knows her way through her own wilderness and I ended up sleeping peacefully.

The rest of this Psalm has good trust statements as well. I encourage you to read it. God’s Word is often like a reset to me. We can never go wrong trusting it!

Father, I thank you for teaching us to trust you. We declare with your son David, O Lord, I give my life to you, I trust in you, my God. You are so trustworthy. Forgive us when we lean unto our own understanding and decide to walk our own paths. I am so grateful you know how to “show the proper path to those who go astray (verse 9). Help us Lord, In Jesus’ Name amen.

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Faith and Heart Honesty

March 6, 2025 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. Psalm 56:3. NLT.

April 2010, my husband suffered a massive heart attack that led to a massive stroke. It was obviously a very trying time. I found a journal entry I wrote on July 2, 2010. I need you, Lord. Desperately. I need your love, grace, and help. I am afraid Darryl won’t progress. I am afraid that once he gets “better”, his “better” is not ‘enough’. I am afraid that the healing process is contingent on my little faith.

These words took me back to the emotions I was obviously going through. But amazingly, I didn’t stop there. All the above are settled with your touch. Fear is tormenting. You are love and peace. I know you love me and Darryl. You are walking these things out for many situations. I will surrender once again to be a coin in your pocket, ready to be spent anyway you choose.

Oh my friends, when we are honest about our fears to the Lord, He shows up. As we wait on Him, He begins to show us how to deal with our fears. I remember peace coming as I wrote what I knew about His character. Simply listing our fears without including Him in the scenario can magnify them. But, reminding ourselves of who He is can being to free us from those fears.

This heart honest with the Lord, was definitely not a one and done! August 7, 2010 found me sharing these words: I am troubled, I need you to help me. I am afraid of the future. I feel alone. I feel abandoned in the very place I need you–on the inside. You are good. I “see” Your goodness, but I don’t feel your goodness. I see and feel my badness, my need of a Savior even more desperately than I have ever needed you before. I need your help. Your sent Joan, Vanda, Joyce and the girls, but I need you. Abraham waited YEARS for the promise to be fulfilled. I am impatient for it now. Abraham and Sarah had to deal with their own deadness. I feel dead as well. I feel more dead than ever before, but…. (Those listed were such a God sent gift to help Darryl and I. There were many more!)

I actually ended there…no great declaration of faith, just simple heart honesty of how I was feeling. It is almost fifteen years since Darryl’s heart attack. And I am still walking with the Lord. I don’t always understand the circumstances of my life, but I know He does. Life is still challenging, but the lessons I learned during this season have stood me well.

If you are struggling with fears, anxiety or frustrations, I encourage you to take the time to process it with the Lord. There is something helpful about writing them down. In March of that same year I wrote: an encounter with God comes from a heart cry. A heart cry comes because we are desperate. Desperation comes because of a painful awareness that our soul is in trouble. Was God preparing me for this future overwhelming, life-changing event? Probably. He is that good. The amazing thing is God already knew where my heart was struggling. Peace came when I was honest with Him. If you need some scriptural foundation for being honest with God, take a look at King David. Psalm 6:2 have compassion on me, Lord, for I am weak. Heal me, Lord for my bones are in agony,. I am sick at heart, how long O Lord until you restore me? Psalm 13: 1-3: O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand? Turn and answer me, O Lord my God! Restore the sparkle in my eyes, or I will die. But he goes on to verse 5-6: But I trust your unfailing love, I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because He is good to me. NLT.

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

Oh my friends, God wants to return the sparkle to your eyes. Take the time to share your honest heart. But don’t stop there, begin to remind yourself of what He has already done for you. Do not let the fears and regrets of your past hold you back. Do not let the concerns and fears of the future stop you from moving ahead in His ways. It is not worth it!

Father, I am so grateful we can be honest with You. I thank you for listening with attention and concern. I thank you for teaching us how to keep our hearts free from the clutter of fears and hidden anxiety. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Faith and Application

February 6, 2025 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to instruction. For it is good to keep these sayings in your heart and always ready on your lips. I am teaching you today—yes, you so you will trust in the Lord. Proverbs 22:17-19. NLT.

I have been having an ongoing conversation with the Lord. We have discussed why so many in their later season of life experience so many challenges. It seems the advertised “golden” years are not as golden as the commercials would like to portray! People hear about the joys of retirement with traveling, golfing, or cruising. However, many seniors face unexpected physical diagnoses. These diagnoses can limit their mobility and interactions. Last year I got to experience physical therapy for the first time because of a knee condition. Now both knees are complaining and I need to courage up to tackle a flight of stairs! These are fairly common complaints for those of us in our 70’s.

There is also the hovering concern or specter of dementia! Oh, I forgot a word or date. Could this be an early sign of dementia or Alzheimer’s? So what are we to do? Let fear ruin our lives? That definitely is not the answer! So I prayed and talked with the Lord about navigating these older years. I asked Him why things seem to be so hard. He shared a simple insight. He said it is time to apply all the lessons about Him we have already learned. Every lesson about His trustworthiness and His faithfulness, we are to put into practice. It is a time to lean ever more upon Him and what His Word has to say in every situation.

Often we can move through life with our heads full of knowledge about God and His ways. It is when we face challenges to actually apply what we know , is when we find out how much faith we truly have. Jesus told us that in this world we would suffer tribulations. James is very clear on this as well. Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know when your faith is tested, endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1: 2-4. My senior friends, if your faith is being tested, it is a good thing. It is not easy, but He will work it out for your good. It will also benefit others. This is not just for senior friends, but for all of God’s children.

He also reminded me. These years are our last opportunity to show what it means to be a believer in Him. Whether or not we like it, people are watching you. Your family, friends and acquaintances really need us to model what it means to be a believer during trying times. When my sister was first diagnosed with lymphoma, God led me to Philippians 4:6-7. Very simple and familiar scriptures, but they became very real to me. Don’t worry about anything, instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. I keep applying these lessons through her breast cancer journey and now her heart and kidney concerns. The don’t worry part is challenging, but I am getting better at it!

My friends, it is not God’s plan that we simply spout platitudes about His goodness, but we must believe it. When faced with the trials of our faith, we must know that 2 Peter 1:3 is true. By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. There is no disqualifying circumstance to this verse. He has given us everything we need for living a godly life, the choice is “do we believe it?”. Oh my friends, the lessons you are learning today will benefit you greatly. They will help you, no matter what you face tomorrow. Many times it is the small things that help us endure. I remember singing (very croakedly) “this is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it), during the first few weeks after my husband’s stroke. It came from deep within my spirit from the earlier lessons He taught me. This simple scripture helped me get through those tough days.

So no matter what season of life, learn to apply what you know. If you need more help in a matter, ask Him for it–or a good friend. Remember, He is our teacher. What a blessing it brings to Him, when we apply what we know!

Father, I thank you for teaching us how to apply Your Word to every circumstance we find ourselves in. I thank you we don’t have to worry about our future, because you are already in it. Prepare us for our future, but helping us learn to walk with you today. Help us truly “apply our heart to your instruction”. In Jesus’s Name, amen.

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Faith

May 2, 2024 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:

I had the privilege of watching the movie “Unsung Hero” this week. I laughed and cried as I watched the true story of this family face life challenges together. Because of financial issues, the Smallbone family of eight left Australia, pursuing an apparent open door in Nashville, TN. The door quickly closed, and they were left with a rented home, with no car or furniture. The mom was pregnant with her seventh child. This amazing mom made them beds from clothes in their suitcase. The parents came together as a team and so did the children. Often children are sheltered from the issues of life, but in this case, they had to work as a team. They prayed as a family and watched as God answered their prayers. It was often the mom’s perspective of seeing these difficulties as opportunities and adventures that held the family together. It caused them to all grow in faith and trust in the Lord. It reminded me of some difficulties my husband and I walked through following the Lord. I now see God was using them for good for my children’s sake.

Difficulties can make us or break us, it is true. Do we believe “he is a very present help in the time of trouble” or not? These were teaching moments for their children. I didn’t google the movie before I watched it. I knew it was advertised to be about “For King and Country” a male duo group. I did not know that out of this family came Rebecca St. James and the men in For King and Country are her brothers! Rebecca St. James is a singer/song writer that has encouraged many through her music. This movie is the true story of how God worked in and through her life.

As they rolled the credits, they included updates on the children and what they are doing as adults. It’s amazing that they are each accomplished in their fields. The difficulties they faced actually gave them a platform of faith for their current future. Praying with your children and modeling faith in a good God who does good things is always a good thing. Instead of turning away from the God of their parents, they are pursuing Him.

I am proud of my daughters as they are examples of faith, as well. I watch them encourage their children to trust the God we trusted in when they were children. They are married to men of faith and for that I am so grateful, but I watch them implementing some of the things we imparted to them, it makes my heart glad they have the same foundation. There were times we could have given in to fear and given up on trusting God, but by His grace we didn’t. We kept trusting and watching Him show up. He is still showing up, my friends. He is still trustworthy. Our son walks in the same trust, in the midst of difficult situations. He and his wife, Becca are a faith team as well.

When Darryl and I married, we chose to follow Him and His ways. We didn’t give up on Him or each other, but leaned on Him and sought after His ways. Active faith was evident in our lives, because we needed Him, and still do! My friends, don’t give up. He is trustworthy, no matter the trials or troubles you face. Release your faith today. Put Him and His ways first, you will never regret it.

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Isaiah 43:2-3. NLT. Remember, He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20. So ask largely for His grace, glory and purpose for every trouble, difficulty or trial you might be facing. Do not give in to depression or discouragement. Stir up your faith in who you are trusting. He is more than able, my friends. Instead of asking “why” am I here in this trial, ask Him what He wants to do in and through it. If you are going to be going through it, it might as well be for His glory, right? Cry if you have to, but cry with Him. Your story doesn’t catch Him off guard, but by acknowledging Him makes you even more aware of His presence and purpose in your life.

Father, help us release our faith in even greater ways. Show us how to glorify your name by trusting you. I thank you for the challenges we have faced in the past and how you showed up. We overcome by the blood of the lamb and our testimonies. Thank you for each one. Help us to not let fear direct our paths, but faith. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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Faith and Insecurity

January 11, 2024 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

Therefore, do not throw away your confidence which has great reward. Hebrews 10:35. ESV.

January 1, I spent some focused time with the Lord. I just poured my heart out, admitting I felt inadequate for some callings I feel He has set before me. As I shared my heart with Him, not only did naming my fears and shortcomings make them more understandable to me, He responded. He told me that the enemy was trying to undermine my confidence not only in myself but also in Him and His ability to equip me for the position He has called me too. This sounds like pretty basic spiritual warfare, doesn’t it? And it is. But sometimes the subtle tactics can not only be the most effective to slow us down but also so sneaky we don’t recognize it at first.

As we continued the conversation, my eyes were opened to just how subtle and effective this tactic had been working in my life. Not only was it eroding my confidence in this area, but it was spilling over into other areas of my life. So, I asked the Lord for His strategies for combatting this warfare.

This is why I love our Lord so much. He gave me directions and practical solutions! Now, these are very obvious but useful solutions. The first one is to be thankful. As I upped my gratitude and open thankfulness, my confidence began to return. He led me to thank Him for His wisdom being my wisdom, and His ability to become my ability. The subtle warfare led me to take my eyes off the Lord and onto myself, no wonder I felt insecure. By actively thanking the Lord for His help, ability, promises it made it about Him, not me! I am feeling much more confident than ever before.

But He also led me to thank Him for any and every breakthrough we may need as a team. This means every team member will receive their own breakthroughs as well. Hope and expectation are rising in my heart. As I laid down (again) my ways to His ways, confidence is rising.

Dear ones Joshua had big shoes to fill after Moses died. What did God tell him? Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Joshua 1: 6-7. NLT. I am sure those subtle lies were spoken to him too, but God told Him what to do. Be strong and very courageous. My friends, no matter what will come our way in 2024, we can know we can handle it. Do not let insecurity or fear overwhelm you. Begin to thank Him for giving you every ability you need to accomplish this good work in you and through you.

I have found continued encouragement in Colossian 1:11. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. As I pray this prayer for myself and our team, once again hope and expectation rise. Insecurity festers and flourishes when we forget we have His power and that He will enable us to have the endurance and patience we need to run our race. Confidence rises when we trust Him to keep His promises and we align ourselves with His Word. There are things on God’s agenda for each of us this coming year. Let’s not let fear, insecurity or pride stand in our way. Colossians 1:10 Then you way you will live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. What a blessed promise!

Father, I thank you for helping us get rid of all insecurity that may be lurking in our lives. I thank you that you are enabling everyone who reads these words to be strong and courageous in both the big and little assignments You have given them. Strengthen moms and dads, leaders and followers, employees and employers to bear good confident fruit for Your kingdom’s sake, In Jesus’ Name, amen.