When We Don't Trust God

Romans 9 is a passage about trust; trusting God enough to know that He is holding tightly to us and trusting Him enough to take on risks and discomforts in order to see that others know Him too. I think that in my relationship with God, the times I struggle to trust Him most are when I feel like He's not keeping me safe, or when He's not using His power in some way I expect. Why do we distrust Him at times? The reasons are many, but Romans 9 addresses distrust of God in a unique way that would be well worth our time exploring. I want us to look at three claims that Romans 9 makes and then spend more time thinking through three major implications of those claims.

First, Romans 9, along with many other passages in the Bible, makes the claim that God is sovereign over everything that happens (9:8-13, 9:21-28). Everything. There is nothing that happens that is out of God's range of authority or all-knowing-ness, including rebellious Jews of the 1st Century and tragedies that happen in our lives today.

Second, Romans 9 makes the claim that we make real choices in the world (9:30 - 10:4). We can make good choices, many of which can have eternal impact, or we can make poor choices that create major dumpster fires. When we make poor choices, Romans 9 is clear that we can't put the blame God and say things like, "He could have stopped me."

The third claim that Romans 9 makes is that God doesn't fail in keeping his promises (v. 6). He didn't fail when much of Israel rejected Jesus, and He isn't failing today when, for instance, prominent Christian leaders have major moral failings.

Put together, Romans 9 makes the remarkable argument that God’s plan of mercy toward His people has been successful since the beginning of time and will continue to be successful until Jesus comes back. Since we are part of this story, what that means for us is that we can trust that whatever is happening in our lives, He will not let us go and we can continue to trust that He has our best interests in mind. Furthermore, He is holding on to us so tightly that we can take substantial, wise risks to grow in Him and help others know Him too.

Let’s think through three implications of these truths.

1. Security

Notice the core actor in this chapter. Romans 9:8 says, "…it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring." In other words, being raised in a certain religious tradition or family doesn’t make one a child of God. GOD makes a person His child and it’s through a promise, not a debt, that He adopts us into His family. Romans 9:15b – 16 states, "'I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.' So, then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy." Again, GOD is the prime mover in our relationship with Him.

Sometimes at my work I am required to strap into a fall protection harness in order to work at heights over 4 feet. Because I am too weak or have too many tools in my hands to catch myself in a fall, I rely completely on that harness to catch me and save my life. By having it on, I have a security in doing risky jobs which I would not otherwise have.

Security is a key theme in Romans 9. God graciously shows mercy on us and holds on to us—like a harness securely protecting a worker. What that means is that we don’t have to worry, fret, or panic when things don’t go our way. Whether something happens to us or we do something to ourselves, we cannot slip out of the firm grip God has on us.

2. Risk

Paul says an absolutely shocking statement at the beginning of Romans 9. “I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers…” He was so zealous for the salvation of his fellow Jews that he would consider hell if he knew his fellow Jews could be saved. To be sure, I think he is just making a point about his passion here, not trying to barter his soul with God, but hear the courage in his voice, the fearlessness!

Paul was a wise, confident risk-taker because of his confidence in the security of God. Because of God’s promises to hold on to us and complete his mission to the world, we can wisely and confidently attempt mighty spiritual goals. The promises in Hosea quoted in verses 25 and 26 (written almost 800 years before Romans was written!!) are monumental. God says that He will call people—non-Israelites—to be His own. For 4,000 years, the only people who could claim to be God’s were the Israelites. Paul knew that with Jesus risen from the dead, the invitation was wide open for non-Israelites to be welcomed in. For us, this means that we can tell our family and coworkers about the hope we have in Christ without fear that their rejection will be our undoing. We can ask a friend about their relationship with God even if it risks the friendship. We can seriously consider moving to a different state with a church-planting team or to a far away country to share the gospel. We can start up a family worship night or host a college Gospel Community knowing full well that our risks and discomforts will be used by God to continue His plan of redeeming His people.

3. Humility

It is so easy to pervert security and risk in our relationships with God. You’ve probably seen this in others or yourself, like those times when an inflated sense of "I can do no wrong" leads a person to shrug off clear commands like “honor your father and mother” or “don’t let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth.” Or when statements like, “God told me to” act as a defeater for listening to wise counsel. A lot of wrong thinking about security and risk with in the Lord is born out of a faulty humility: 

I’ve done something for God so He owes me.

I’ve sinned too much so He can’t love me.

If trying hard to do the right thing leads to so much struggle, I’m better off just not trying.

God wants me to do this, I just know it.

We twist security into entitlement, risk into foolishness. But, since God is the one holding on to us it makes no sense whatsoever to be arrogant in any way. Humility says, “God, I don’t understand why this is happening to me, but I trust that you are in control.” Humility reaches forward and says, “God, I’m scared to call that friend, but risk is right here and I trust you no matter the outcome.” Humility drives us to care for people who don't treat us well, to talk with people who aren't like us, and to share the gospel boldly with people that we meet. Humility empowers us to seek wise counsel from others rather than making major decisions by ourselves. Humility opens up the door to trust God and to trust his people more deeply.

It seems like life is a continual barrage of temptations to distrust God. I know that I fight the urge to distrust Him whether tragedy strikes or if I’m comfortable and don’t want to take risks for the Kingdom. Romans 9 is such a great reminder that we’re living in God’s Kingdom and he’s in charge, working out His plan. Joy is found when we trust Him, live life with humility, and work for His glory–just like the secure, wise, confident worker trusting their harness to protect them and empower them. 

Jacob Reed has served as a lay elder at Redeemer Lubbock for more than 10 years and works in the agriculture industry here in West Texas (he's a very smart scientist and theologian). He has been married to his wife Georgia for almost 17 years and they have 3 children.