Trust in God is tested when we face circumstances and personal struggles that we are unable to repair by our own strength. And, in life, we’re going to experience struggle. Knowing and expecting this, it’s important to seek to have an unwavering trust. One way that we express this trust is in an idol-free life, focusing completely on God.

God is omnipresence. He is present, always protecting and providing for His people. And to best see God, we need to let go of our expectations, assume His presence, and look for Him.  

In scripture, God’s calling means His invitation to join Him in something.  In doing so, He interrupts our “good life” to invite us into “something greater.”  Consider your own life.  What has and is God inviting you to join Him in?

Do you have unmet expectations against God? Ways to guard against bitterness are to look for God’s grace, submit to His reign, and trust in His plan.  In doing so, we can better trust in His overall plan for our life.  

In the Bible, we see that Elijah was called to help the nation of Israel see the need to choose the One True God over the false god Baal. What are some of the false “gods” that are worshiped in our households today? Think about how you can set your priorities, so that you can fully commit your time, talents, and treasures to God.

Spiritually selling out begins with putting our desires over God’s Word.  And this behavior is costly.  The good news is that when we humble ourselves, we can receive God’s grace when we fall short in this area.

Relating with God means entering and advancing His story. In order to do this, we cannot put personal convenience over faithful obedience or self-affirmation over God’s correction.

When you think about King Solomon, what comes to mind? As we look at his reign in 1 Kings, Solomon’s life is recorded as a witness to encourage us to obey God’s Word and follow His plan to build a life of meaning and leave an eternal legacy.

When you think of the word “rebel,” do negative or positive images come to mind? Consider that Jesus rebelled against the ideas and practices of the day that were opposed to God and harmful to people. So, to put “rebel” in a positive light, be one who rebels to obey God and to love others.

At times, we may be seeking God in earnest and relate to the older son in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Other times, we may have let the priorities of the world come between us and God and we may relate more to the prodigal son. In any case, the parable can speak to all of us, no matter our perspective.