ODJ: burning all the bridges

December 11, 2015 

READ: Psalm 25:1-6 

I trust in you, my God! Do not let me be disgraced (vv.1-2).

When my wife, Miska, and I were dating and our relationship grew serious, marriage became the obvious next step. For more than a year, however, I hesitated and pushed the conversation aside. We even broke up twice as our communication faltered and expectations diverged. Through several difficult conversations, I had to face how afraid I was of commitment. I loved Miska, but I wanted to keep my options open. And I found myself haunted by all the “what ifs” and all the unknown future possibilities. My fear of commitment wasn’t unusual, but it was immature. Love requires a risk. To say yes to one person, we must say no to others.

The psalmist described a faith that took a risky leap, a faith that committed to God—closing off every competing option and burning every other bridge. “O Lord, I give my life to you. I trust in you, my God!” wrote the psalmist. “Do not let me be disgraced” (Psalm 25:1-2). These words remind me of the apostle Peter. When asked whether or not he too would abandon Jesus, Peter insisted that he would stay with the Lord, for there was nowhere else to go (John 6:68). For those of us who choose to follow Jesus, there inevitably comes a time when we must abandon our lives and our futures and entrust all into God’s care. At times we take these daring steps of faith with fear and trembling, much like the psalmist who pleaded with God not to leave him in the lurch—not to allow him disgrace or ruin. But God knows our faltering hearts, and He assures us that “no one who trusts in [Me] will ever be disgraced” (Psalm 25:3). We can throw caution to the wind because of our confidence in Christ and put our full “hope” in Him (v.5).

—Winn Collier

365-day-plan: 1 Timothy 4:1-16