It is sometimes difficult to put your trust in someone else. Yet, part of Scripture argues that you can trust God and He will not let you down. Furthermore, to not trust God is to reject Him, which always brings heavy consequences. Think of Adam and Eve and the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. They didn’t trust God’s word and the consequences involved being cast out of God’s presence. 

One of the hardest ways this hits me is in my work as a gospel preacher. I must trust that if God’s Word addresses this topic, then I must address this topic in my preaching. God’s word discusses hard topics and so I must be willing to address hard topics. I have to trust Him and His Word—if it mattered to Him enough to include in Scripture, then it should matter enough to me to address it publicly. 

Consider the negatives of this conclusion, if not doing things God’s way is a rejection of Him and His ways, the same is true of my preaching. There will be consequences, both for me as I stand before Him in judgment, and for those who listened to me but didn’t get the whole council of God’s Word. Like Adam and Eve, my preaching must be shaped by my trust in God and His wisdom, so those who listen to me weekly are shaped by God and His wisdom. Like Abraham and Sarah, my preaching must emphasize depending on God and His ways, so my listeners will depend more on God and His ways. Like Israel and the Exodus event, my preaching must stress the magnificence and might of God, so my listeners will be impressed by Him and His greatness.