Margo wrote this for me several years back and it has always been a great encouragement and describes often how many of us  feel in these modern times as we navigate a myriad of work, family, and social challenges which continually push back against time and peace with God.

I am in continual amazement how God has the uncanny way of reaching our hearts in the most unexpected ways.  My unexpected moment was this — I was reading the story of William Tell in the book the Apple and the Arrow by Mary & Conrad Bluff  to our 8, 5, & 3 year old children. (It’s a great read if you’ve never read it.) Picture a snowy mountainside in the Alps of Switzerland, the year 1307, a tyrant named Gessler enraged over a perceived breach of authority because William Tell would not bow down to him.  Gessler had placed his cap on top of a pole in the center of town and was forcing all townspeople to bow to it.  Tell refused, and the rest was history. Benjamin Franklin once wisely stated, “Rebellion to tyranny is obedience to God.”  Tell recognized that if he caved in to this tyrant, his country’s and his own liberties would be gone.  The famous scene was played out, an innocent boy was the target, and Tell had no choice but to take on the challenge of shooting an apple off of his own son’s head.  What if his arm flinched?  What if his boy moved?  What if the arrow was crooked?  One inch could prove disastrous.

I had trouble finishing the story through tears as it dawned on me what this boy had done. He had every reason to fear, or to cry, or just collapse, but he did not.  He stood strong having faith in his father’s ability.  He did not flinch but trusted with every fiber of his being, and he stood perfectly still in that critical moment, while a tyrant and all his men looked on.  He passed the test.  How will I do when put to a similar test by life’s circumstances?   How much more reason I have to trust in my heavenly Father who is trustworthy in the truest sense of the word.  The word ‘trust’ occurs 125 times in the Bible.  2 Samuel 22:31 says, “As for God, His way is perfect.  The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.”  I’d say that is an amazing promise, wouldn’t you?  

Do a search with one of the many Bible study tools out there (Blue Letter Bible is a good one) for the word ‘trust’ and pick a verse to write on a card and put in your pocket as a reminder. If your trust level isn’t so great, ask God to help you and take joy in knowing your heavenly Father is ever on your side. And if you have never put your trust in him, visit What is the Gospel Anyway.

How about you? Do you have any stories that have helped your trust? Leave a comment and let us know! 

Margo