Exhale, Relax, and Trust God
Wednesday, December 24, 2025
“When a man is anxious he cannot pray with faith; when he is troubled about the world, he cannot serve his Master, for his thoughts are serving himself.” – C.H. Spurgeon
I just finished preaching a three-part Christmas message titled, “Jesus in the Book of Isaiah.” Part One was subtitled, “A Virgin Birth” and focused on Isaiah 7:14 as well as passages in Matthew, Luke, and Micah.
Part Two was subtitled, “A Suffering Servant” and the key text was Isaiah 53. And Part Three was subtitled, “A Conquering King” from Isaiah 9:6-7 and 11:1-10 as well as passages from Daniel, Zechariah, and Revelation.
At the end of my sermons, I almost always list a few applications or “takeaways” that the people in our church can ponder and then put into practice throughout the week. This past Sunday, there was only one such application and it was the closing sentence of Isaiah 9:7, “The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”
I encouraged our congregation to focus on the truth that regardless of what is going on in the world or in their own personal lives, God is still in complete control. And so, we can exhale, relax, and simply trust Him to work things out according to His perfect will.
Here is how Charles Spurgeon once put it…
“You are meddling with Christ’s business and neglecting your own when you fret about your lot and circumstances. You have been trying to do the providing and forgetting to do the obeying. Be wise and pay attention to the obeying, and let Christ manage the providing. Come and survey your Father’s storehouse, and ask whether He will allow you to starve while He has so great an abundance in store.”
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” Matthew 6:31-34 (BSB)
- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President
