God intentionally tests us through various forms of resistance or trials to establish our belief and integrity. Through the process we learn he is the One who sets the terms of discipleship, not us. When pushed, we might want to push back at God, but in his perfect wisdom he questions and stretches us in such a way that draws us nearer to him rather than causing us to run away.
Trustology inspires leaders and managers to tenaciously maintain an environment of trust because the fruit of cooperative behavior is worth the effort. People who don’t trust one another can only cooperate under a highly regulated and enforceable system of policies. This poisons the roots of creativity and it doesn’t take long before a culture of distrust erodes productivity.
When I am pressed due to circumstances to fully trust in God, the display of beauty in Creation points me to the Intelligent Design of a Painter who has the sovereign ability to attend to my circumstances. As I snapped this photo in the Wind Rivers in Wyoming recently...
Like the night I survived a terrifying lightning storm with my two other 12 year old friends at the base of Hawk Peak one summer, we often witness God’s goodness and power through being exposed to the wildness of his Creation. And if God chooses, he will usher us into an encounter with him through those wilderness experiences. The book of Job is overflowing with powerful outdoor ministry curriculum. It is about how one man encountered God face to face through the wildness of Creation.
I remember an epoch climb when from dawn til dark I climbed not one, but three peaks covering over 20 miles of hiking in one day. Now I’m always up for an adventure, but honestly, I am more of a wanderer in the wilderness rather than a driven alpinist. Well, by the end of the day I had had it…. Like a soaked sponge that gets squeezed, who we really are comes out when the pressure is on.
