Trust in the Lord with all your heart
Bible Verse: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV).
I have found this verse is a staple for me as I was beginning my journey as a Christian in my late twenties and has got me through some challenges that I have faced in my life. Sometimes for it was easy to trust in the Lord when decisions had to be made.
- When I see a person sitting alone in the church, I can easily approach them say hi and begin a conversation.
- When decisions must be made involving finance, I pray and then decide relying on God to guide me in that decision.
- Some decisions are not easy. They take a little time to think through.
When I was asked to be a Specific Ministries Pastor, it took me a little while to decide.
Issues to think through. Church commitment, family impacts, intellect. After talking, praying, more talking more praying. Trusting in God to make this right and a happening thing. I have been the recipient of many blessings and seen a few miracles in the 20 + years I have been here. More recently I have been put to the test, and I unfortunately was found wanting in the trust in the Lord category.
Lynda and I have been planning our retirement for 5 years. We had a wish list, and we ticked things off as we achieved the list items.
The 4th of July 2025 was the day for me. My last day of work I would head to work come home put my feet up and have a drink of something. Retirement here I come.
But I was earning a good salary where I was working, and I was struggling with the thought of giving up the income for the pension. So, I kept working justifying that the extra income would come in handy.
Part of the plan was to sell our house in Whanganui, and we decided to do it ourselves.
It is exciting when people came to see our home and I proudly showed the around the estate as I called it. But it was disappointing when the same people turn the house down. This happened for 3 months nobody was interested.
It became increasingly frustrating to the point where I was becoming angry with my situation, angry with myself, angry with my wife.
Suddenly there were all these decisions and I was becoming anxious.
What happens when I retire. (do I sit on the couch all day)
What if the pension is not enough to live on. (need to keep working)
What happens to Gods Church in Whanganui. (Who will mow the lawns)
Do I still have worth as a person (you are retired we do not need you)
Will I see my colleagues and will have things changed because I don’t work there anymore.
These were genuine issues for me, and I am told they are issues for many who have recently retired or are contemplating retirement.
Then a light bulb moment. I was talking to a person from our community in Whanganui about relying on God trust in the Lord.
Hit with a brick. I was telling someone else to do what I was not doing.
I went to our church let myself in (Pastors privilege) sat in the front pew and confessed my sin.
I told God I was sorry that I had moved away from him and his protection for me.
I got caught in the trap of doing it myself. I sat and gave it to God to do the things that had to be done for me to retire.
God said you will retire from your work but not from mine. The house will sell.
There will be more trials and tests.
When the hard challenges come and they will come to us all it is important not to lose focus on Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I moved away from God and thought I could do it myself after all I had been planning for five years.
It bought me heartache, anger, and frustration and very nearly burnout.
I gave it all to God and as I was feeling guilty, I sat in quiet reflection with him more than I usually would.
The house sold within a month. We purchased another in Rotoma. I am Pastoring at Kawerau Lutheran Church who I am told was praying for a pastor to come for over a year.
It is so important to keep focused on our Lord and know that he has us all in his arms that he has called us to be his children.
It is easy to become distracted when we are doing something in ourselves, and it is going well but there will come a time when we must;
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV).
Pastor Phil Husband
Kawerau
24 April 2026
