Probability
My husband and I both tell the story of how our relationship started when we were in a Crop Science class together at the University of Illinois. The class was Applied Statistics, so it included topics like probability and correlation. What’s the likelihood that we would meet each other in that class? I mean, we didn’t have an average start to our relationship.
All nerdy jokes aside…
During the past week, probability has floated into my life in random ways. Did you know that 1 in 5,000 clovers are 4-leaf clovers? You’ve probably heard that we will have a summer of cicadas in Illinois. This convergence of cicada broods is a 1 in 221 year phenomenon. There are various parts of my day where I wonder about the probability of things happening: The odds that it’s going to rain. What mood will my teenagers be in when they wake up? What mood will I be in when I wake up? How far can I drive on this tank of gas? Will that package arrive today? What are the odds?
Those are relatively trivial questions that I wonder about. Stepping back and looking at the “big stuff,” I recognize that there are times when I live life like I doubt God is going to show up. My trust is lacking. I worry. I stress about my kids’ health. I stress about work.
Not many things are certain, but the probability of God showing up for us is 100%. I had to stop and reflect on that this week. I think the following words came to me in the Hallow app Lent Pray40 prayer challenge: The Lord is coming for you, and He has not left you. You are unforgettable to God. He is a 100% reliable source of strength, peace, grace, mercy, love, and the list goes on.
When someone is there for us 100% of the time, the only logical response is trust. Right? When someone can be counted on, in any moment, from now until eternity, the proper response is trust.
Like many things, it is easier said than done. Trust, by its nature, is relational. There has to be someone who trusts, and someone who is trusted. I have good news for you! There is “someone who is trusted” who has a 100% probability of being there for you. But it takes “someone who trusts” to step forward, away from our doubt, out of our fear, away from our pride, to be the someone who trusts. We can do this with God’s grace.
There are obstacles that prevent us from trusting in God. There always will be. Trusting in God requires us to surrender to our own will. I have to let go of my worry. I have to learn to let go of expectations because life is not about MY plans. It takes work to put surrender on repeat in our lives.
I’ll close with a reminder of the good news: The probability of God showing up for you is 100%. The Lord is coming for you, and He has not left you. You are unforgettable to God.
If you need a little help surrendering and trusting, let’s pray the Litany of Trust together.