Tried, Tested and Trusted
by Malcolm Wood
From cornflakes to cosmetics, toothpaste to trainers, builders to banks, we all have our own favourite brand, supplier, manufacturer or service provider. We probably make our decision based on a number of different reasons e.g. taste, value, convenience, or customer satisfaction. In lots of cases we make our choice based on past experience. We have tried it previously. It has met our criteria. We like it and it ‘does what it says on the tin’ and we have come to trust it to provide the colour, the taste, the comfort, the fit, the protection, and the service that we require.
We learn from experience by trying a commodity or service. We test it to see whether it meets our requirements and, if it does, we come to use it again. We can trust it to provide what we need. When this happens, we are then able to recommend it to others.
Many people criticise Christianity without even trying it. They seem willing to turn their backs on God without even giving Him an opportunity to meet with them and reveal Himself to them and prove He is a God who can be trusted. Those of us, who have tried what it means to take that step of faith, have reached out to God, taken Him at His word and, through experience, have discovered that He can be trusted and that His promises are true.
There are many of these promises to be found in the Bible. Here are just a few.
His presence, help and strength: ‘Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you’ (Isaiah 41:10).
His comfort: ‘I, yes I, am the one who comforts you’ (Isaiah 51:12).
His healing: ‘For I am the Lord who heals you’ (Exodus 15:26).
His guidance: ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.’ (Psalm 32:8).
Just as we might recommend a commodity or service we have found helpful and a benefit to us to someone else, should we not also be recommending that others might like to try meeting the One who can be trusted to meet all their needs? Perhaps we could introduce them to Him.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that I have found You to be someone who can be trusted with my life and who meets all my needs. Help me to demonstrate Your presence in my life by my attitudes and actions and help me to recommend You to others. Amen.
Malcolm Wood and his wife Anna became part of the Ellel family as House Managers at Ellel Grange in 1990. Since then they have been involved with many aspects of the developing Ministry. From 2001 until 2015 they were Directors of Ellel Scotland where they hosted several International Schools and Operation Blairmore and helped pioneer the exciting Creative Inspiration Weeks. They have three sons.
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