ELW 769 - If You But Trust in God to Guide You - ᴡᴇʀ ɴᴜʀ ᴅᴇɴ ʟɪᴇʙᴇɴ ɢᴏᴛᴛ

ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // The first stanza can sound like the devil! “If you but trust in God…” But, the stanza is not making a suggestion. Instead, it tells us what God promises regardless of our own doubt or inacation. God stands beside us with an unchanging promise. When crosses come in trying days, God suffers with us and gives us hope beyond death.

Stanza 2 // God’s favor is known in his promise, not our lack of anxiety, trouble, or sorrow. When temptation and trials come, we turn to the cross, where - because of the promise Christ speaks -  an instrument of death is for us the means of salvation.

Stanza 3 // When we are restless, God holds our hearts in the promise He has given. As God’s chosen people, we are not removed from the temptations of this world, but have a promise to trust in the midst of fear.

Stanza 4 // As we sing and pray together, and “perform our duties faithfully” - in such mundane, less tempting, moments of life - we trust the Word heaven has given. God’s Word is our hope, because it will not fail. When Christ speaks, the devil and powers of this world flee, and we are left only with angels - those who carry the good news of resurrection.

OTHER SUGGESTIONS:

• ELW 319 - O Lord, throughout These Forty Days - ᴄᴏɴꜱᴏʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴ
• ELW 321 - Eternal Lord of Love, Behold Your Church - ᴏʟᴅ 124ᴛʜ
• ELW 503/504 - A Mighty Fortress Is Our God - ᴇɪɴ ꜰᴇꜱᴛᴇ ʙᴜʀɢ
• ELW 517 - Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word - ᴇʀʜᴀʟᴛ ᴜɴꜱ, ʜᴇʀʀ
• ELW 618 - Guide Me Ever, Great Redeemer - ᴄᴡᴍ ʀʜᴏɴᴅᴅᴀ
• ELW 624 - Jesus, Still Lead On - ꜱᴇᴇʟᴇɴʙʀäᴜᴛɪɢᴀᴍ
• ELW 629 - Abide with Me - ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛɪᴅᴇ
• ELW 705 - God of Grace and God of Glory - ᴄᴡᴍ ʀʜᴏɴᴅᴅᴀ
• ELW 796 - How Firm a Foundation - ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅᴀᴛɪᴏɴ