A large number of believers in God have likely never risen to the level of trusting God with their lives. How are those two things different? A favorite story answers that question.

A man stretched a tightrope over a huge waterfall that cascaded to the river in the canyon below. A crowd gathered to watch as he easily carried heavy objects from one side of the canyon to the other. He amazed and impressed those who watched because he was sure-footed and never faltered or wobbled as he crossed.

The man shouted to the crowd, “Who thinks I could carry a person across this tightrope?” 

Everyone in the crowd raised their hands, sure he would be able.

Then the man shouted, “Who will be my first volunteer?”

That is the difference between belief and trust.

God created the world. Every generation of history has had people who have worshiped our God and have continued to believe the words of truth revealed in Scripture. Most believe in an eternal life with God in heaven because of the miraculous gift of Jesus. A lot of people believe in their Savior, but it isn’t until we submit our lives to his authority and perfect abilities that we have stepped into the trust relationship that makes Jesus our Lord, our King.

We say we believe, but do we raise our hand to volunteer? The psalmist wrote about how good it was to be near God, to have a close personal relationship to him as his King. The psalmist made God his refuge. It’s been said that the safest place to be in this world is the center of God’s will. But the psalmist had a reason to rejoice over the trust relationship he had with God. That relationship made him able to “tell,” or testify, of all God’s “works.”

Wisdom is joyfully sharing Christ with others. When we daily choose to walk with God in a full and trusting relationship, we will learn to testify to all of God’s works in our lives as well. When someone needs to know about our God, we will raise our hands, like Isaiah, saying, “Here I am! Send me” (Isaiah 6:8).