If you’re into Christian worship music, you’ve most likely heard of Hillsong United and one of their most recent hits, “Oceans.” It is one of my favorite songs to reflect on and has convicted me to the point where I’d consider “Trust Without Borders” my latest life mantra (yes, it also inspired my blog title). To trust someone is to believe they are reliable, honest and good. With that said, I’ve decided to dive into what it really means to trust God without borders.

For those of you who know me or have read some of my latest blogs, you know I went to Haiti in March. That experience wrecked my life for the better and continues to do so on a weekly basis. One of the things I admire and envy about the Haitians I met is their reliance on God for everything. In the United States, it’s easy to make things happen for yourself without fully relying on God. If we’re sick, we can go to a 24-hour clinic and get the medication we need to get better. If we want to pursue a dream, many of us have the funds to do so. If we want an education, we show up to school. The amenities we have readily available in the United States aren’t as easy to come by in Haiti. Doctors and medicine are scarce, dreams are often crushed by harsh realities and school is a privilege. The irony I’ve realized in this assessment is that although we’re rich in amenities, Haitians are rich in trust. They embrace trusting God without borders because He is all they have. I thirst for that kind of trust and sole reliance.

We often say “if God is all we have, we have all we need,” but do we really believe that? Honestly, I don’t think so.

I’ve never been at a point in life where if God didn’t come through, I’d be at a complete and utter loss. That is, until now. I’m a college graduate, my internship is ending in less than a month, I’ve applied for 15+ jobs and haven’t gotten a single bite, my 91-year-old grandpa who I absolutely adore has aggressive kidney cancer, my family is tangled in a web of unforgiveness, my bank account is dwindling at a rapid pace and yet, I see God’s reliability and goodness in the midst of every curve ball Satan chunks my way.

According to the standards of the American Dream, my life is spiraling out of control, but trusting without borders means my standards are no longer set by the American Dream. Trusting without borders means that I believe that God’s infinite wisdom is greater than my finite wisdom. Trusting without borders means that I believe in God’s perfect record of faithfulness. Trusting without borders is the willingness to lay down my plans to become a part of God’s bigger plan, wherever that plan unfolds. Trusting without borders means it’s no longer about me, it’s about He. Trusting without borders means that I wholeheartedly believe God is using every circumstance to shine His glory. Trusting without borders means that when I feel like I’ve hit rock bottom, the world is at my fingertips because God has brought me to a place of complete reliance on His perfect guidance, protection and provision. Trusting without borders means that when I hear the call, despite uncertainties, I go.

And let me tell you folks, that’s a beautiful place to find yourself.

“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 3:5-8

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.'” -Jeremiah 29:11-13

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” -1 Corinthians 10:13

I’d love to hear what trusting God without borders means to you! Feel free to share in the comment box below.

Last, but not least, I’d like to send a BIG thank you to my friend, Whitney Rhoden, for designing the new graphic for my blog. She’s a rockstar graphic designer and you can check out more of her work here: whitandwonder.blogspot.com