In God We Trust

As seen in the HeArTbeat and the Village Voice

In God We Trust

            Pull out your money and you’ll find this phrase on our paper currency as well as the coins in our pocket.  It usually appears on the back of the paper currency above the building depicted there.  The phrase even appears on other countries' currency, such as Nicaragua.  It is a simple phrase indeed, but it has not always been there!

The phrase “In God We Trust” first appeared on the 2-cent piece in 1864 in an effort to boost national morale toward the end of the Civil War.  The phrase which appeared on our currency up until 1957 was “E pluribus unum,” or “Out of many, one.”  In 1957, Congress officially approved a change in the phrase to appear on our currency (even though both phrases still appear on some of our coins today).

The initial appearance of our present-day currency phrase was a time of great national division.  Several issues divided our country to the extent it caused bitterness, hatred, and even violence between regions, states, and even within families.  I think we can agree it was one of the darkest moments in our nation’s history.  The trust in our nation was gone, trust between states degraded, and the diminished trust among families destroyed the very building block of society.

On one occasion when  Jesus had just arrived in the area by boat from across the lake, a synagogue leader named Jairus came to Jesus and told Him his daughter was dying.  He begged Jesus to come lay hands on her and she would be healed.  Jesus immediately went with Jairus, but on their way some people from Jairus’ house met them and said his daughter was dead and he need not bother Jesus anymore.  Mark 5:36 says, “Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”  Jesus asked Jairus to have the faith to trust Him.

What are we going to do with a nation so divided?  What are we to do with a world in chaos?  How are we going to heal the divisions so deep they even affect the core of our society, the family?  The only answer is the same one Jesus asked of Jairus – trust.

We all have trust, but in what or whom do we put it?  Trust in this world is perishable, but not trust in God.  John 14 records the words of Jesus, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God, trust also in me.”  Jesus asks us to trust in Him, and if we do it completely, our hearts should not be troubled.

Is your heart troubled by something?  We need to completely let go of what troubles us and give it to God, and that means letting go completely and absolutely!  God will take it from us and then fill the empty space it left with His joy, a joy that is never ending.