What it means to really trust in God and how this characterises a Christian life was described in a divine service by the Chief Apostle.
“Keep my soul, and deliver me; let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.” This passage from Psalm 25: 20 was the basis for a divine service in Santiago, the capital of Chile, on 23 March 2025.
“Those who trust in God will not be disappointed.” This was the message Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider had for all those who find themselves confronted with guilt, mockery, or disillusionment. The divine service was broadcast throughout the Distric Apostle Aera South America and united believers from Argentina to Uruguay.
Photos: Mauricio Bolletta
When shame creeps in
The Chief Apostle mentioned some reasons why we might feel ashamed. Because of
- our own mistakes: “You have done something wrong and are sad and feel guilty.”
- other people’s judgement of us, who say: “You claim to be a Christian. But look at yourself. You are no better than all the others. Look at what is happening in your Church.”
- disappointed expectations: “We expect and trust that God will help us, but our situation is getting worse and worse. And people say, ‘So where is your God?’”
God offers us help in all of these situations because He delivers believers from guilt and shame. He sanctifies them, transforms them into the image of Christ, and leads them into His kingdom. But that does not happen automatically; it comes from absolute trust.
What it means to trust in God
Trusting God means behaving in a way that pleases Him, the Chief Apostle said. He explained this by giving some practical examples.
- Humility. We must act like the tax collector in the parable, who relied entirely on the grace of God. “None of us will be worthy to enter the kingdom of God. We all need grace.”
- Willingness to listen. “Are we aware that God speaks to us even though He knows how weak we are? When God speaks, it is to me, not to my neighbour, not to the world, but to me.”
- Recognising idols. “An idol is anything that becomes more important than God.” This includes our plans in life and our honour and reputation.
- Pure motivation: “Every child of God should ask itself: what is my true motivation to serve the Lord?” Important is that we do good not out of calculation, but out of love for God and our neighbour.
- Following Jesus seriously: “It costs something to follow Jesus. Can you afford to follow Jesus Christ? Jesus Christ said, ‘If you want to follow Me, you must deny yourself.’”
In conclusion, the Chief Apostle said that those who are humble, who trust God completely, and faithfully follow Christ’s example will never be put to shame. God will deliver them and lead them into His glory.