(October 22, 2025) Robert and Maureen McQuillan conclude this challenging encouragement…

In part 1 we highlighted four deceptive words of that great liar the devil and how important it is to know that he’s still around challenging God’s word. And that we trust our unseen God. Below we share six other points.

7. Trusting God’s Comforting
We’ll soon be celebrating Christmas… the birth of our Saviour, not just Santa Claus fun(!): Next is the most important event in the Christian calendar— Easter! The death and amazing resurrection of Jesus Christ the Son of God as became our Saviour at Calvary because God loves us (John 3:16-17).

The days before that Passover were a trying time for Jesus, a dark time— He was trying to get His disciples to understand what would happen, that He’d soon be leaving them, that they’d be on their own. That He’d be giving them His work to do, to spread the gospel across the world, that He’d send the comforting friend, the Holy Spirit, so that they wouldn’t be orphans (John14:18). Orphanos… comfortless, fatherless.

But they were fighting among themselves! So He challenged them: John 14:1, ‘You trust God, don’t you? Trust me.’

8. Trusting God’s Reliance
Trust! So many Christians have a problem with trusting… trusting Jesus and His word. They wrongly, religiously, think that they have to have heaps and heaps of deep faith! But trusting Jesus doesn’t come through a pharisaic law-burdened religion but through a personal law-covered relationship through Jesus and being under the Holy Spirit’s guidance!

Christianity is meant to be an open, precious, personal relationship with God through Jesus. And through personally knowing the blessed Holy Spirit, our dearest friend (John 14:16-17). But for many it’s religious not relational! While many Christians do profess ‘Jesus is Lord’ (eg The Boss, totally in charge of everything!), many can’t let go and let God!

Christians who don’t trust God then wonder why things aren’t happening for them. They query, ‘Where’s God in my problems? In my life, my future?’ The big my, my, big me, me whinge thing! Our question here is this: ‘Wait a minute, don’t blame God…where are you in your relationship with God through Jesus?’ In John 14:1, Jesus said to His followers, ‘You trust God, don’t you? Trust me.’

‘Trust’… that simply means ‘to rely on. To put yourself into someone’s protection.’ Yet so many Christians just can’t do that. Christianity is meant to be an open, precious, personal relationship with God through Jesus. Through personally knowing and moving in the blessed Holy Spirit’s friendship. But for many it’s religious not relational!

9. Trusting God’s Fatherhood
In regards to trusting Jesus, we can even learn from kids! They go to bed not wondering or worrying if their parents will be there in the morning, if brekkie will be there for them. It’s no wonder Jesus said something about learning from little ones… ‘From the mouths of children and babes…’ (Matthew 21:16).

When ministering on Kangaroo Island, South Australia the pastor took us for a stroll around the beach. At one point he lifted his kids up onto a high rock and said to one, ‘Let’s play “Catch.” Jump and I’ll catch you.’ She loved it as her dad caught her and hugged tightly.

With a warm smile and holding my arms open, I said to the other ‘Jump and I’ll catch you.’ But… she wouldn’t budge, no matter how many times I tried to persuade her… just kept shaking her head. Finally I said, ‘Come on… trust me. I won’t let you down. Like your daddy, I’ll catch you.’

That’s when I learned a deep lesson from this innocent cute little child. Shaking her blond head she said quietly, ‘But you’re not my daddy.’ She knew that she could fully trust her father! Hmm? Get it?

10. Trusting God’s Voice
There’s an old tale about a  guy falling off a cliff and is hanging onto a piece of tree that is threatening to snap away. He calls out loudly to anyone at the top: ‘Help! Is anyone there?’

No response so he calls out to God for help hearing a voice: ‘God here. Just let go and I’ll catch you.’ But he can’t see anyone. ‘Is that really you, God?’ he asks to hear ‘Yes. You asked for help and I’m giving it to you. Just let go and trust me.’ The guy looks down, considers having to let go. After a few minutes’ silence, he calls out weakly: ‘Help. Is there anyone else there?’

Yes, sometimes when God asks us to trust Him, He responds in unusual ways. The question is: ‘Although we can’t see Him, do we really know Him? Are we willing to fully trust Him in every circumstance?’

It can be easy to trust someone when you can see them, but of course, we can’t ‘see’ God. We have to be positive and know that we know that we know He’s there! Only then do blessings come.

In John 20:29, Jesus said to ‘Doubting’ Thomas, ‘So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.’ That’s for us!

Trust is like flying. We automatically trust that the pilot is up front… can’t see him but we just believe he’s there, that he knows what he’s doing. I (Robert) recall a Sydney flight experience on a dark, wet, stormy windy night in a plane captained by an unseen Irish pilot who, believe it or not, voiced so many ‘Er, ah and you know what I mean.’

The take-off was delayed due to some engine trouble, then the announcements came through such as ‘Ladies and gentlemen… we’re flying at… um, so many thousand feet and er…’ I was with a friend and he was so nervous that he kept ordered double scotches!

As soon as I entered Melbourne Airport I dropped to my knees, not to immediately worship God, but to kiss the welcomed ground! And of course I also thanked my God.

11. Trusting God’s Protection
But another time I flew in a little Cessna with a Pentecostal pastor pilot I could see beside me. Unexpectedly he asked, ‘Would you like to fly the plane for a few minutes, Robert?’ Surprised I said yes… but nervously kept looking over at him as I followed his directions for friendly assurance.

Suddenly I realised that my friend was like the Holy Spirit… beside me, watching over me to help, protect, direct and guide. I stopped looking for him, just knew that he was there and trusted him completely. I gained confidence knowing everything would be all right.

12. Trusting God’s Lordship

• Do you really know God intimately even if we can’t see Him physically.
• What level is your trusting Jesus at? Can you sense His love and presence?
• Is He really Lord of everything— or just some things, some of the time?
• Many offer God their problems but still hold onto them— wondering why something good isn’t happening! Or they get good Bible-based advice but don’t follow it through!
• To know the reality of Jeremiah 29:11, we must trust God completely!

Similarly I’ve learned to trust the Spirit who I can’t see but can sense!

[Off interest: Great-granddaughter Avaleigh… cute four-old Lil’ Madam has loved wandering over our garden, picking up shiny stones. Yesterday Poppa Robert gave her a special ever-so-shiny flint stone. Evidently she cherishes it.

Robert himself cherishes a similar shiny stone that he always carries in a pocket… but it’s engraved Trust].

Closing comment— Dear readers, we trust that what we shared encourages you to fully trust our unseen God.

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Dr Robert and Pastor Maureen McQuillan’s links are OnlinerConnect@gmail.com and Facebook.  October links: Responsible Repetition/ Guardianship-Seven Secrets of Your Blessed Future/  We Need the Power of the Holy Spirit/  Loved With Everlasting Love/
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