We often have no problem trusting God with the things for which we already trust Him. But what about when God says to give Him our most precious possessions—our house, our job, our spouse, our children?

Remember Asa? He stands out as one of the few godly kings of Judah. He once trusted the Lord in a battle in the Shephelah and defeated an Ethiopian who came against him with an army a million strong (2 Chronicles 14). But Asa’s greatest test came in an area that hit closer to home—literally.

When the northern king Baasha fortified Ramah, which sat only five miles north of Jerusalem, he effectively blockaded all movement into Asa’s land. So here was the test: would Asa trust God for deliverance from this enemy as he had trusted before? Sadly, no. Asa decided to take the silver and gold from the treasuries of the Temple (that he had dedicated to God!) and solicit help from the pagan king of Aram (2 Chronicles 16).

Now, why would Asa, who earlier had the faith to gain victory over a million men, suddenly panic and look to his own devices for help? Because God took from Asa something he trusted in more than God—a parcel of land. Asa could not fathom what he would do without the strategic Benjamin Plateau surrounding Ramah. So he scrambled to get it back at all costs.

We learn from Asa that God may remove what we depend on the most so that we will learn to trust in Him alone. As Hanani the seer said to Asa, “The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His” (2 Chronicles 16:9).

God wants our trust, among other reasons, so that He may do marvelous things in our lives. May His searching eyes find us fully committed today!

Adapted from Wayne Stiles, Going Places with God: A Devotional Journey Through the Lands of the Bible (Ventura, CA: Regal, 2006), p. 107. Used by permission. Benjamin Plateau photo courtesy of BiblePlaces.com.