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Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m guessing that you have often heard statements like these, or something similar: “Trust me. I’m only looking out for your interests.” “All I want is what’s best for you.” “I’m on your side.”

Those can be positive statements, depending on who is saying them to us. If they come from loving, concerned parents or friends, that’s one thing. But if a guy says something like that to you while trying to sell you a wristwatch or life insurance from inside of his raincoat on the street of a large city, you’d better back off.

The point is, can we trust people who say that they always desire nothing but the absolute best for us? Probably not 100 percent, because none of us is perfect. But don’t despair. There is someone you can trust completely because He has your best interests in mind: the God who created you knows you better than anyone else; and He gave His own precious Son to die for you, and has proved that He loves you more than anyone else.

This is one of the points I stressed during a series of messages called “Breakfree” that I delivered to our congregation at Faith Family Church at the beginning of 2008. I wanted our people to understand that God always wants what is best for us and has made us for greater things than we often experience as life bumps and bruises us.

Then I said that one way to become the best “us” is by refusing to live by the labels that other people stick on us, or trying to conform to other people’s expectations. It’s also important to realize that God alone knows what the very best for us is, and God alone has the power to make that potential He built into us a reality in our lives.

Now here’s the rub, if you will. Someone might say that it’s nice to think God desires something really great for us. But in order to go beyond being a nice thought, we have to actually believe this — and then be willing to take the steps God shows us to discover His best for our lives.

That’s why I encourage you today to pause and ask yourself two very important questions. The first is, “God, what is Your desire for me at this stage of my life?” This question has the advantage of taking you out of a focus on the past and present, directing your attention forward. The past is over, but as long as we are still breathing God has a future for us.

And the second is, “God, what acts of obedience do I need to take to bring about the good that You desire for my life?” I don’t know how God will answer in your case, but I can guarantee you that if you’re serious, you’ll be in for a great adventure.

Pastor Jim Graff is the Senior Pastor of Faith Family Church in Victoria, www.faithfamilyvictoria.com.