Trusting in the Lord
Have you ever struggled with trust? I know I have. It’s so easy to lose our trust in others while also breaking someone else’s trust in us. We are all quite capable of failing each other, and often, we fail each other daily, just not always in trust-shattering ways. Simply put, the word “trust” means to rely upon the integrity, strength, ability, and surety of a person or thing…no pressure. For this reason, I’m incredibly grateful we serve such a trustworthy God! He has never and will never break our trust. He is completely reliable!
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” These two verses have become MY verses this year. I’ve had to repeatedly remind myself not to rely on my own understanding more than I would care to admit. It’s very easy to fall into the rhetoric “This is how I feel” or “I think this” about any number of situations we find ourselves in. God specifically tells us to trust Him and not rely on ourselves for a reason. We are fallible, and He is not. Isaiah 55:8 tells us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.”. Praise God! The sweet relief to know it doesn’t all fall on your shoulders!
Trust comes with time and involves building a relationship and proving your trustworthiness. God has repeatedly demonstrated that He is reliable, not just in the lives of those we read about in the Bible but also in our personal lives! How many times have you witnessed God's faithfulness? And yet, you still struggle with trusting Him. Why? Well, the problem resides in our human nature, or maybe just adult nature. The struggle we have as adults is part of why Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:3 to become like children. Children trust so quickly, so simply, while as adults, it comes naturally to be more skeptical. So, what are some practical ways to let go of that skepticism and trust in God?
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1. Read His Promises in the Bible
I’m sure you’ve heard of a guy named Noah. Personally, I love to look back at the story of Noah in Genesis 6 when I start to feel myself drift into doubt because God’s promise in that story is still so tangible today. We see it easily in the sky, the rainbow, and instantly think of our wondrous God! Joshua 21:45 says, “Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.” ALL! Not some, not a few or a couple, but all. Now, that is a good track record!
2. Cry Out to Him
In moments of doubt, it’s okay to run to your Father. Tell Him you’re struggling at the moment and need help in your unbelief. He always shows up with what we need and when we need it. I love reading Mark 9:24 whenever I struggle with trusting God; it says, “Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” Your prayer can be as simple as, “Help me with my unbelief Lord,” and He will help.
3. Be Still
Did you just let out a groan? Me too, girl. Whenever someone tells me to be still, I want to run in the opposite direction. But that’s my flesh. Being still doesn’t always mean stopping what you’re doing, though I believe there is a time for that. In this particular instance, I mean stop and recognize God’s glory and greatness. He can handle all of our problems and doubts, sweet friend! “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10).
4. Abide
This point goes hand in hand with being still. “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock” (Isaiah 26:3-4). Our anxieties lessen, and our trust strengthens when we abide in God. We are told multiple times in the Bible to abide in Him. One of the more famous passages is in John 15, in which Jesus tells us that abiding in Him will produce fruit; without Him, we will wither. In other words, our very life depends upon our intimate union with Christ. Since we share in his life, we must manifest a love characteristic of him. Jeremiah 17:7-8 also drives this point home, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” Abiding is our lifeline for trust in our Creator. Remain in Him, friend, and bear spiritual fruit. You will never regret it.
Trust. It can be a heavy word. I won’t lie to you; my trust that God will show up amid my storm or that He can even make a way through it has wavered this year. More than once, if I am being brutally honest, but that’s okay. God knows and accounts for our questions, doubts, and mistakes (I like to call them detours). We just have to be diligent about returning to Him despite everything that tries to pull us away. “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act” (Psalm 37:5). I pray this verse from the psalmist fills you with as much peace and joy as it does me. Trusting is hard work, but thankfully, we have a Savior that makes it easier.