Sometimes believing in God is the easy part. Believing in his plan for our lives is often much harder. That requires trust in him. Not just in his existence but in his ways, his word, and his promises. That can seem like such a tall order for us when life is spinning. But part of being a Christian is committing our lives to following him, wherever that may lead us. When we trust that He will guide us safely along life’s path, we can walk confidently all the way home.
Psalm 56:4 In God, whose word I praise in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
During seasons in which we feel as if we are coming under attack, it is important to remember that we are under the Lord’s protection. There is no earthly harm that can override our ultimate destination, at home with Jesus. When we proclaim our trust in Him, we are choosing to let go of fear and embrace our safety in Christ.
Proverbs 3: 5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight
You have to give it all to God. You have to give up believing you know what is best. You have to give up being in charge. You have to release your grip, and open your heart. In doing so, the bumps in the road seem smoother. Not because they all go away. But because you now know your way around them.
Jeremiah 17: 7-8 But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.
The security that comes from placing your confidence in God allows you to live out of that faith, by blessing others. Your tree grows stronger, and our branches able to carry more weight, because it is rooted in trust. Whatever comes its way, your tree will stand, and others will be able to take shade under the branches you have extended.
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
It is a daily decision to trust and follow the Lord. Throughout our days, we will face moments of worry or fear. If we can return our thoughts to the steadiness of our God, we can regain the peace that trusting him provides.
Psalm 9:10 Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you
We all fear the thought of being forgotten…given up on…forsaken, by those we love. That rejection creates a lasting sting that, often, convinces us that no one is worthy of our trust. God operates in a different manner. His promise of unconditional love to those who seek him, comes only from trusting that you are worthy of receiving it. His love is there, ready, either way. But if we don’t trust it to be for us, we lose out on the fullness that comes from doing so.
Isaiah 25:9 In that day they will say, Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.
Some days this walk will be harder than others. Some days we will see so clearly the plan ahead that God has for us, while others will leave us straining to continue walking. If we do `though-keeping our eyes ahead and placing one foot in front of the other-we will rejoice at our decision to place our trust in him. We will find ourselves at the end of the road, basking in our salvation.
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Sometimes we begin to believe that God is a God of judgment or condemnation. Living out of that belief causes us to stress or busy ourselves trying to please him. Romans 15:13 says that he is a God of hope. It says that the only thing we need to do is believe in him. That is the way we become full of all that he has for us.
Final Thoughts
The word trust is used frequently in the Bible. The verses above are but a small portion, of many, that stress the importance of putting our faith in God. We are urged not to be afraid, but instead to look to the Lord for guidance, safety, and protection. We cannot predict what life will bring to us. What we can count on, however, is that we are loved and cherished by a heavenly father who does not leave us for a second. A father who has proved himself more than trustworthy.
