What Does The Bible Say About Trusting God?
The Bible tells us to trust in God above all, no matter the circumstances that we may face. It is often difficult to do this, since our minds naturally focus on the present difficulties, and not on the faithfulness of God that is promised throughout scripture. As stated in Proverbs 3:5-6, we must trust in the Lord with all of our hearts, and not rely on our own understanding; in all of our ways, we must acknowledge God and He will direct our paths.
The Bible encourages us to put our faith in God rather than in any other source. In Psalm 20:7, we read: “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.” From this and other passages, we can clearly see that the Bible exhorts us to trust God over all else. We must not place our trust in other humans or material possessions.
Trust in the Lord is a demonstration of faith, for it is believing in the unseen and acting according to what has been promised. The book of Hebrews tells us: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6). We must have unwavering faith in God, even when our immediate circumstances appear unfavorable.
The Bible also teaches us to trust God to provide for our needs. In Matthew 6:25-32, Jesus explained the importance of trusting in God to take care of us. He told us to not worry about the things that the world may think is necessary, since God will meet all of our needs if we trust in Him. So, in times of trial or difficulty, we must remember to place our trust in God first and foremost, and He will provide for us as promised.
Trust in The Lord as Protector
It can be difficult to trust God to protect us in times of trouble. We may think that our own plans and protections are better than His, but this is not true. The Bible urges us to trust in the Lord and to not lean on our own understanding. Psalm 37:5 declares, “Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him and He will do this.” We must place our complete trust in the Lord and not look to our own expertise or knowledge to protect us.
When we place our trust in the Lord, He will give us superior protection. Psalm 91 emphasizes the protection that is available to those who trust in the Lord. The psalmist proclaims: “A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you.” (Psalm 91:7). This verse not only speaks to the power of God, but also provides an example of the trust we must have in Him. He is our safest defense against all harm.
Gaining God’s Trust In Us
In the same way that we must trust in God, He must also trust in us. A great example of this can be found in the story of Abraham and his son Isaac. God asked Abraham to offer up his only son, and Abraham showed his trust in God by responding with obedience. He knew that if he trusted in the Lord, God would provide. From Gen 22:8, it is noted that “Abraham said, ‘God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.’ So, the two of them went together.” This demonstrates the trust that God puts in us, knowing that if we respond with obedience, He will provide what is best for us.
Remaining Faithful in Our Trust
Sometimes, trusting in God means making difficult decisions and enduring difficult seasons in life. This can be a challenge, because it’s easy to become discouraged and fall away from faith. However, in Deuteronomy 5 we read: “Love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” This is a reminder to remain faithful to God and to trust in Him even when the going gets tough.
We must also remember that trusting in God is the only thing that is guaranteed to bring us joy and satisfaction, no matter what may happen to us. As Jeremiah 17:7-8 says, “‘Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is in the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.’”
The Rewards Of Trusting God
When we trust in the Lord, even when our situation looks impossible, His hand of mercy is available to us and ready to work on our behalf. In Isaiah 57:15, it reads, “For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.’” God cares for us and will help us if we are willing to trust Him.
The Bible talks about how the Lord is faithful to those who trust in Him. In Deuteronomy 4:31, the Lord said, “For the Lord your God is a merciful God; He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them.” Therefore, when we are in a situation that looks hopeless and difficult to endure, trusting in the Lord is the best thing we can do.
Expectations of Trusting in God
When we trust in the Lord, we must remember that this will require us to demonstrate faith and obedience. We can not merely trust in God and then remain idle. We must take action in order to receive the blessings of the Lord. In Proverbs 16:3 we are reminded that “Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.” This means that God expects us to contribute to the work of building His kingdom, do our part to serve Him, and then we will receive the reward.
Living A Life That Demonstrates Trust in God
Trusting in the Lord is more than just a Sunday School platitude; instead, it is something that should be evident in every part of our lives. We must remember that if we say we believe in Him, we must demonstrate it through our words and our actions. The Apostle James wrote: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.” (James 1:22-24).
Seeking Wisdom From God in Making Decisions
When we are making decisions, it can be easy to succumb to the pull of our emotions. In those instances, we must remember to seek the guidance of the Lord. We can do this by praying and asking the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom. In Proverbs 3:5-6 we see that “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” By trusting in God and seeking His wisdom in making decisions, rather than our own, we will make the best choice for our lives.
Fear Not, but Trust God
In times of fear, worry and doubt, God reminds us to trust in Him and not be afraid. The book of Isaiah states: “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10). Therefore, no matter what we may be facing, we must remember that the Lord is with us, and He will help us through if we are willing to trust Him.
God’s Trustworthiness
The Bible is filled with accounts of God’s faithfulness in providing for us and protecting us. One great example of this is the story of Noah and the Great Flood. After hearing God’s warning about a coming disaster, Noah followed God’s direction and built an ark for himself, his family and the animals. Even though the situation seemed dire, Noah trusted in the Lord and was ultimately rewarded for his faith and obedience. From Genesis 8:1 it reads, “Then God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the animals that were with him in the ark”.
Counting On God’s Promises
We can take comfort in the fact that we can count on God’s promises and trust in Him to take care of us. The Bible tells us in 2 Peter 1:4 that “He has given us a precious and very great promise. You will receive power and strength to do greater things because He has given you His great and precious promises.” No matter what we are going through, God will not abandon us or forget about His promises, so we can remain confident that He will provide for us and uphold us if we trust in Him.
Finally, by entrusting our lives to Him, we can live bold and victorious lives. As 2 Chronicles 20:20 so aptly states, “Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.” When we trust in the Lord, no matter the situation, He will always come through.
