“Trust in the Lord” … But How?

Back when my husband and I first became Christians, one of the passages that we most loved in our brand-new Bibles was this one: “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” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

For two people who had been leaning very much on our own understanding, the idea of trusting in God was both a welcome challenge and a restful change. We spoke often of this new concept and we frequently reminded each other to trust God in difficult situations. Throughout our 30 years of marriage, I suppose I had always thought that we were fully on the same page when it came to trusting God … but a chance conversation recently made me realize that trusting God doesn’t always look the same for everyone.

We stood together in the kitchen, talking about a situation that was greatly bothering me. Something that I was somewhat involved in but not in control of, and I was upset about it. Rick, as he often does, took a calm, clear look at this situation and gave me a couple of practical suggestions before reminding me of what I needed to hear most of all:

“This is one of those times when you really need to trust in God,” he said. Which set us off on this conversation:

Trusting God is something we Christians talk about, remind each other to do, and underline in our Bibles, but while we can all benefit from that well-known advice that King Solomon wrote to his son, we may not all apply it in the same way, in every situation.

For personalities like my husband’s (who gravitate toward quiet and waiting), trusting God often looks like moving forward … in confidence, not fear, knowing that God loves you, that he is in control, that nothing is a surprise to him, and that he is with you no matter what happens.

For personalities like mine (who gravitate toward speaking out and doing), trusting God often looks like waiting quietly … in confidence, not fear, knowing that God loves you, that he is in control, that nothing is a surprise to him, and that he is with you no matter what happens.

Different situations, of course, will call for different responses as you trust in God to direct your paths. Sometimes it’s clear that God is telling us to sit still and hold fast, and sometimes it’s obvious he’s giving us a nudge to move forward with something he wants us to do or say. Over the years, I’ve moved forward in quitting my job in order to stay home with our firstborn (something Rick and I both wanted me to do) … and then waited quietly to see what new opportunities God would bring to me (freelance writing that I’ve been doing for more than 25 years—from home). Trusting in a different way, I’ve waited quietly as God repeatedly shut doors to children’s ministry at my new church (something I had done for 17 years at other churches but was not being called to do here) … and then moved forward as he nudged me to instead lead a women’s Bible study (when teaching adults was way out of my comfort zone).

Moving forward despite fear, and waiting quietly despite impatience … both are ways to trust in God with all your heart. Both are perfectly valid and biblically sound. Both are required of us at different times in our lives, despite our natural inclinations (and one of them may be much easier for us to do than the other).

The Bible reminds us over and over to trust in God. Why? It’s for the same reason that when our own young children are scared, uncertain, or sad, we can remind them to trust us, their loving parents. When you trust the one who has your best interests at heart and who also sees the bigger picture, you will find peace with your difficult situation. Even if the situation continues indefinitely, or even if the situation has an outcome you didn’t necessarily want.

How can you increase your trust in God? Whether you’re facing an unexpected crisis, wracked with indecision, saddened by family drama, or questioning your very purpose in life, the one indispensable tool you have for increasing your trust in God is remembering his love and concern for you through prayer. Even lifelong Christians forget sometimes that the very first thing we ought to do in times of trouble is to cry out to God. Not only for help—which is often and understandably our go-to prayer—but simply to be reminded of the One we are speaking to.

The less frequently quoted part of Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “In all your ways acknowledge him…”. Acknowledging looks like recognizing God’s presence in all circumstances, remembering his attributes, and knowing that your situation is in his hands. Acknowledging him quite naturally lead to trust (and to peace, and often to contentment). So as you pray, acknowledge him, and be reminded that his love for you is without measure, and that his plan for you is for your good. Find peace in the trusting and say with the psalmist, “But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God’” (Psalm 31:14).

Companion article: “I Must Decrease” … But How?

Related (on forgetting spiritual truths): The Hidden Gift of Spiritual Amnesia

Image by Lisa Caroselli from Pixabay

***Podcast: Listen to a conversation I had on this topic with the Kurt and Kate Mornings Show (Moody Radio Florida) here.***