Where is Your Trust?
Dear Friends,
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven… ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1
As we pass from one season to the next, we face new challenges and opportunities. One of our greatest challenges is to trust the Lord in uncertain, unstable and perilous times. Many worry about what the future holds; yet, as we fix our eyes on Jesus, we are reminded that He is the author and perfecter of our faith. Our Lord imparts the faith and strength we need to overcome in difficult times. Our faithful God is an ever-present help in times of trouble. He promises to meet all our needs as His Holy Spirit leads and guides us through the storms of life.
Many blessings accrue to those who fully trust God in all things:
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways
acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. ~ Prov. 3:5-6
(NKJV: “He shall direct your paths” and AMP: “He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way]”)
“Trust in the Lord” means to place one’s full confidence in Him, carrying the idea that trust affords believers complete safety and security in His peace – and without fear. God is faithful and dependable!
Trust in the Lord brings hope and a confident expectation! The wise will recognize their utter dependency on God. Conversely, trust in man can result in a false sense of security. Though man will often fail us and disappoint us, God will always remain faithful!
The Lord promises:
…those who hope in me will not be disappointed." ~ Isaiah 49:23
There is a curse against anyone who puts his trust in man:
“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who depends on flesh for his strength
and whose heart turns away from the LORD.
He will be like a bush in the wastelands;
He will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
in a salt land where no one lives.
But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.
He 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.”
~ Jeremiah 17:5-8
The one who consistently trusts in man for his strength can easily turn away from the Lord. He is cursed – dwelling in a dry and barren place – his life will fail to produce fruit. It is a place of isolation. When good or prosperity comes, he will neither recognize it nor experience it. The man who trusts the Lord will flourish and bear fruit even in times of drought, because his source is God Himself.
Proverbs 3 says we are to “lean not” (meaning, we are not to depend on, or rely on) our own human understanding or wisdom, but to rely solely upon God. In all our ways we are to acknowledge the Lord; that is, in every aspect of our lives.
The term “ways” indicates a road, path or highway. This refers to the course or journey of our lives – our way of life or conduct; this also encompasses our divine destiny.
We are commanded to acknowledge the Lord in all spheres of our lives. To “acknowledge” means to know God intimately, to submit to Him, seek His will, to remember Him and to respect Him. Unfortunately, we often fail to surrender all areas of our lives to the Lord. We frequently hold back and choose not to seek His guidance, direction or approval for many personal pursuits. This invariably results in poor decisions, which may have devastating consequences for us or our families.
When we repent and are faithful to adhere to God’s commands in Proverbs 3, He promises to direct our paths. The Lord will not only provide us with divine guidance, but He will also make a straight path for us, while removing any obstacles which can keep us from walking in His perfect will!
Proverbs 3 highlights three important principles:
Dependence on God
Deference towards God
Devotion to God
The result of following these principles is direction from God.
To the one who trusts in God, the Lord promises the embrace of His unfailing love, hope, divine strength, peace, protection, deliverance and divine assistance:
…the LORD's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. ~ Psalm 32:10
The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.
My heart leaps for joy, and I will give thanks to him in song.
The LORD is the strength of his people,
a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
~ Psalm 28:7-8
In you our fathers put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.
~ Psalm 22:4
…whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe. ~ Proverbs 29:25
You will keep in perfect peace
him whose mind is steadfast,
because he trusts in you.
~ Isaiah 26:3
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.
~ Romans 15:13
As the world system continues to rapidly unravel, our faith will certainly be tested. Christians must show themselves faithful by walking in unwavering trust, reliance and confidence in God. He will present us with extraordinary opportunities to bring the salvation, love, peace and hope of Jesus Christ – the light of the world! Let us remember that in 2 Corinthians 1:20, Paul writes that all the promises of God in Christ are YES and AMEN!
May you all enjoy the Lord’s richest blessings as you walk with Him.
Blessings,
Pastor Paul