Trust In The Lord

“Trust In The Lord”

Proverbs 3:5,6 reads: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”  With all the turmoil, unrest, evil, and worry in the world today, what a comfort and encouragement that we can put our trust in the Lord!

            Putting our trust in the Lord requires faith on our part that God knows best.  There are times when it is easy to trust in the Lord and times when it may be difficult as a result of a lack of faith on our part.  When Jesus was giving his sermon message on the mountain recorded in Matthew chapters 5,6, and 7, one of the lessons he taught the disciples was man’s reliance on God.  He vividly used two illustrations to teach them God’s care for man.  He used the fowls of the air and how God feeds them (Mt. 6:26).  He used the field lilies to show God’s beautiful arraying of them (v.v. 28,29).  Now notice the application:  “Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he  not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith” (v. 30)?  Further in verse 33 he states:  “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”  For the child of God, we know God’s plan will work if we work God’s plan!

            Another part of this particular Proverb is that man is to “lean not unto thine own understanding.”  Since days of old, it has been man’s inclination to lean to what he thinks best.  Not wise to do so!  Though we are faced with challenges in this life, we need to remember God knows best.  Consider God’s words recorded in Isaiah 55:8,9 – “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  In fact, the wise man declared, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Prov. 14:12).  Man has never been in a position to know better than God! 

            Then the statement “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”  In every area of our life, we need to acknowledge God.  Our origin, our being, our existence, and the afterwhile must include an acknowledgment of God for truly “in him we live, and move, and have our being” (Ac. 17:28).

            The text says that God will direct our paths.  God’s direction for man has been revealed in the  Bible, which is the Word of God (Heb. 1:1,2).  We have all things that are sufficient that we might live a pleasing life in his sight (2 Tm. 3:16,17; 2 Pt. 1:3).  When questions arise about what path to navigate in life, and what decisions need to be made, read the Bible for instruction and then with all your heart trust in the Lord that his way is best!  May God bless you in service to him!

Donnie Oliver