In today's world, trust can feel elusive, especially when we're bombarded with reasons to rely on ourselves or, alternatively, to give up trusting entirely. Yet, the Bible offers a powerful perspective on trust — one that’s not passive but is an active dependence on God’s promises and perfection. This is the essence of trusting God: a profound belief that He is reliable and unchanging.
The Foundation of Trust The Bible warns against placing ultimate trust in human strength alone. Jeremiah 17:5–8 (NLT) says, “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans… But blessed are those who trust in the Lord…” The call here is not to shun human relationships but to remember that trust in God should be the foundation of all other relationships. True trust starts when we place our confidence in God rather than allowing past hurts to harden us or make us guarded. We often want perfection in those around us before granting them trust. But perfection isn’t the prerequisite to trust. Just as we trust processes or products without knowing every detail, God asks us to trust Him fully, even in the unknown.
The Real Issue: Who or What Do We Trust? Our struggle often isn’t with trust itself but with where we place it. We trust our emotions, our symptoms, and even our fears more than God. For example, how often do we let physical symptoms lead us into fear, forgetting God’s promises of healing and strength? The same happens with our feelings. Jeremiah reminds us that our emotions can be fickle, yet many of us allow them to override God’s truth. Psalm 28:7 (NLT) says, “The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart.” This isn’t conditional trust, punctuated by “but.” Trusting God without adding our “buts” — our doubts, questions, or self-reliance — is the essence of faith.
Reasons We Struggle to Trust God
1. We Don’t Fully Know Him Trusting God is difficult if we don’t truly understand His character. Psalm 9:10 reminds us, “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.” As we deepen our relationship with God, trust flows naturally.
2. We Trust Ourselves More When we don’t trust God, we’re often placing extreme trust in our own understanding. Proverbs 3:5-8 (NLT) teaches us to “trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.” Our limitations reveal why trusting in ourselves alone leads to confusion and stress.
3. Fear Holds Us Back Fear is a tactic that the enemy uses to rob us of trust. Just as Peter began to sink when fear overtook his faith, we too sink into despair when we allow fear to overshadow trust in God’s promises. Psalm 56:11-13 (NLT) echoes this: “I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?”
Real Trust is Rooted in Patience True trust doesn’t come with a time limit. Our willingness to wait on God directly reflects our trust in Him. Waiting on God’s timing, even when it doesn’t align with ours, strengthens our faith and prepares us for His blessings. God isn’t interested in us performing or pretending. He desires authentic transformation, where our actions align with a genuine heart of trust. As we grow in trust, we allow God to shape us, moving from simply “acting” to “becoming” who He created us to be.
Trusting God is more than a feeling; it’s a commitment. A commitment to believe His promises over our feelings, His timing over our impatience, and His faithfulness over our fears. As Fortified Life Church, let’s stand together in this journey, encouraging each other to trust, to wait, and to see God’s faithfulness unfold. Let's be Real, Relatable, and Restored — grounded in an unwavering trust in God.
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