Trust

Trust the Lord your God with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him and he

will make your paths straight Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)



I have loved this verse since I discovered it in the mid 1980s. It spoke to me then and still speaks to me today.

The words from Solomon, the wisest man in the world, say a lot to us. In a few short words he tells us to rely on God not what we know. God sees the big picture. We only see a tiny part of it.

Our understanding is finite, limited to our perspective. God’s knowledge of us and our circumstances is unlimited. He was there when we were created. He knows all about us, even what makes us do the things we do.

There is a conditional promise in this passage.

“. . . in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.” In the King James the promise reads, “. . .He will direct thy paths.” We, as His children, want God to take the nasty curves out of our lives. These trials come to all of us; they are a part of life. But God will help us through these rough spots.

The foundation of this promise is our trusting God. It seems we have to rely on Him, depend on what He says, and believe He controls our lives in order for God to truly care for our needs.