Trust in the Lord

Background Scripture: Psalm 37
Lesson Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-10; Psalm 37:1-9

Introduction

Trust does not come naturally to man. Both a confident type of personality that seeks to control its own affairs or one of fearful and doubtful disposition find that trust is foreign to the instinct. Of all the character qualities we may possess, the ability to trust lies at the heart of spiritual and emotional health. May the discussion of this lesson help us better understand why we sometimes struggle to trust and what we can do to more fully place our confidence in a God who always has our best in mind.

Key Verse

What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me (Ps. 56:3-4).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

The third chapter of Proverbs is a beautiful set of instructions written by a caring father to his son. Solomon cautions us about being self-reliant. Our natural tendency is to place confidence in our own perceptions and direction. The most beautiful of all lives are those that are ordered and directed by the Lord. An ordered life is not achieved through our own planning or intelligence. We do not have the ability to see the infinite variety of circumstances that may come our way. In a moment, a well-planned life may be thrown into disarray by an unforeseen tragedy. Amidst all these uncertainties, a blessed life is given to those who gratefully walk the unique path that God has planned for them.

Our lesson text does not dwell on how mistaken we often are. Instead, we are gently reminded to place our trust in One who understands all things perfectly. God is not interested in gaining first place in our lives by degrading us or bringing us to our knees in defeat. Rather, He wants a voluntary, childlike offering of our will that puts Him on the throne of our hearts. God promises his blessings when we are faithful in giving back to Him the firstfruits of that which we have been given.

While life’s circumstances can bring trials, the greater tests often come through interaction with other people. The psalmist acknowledges this as he encourages us to release those who hurt us. To David, the idea of letting go was not some distant concept. As he fled from Saul, he learned to leave his enemy in God’s hands instead of exacting judgment and vengeance. Perhaps the greatest test of our trust in God is our ability to place those who hurt us into God’s hands. Forgiveness is made much easier when we can trust God with the oversight of others’ infractions.

A trusting heart is not immune to fear. Life is sure to present each of us with situations that cause us to feel apprehension. As we encounter these unsettling times, remembering our key verse will guide us to a place of rest: “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee” (Ps. 56:3). What a wonderful commitment is expressed in this short sentence, yet how difficult it is to put it into actual practice!

Placing full confidence in the Lord and following his will opens the way to becoming recipients of God’s divine favor. Undoubtedly, life will continue to hand us challenges, but those who carry a quiet trust in their heavenly Father are privileged to claim his promise of grace for their lives. The world around us is restless and distrusting, but if our trust is in Him, we are assured that our souls will be secure.

Practical Truths for Today

God has given so much for the benefit of the human family. He helps us in so many ways and works countless miracles on our behalf. However, there is one thing He asks us to do if we are to experience the more abundant life—He asks us to trust Him.

As we examine the characteristics of being unfaithful, we can get a glimpse of why it is sometimes so challenging to trust. Adam and Eve were created as individuals who knew only complete trust in their Creator. Then Satan appeared and sowed the first seeds of doubt and distrust. From then on, every soul has, in one form or another, found it challenging to trust God. If we struggle to trust, an honest and open assessment of the reasons why may be very helpful.

Children raised with parents who are not predictable and constant often find it difficult to trust. A father or mother may be unaccepting of things they cannot fully understand or prove for themselves. In this mindset, they fail to leave room for a God whose ways are higher and greater. An atmosphere of doubt and skepticism may reign within the home. Parents can interact with their children in ways where approval is seldom communicated and disapproval is commonly expressed. A father may be harsh, emotionally cold, or unable to communicate his love to his children. When children raised in these environments grow up, they may struggle to trust a God they cannot see.

Our reasons for distrust may lie painfully deep. Tragic, early-life experiences can create profound trust issues. The tender heart of a child can be deeply wounded by the abuse or abandonment of a trusted adult in their lives. These innocent souls may come to distrust all authority because of their experience. As they reach adulthood, that distrust will likely be extended to include a distrust of God.

In reviewing or being involved with any of these possible scenarios, let us not take the tack of discouragement or hopelessness. The circumstances of the past do not need to define our ability to trust nor entrap us in a prison of fear and despair. Our Creator is deeply interested in healing and spiritual prosperity. As we honestly acknowledge the past, He offers to heal our wounds and point us to a brighter future. When the issues that have created distrust have been opened to the healing of God’s forgiveness, we will find it much easier to trust.

We may struggle with a lack of trust without fully realizing it. An inclination toward a negative thought pattern, a mindset that assumes the worst, or an inflexible and unteachable nature indicate a strong self-will and make it difficult to trust. The surrender of the self-life is one of the most important aspects of learning to trust. Indeed, our ability to trust is directly proportional to the level at which we have surrendered our will.

Trust is strengthened by pausing a moment and making a conscious assessment of the many times that God has shown his care toward us. We should often read and meditate on the account of Christ’s crucifixion. A savior who would die for me has well proven his love for me, and a God who would sacrifice his own Son on my behalf is certainly worthy of my trust. We should often reflect on the many times that God has lovingly touched our lives. A heart of gratitude toward God is never far from a heart that trusts Him.

The world around us goes to great lengths to provide the assurances of safety and protection. Insurance policies and health care and retirement plans can draw our trust away from God and cause us to rely on earthly elements for our sense of security. While some of these things may not be wrong in themselves, we need to be cautious lest our trust in God is displaced. Placing our trust in the fallible elements of the world will ultimately end in disappointment. Trusting in God makes true security and rest within a possibility and is very beautiful. Only as we come to trust ourselves fully into the hands of a caring and benevolent Father do we really experience the wonder of this beauty.

God wants to direct each person’s life, and He may call one to a new place of service or some unknown task. Being afraid of what God is asking pulls against the known securities of life that have become routine and familiar. As trust falters, hesitation to follow God into new avenues of responsibility and service can transform into reluctance and disregard. Taking shelter underneath what has been and what is generally done, trust further languishes, growth is stymied, talents lie dormant, and beautiful blessings are never realized. What a tragedy!

The concepts of God that reside in the deepest recesses of the heart determine how difficult it is to trust Him. If God is a disapproving Father waiting to pounce on our next mistake, trust will indeed be difficult. Likewise, we will struggle to trust if God is some distant, detached Being with whom we have little connection. If we perceive God as an unsympathetic perfectionist who is intolerant of our temptations, we will tend to shield ourselves from Him and will have only a distant relationship with Him at best. A biblical perception of God is vital to spiritual health. God does judge sin but has made a way that sin can be forgiven. Always, the Father welcomes us to his side to visit. He welcomes us to come with our disappointments, temptations, and failings. He does not berate us for messing up again but rather extends his love and forgiveness. As we come to Him without reserve, He offers grace for our lives and solutions for our challenges. When we experience God in the right way, it is much easier to trust Him.

Trust should not be a quality that we seek to employ only in times of crisis. Rather, trust is developed and strengthened in the small everyday experiences of life. As we share the common victories and defeats of the day, our relationship with God becomes meaningful, and our trust in Him grows.

If we want to experience the best of what Christian life has to offer, we must make the choice to trust. As we hold to God’s hand and as He leads us beyond our sheltered and comfortable lifestyle, He will most certainly provide the grace we need as we take each new step.

Questions

1. What are some signs that indicate a lack of trust in God?
2. Share an experience that taught you to trust.
3. Life’s tests will deepen our trust in God or make us bitter. What marks the difference?
4. Many who struggle to trust wish it were different. Give some practical pointers on how we can learn to trust.
5. What causes a person to be negatively inclined? How can we identify this trait in ourselves? How can we be free from this malady?
6. Is anxiety always an indication of a lack of trust?

Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).