What You Thought You Knew About Trusting God

Scripture: Proverbs 3:1-12

Key Verse: Proverbs 3:5  

Proverbs 3:5 is a verse I learned a rap to during Sunday school when I was in middle school. My first lady would beatbox, and we would laugh at her. But, if I’m being completely transparent, it is almost impossible for me to quote this verse “offbeat” now because of her. In studying Proverbs chapter 3, God revealed several things to me about myself and believe me when I say the conviction was real.

Trusting God must be conscious. We must always make God’s law personal and internalize it. One of the first things Solomon says in this chapter is “do not forget my teaching.” He wasn’t talking about the rules he gave his son, but the rules God had already given him. By making God’s law personal and internalizing it we can claim it as our own, and the application will become more natural (v.1). Once it becomes natural, it is easier to understand that the heart is a living letter to Christ written by the Holy Spirit (v.3). Love and faithfulness are things the Holy Spirit shows to us once we accept Christ, but it must extend further. We must be willing to reciprocate those actions. By writing them in our hearts we allow ourselves to willingly submit to God and be used as servants to all people on Earth (v.4). We must quit being comfortable Christians that just hear from God and truly listen to his voice. Hearing is just the perception of sound, but listening is a conscious choice done through true concentration.  

Moreover, trusting God must be complete. It is in our human nature to trust someone or something, so why not let it be the person who is in control of everything. We must recognize that God is leading and protecting us daily and give thanks to Him for all He does for us daily. If we only allow Him to guide half of our life, then the other half is going to be lacking in some way shape or form (v.5). There must be a childlike reliance. Babies rely on their parents to feed, change, bathe, and give attention to them. If the parent doesn’t meet these needs or the baby makes it difficult for the parent to meet their need, the baby ultimately suffers or is lacking in some area. The difference between this scenario and our relationship with God is that there is never a time where He doesn’t want to meet our needs (v.6). We must stop being difficult because our independence will lead to our failure (v.7). We must be willing to ask God for help, and the help is natural if we trust God.

Trusting God must be consistent. Prior to starting this series, I was not reading and studying my Bible every day, and I was not giving God my best in certain areas of my life. I thought it was best to hide those imperfections instead of working to honor God with them. God has no limits; He has inexhaustible resources. Since we know this, we must work to make sacrifices for Him. This doesn’t mean give Him our tired, sloppy leftovers. We must give him our best in anticipation for more (v.9-10). Then when God corrects us for our lack of consistency, we must remember that discipline is a reminder of the inheritance because it brings our minds into submission to the will of God. We just must be willing to reflect on the deeper message and think about how we can trust God more moving forward (v.11). Think of it this way correction is a sign of God’s love and preparation for things to come. If he let us do what we wanted and didn’t protect us from harm, we would feel like illegitimate children (v.12).

So, if you don’t remember anything else, remember that trusting God must be complete, conscious, and consistent. We can’t assume that we know it all because God is the only all-knowing being. It isn’t just a saying. He wants to take care of us, but we must follow His rules and not be caught up in ourselves. As you go about the rest of your week think about how you can work to trust God more completely, consciously, and consistently.

Prayer: Lord thank you for being all-knowing, faithful, and loving. Thank you for giving me someone to trust in when all else around me changes. Thank you for directing my paths and nourishing my body. Lord as I go throughout the rest of my week allow me to work harder to trust you more completely, consciously, and consistently. In Jesus’ name, Amen.