What Does “Trust in the LORD” Mean?
When God tells us to trust Him, He means fully trust. We refrain from picking and choosing the concerns we feel are okay to give Him while clinging to others.
We’re standing on the cusp of another new year whose story is yet to be written. What will 2024 look like for me and you personally?
We might have hopes or suspicions, but only God knows with certainty what 2024 holds for me and you. And that’s okay because He is trustworthy.
What it means to trust in the LORD
Everyone trusts in something or someone. We often trust in our own understanding or strength to do what needs to be done every day. But Proverbs 3:5 reminds us to place our trust where it will never be disappointed.
“Trust in and rely confidently on the LORD with all your heart. And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.” (Amplified)
About this verse, Warren Wiersbe writes, “The word translated ‘trust’ means ‘to lie helpless, facedown.’ It pictures a servant waiting for the master’s command in readiness to obey, or a defeated soldier yielding himself to the conquering general.”
When we trust in the LORD, we assume a posture and attitude of total surrender to Him. We bow the knee in worship because He is wise, good, and sovereign, and He loves us so much that He sent His only Son to pay the punishment we deserved for sin.
Trusting in the LORD is a choice we make. We live from the truth that, no matter what happens, He has our best interest in mind. We needn’t face the future with fear because He’s already there, and He’s got our back.
Trust in the LORD with all our heart
Been there, done that.
When God tells us to trust Him, He means fully trust. We refrain from picking and choosing the concerns we feel are okay to give Him while clinging to others we prefer to handle on our own. Trusting God with all our heart means all, not just a part.
Don’t rely on your own understanding
Sailor-Man once managed a reconstruction job on a Nepalese hospital. One day, he leaned on an old retaining wall, and it gave way. He came home with his wrist in a plaster cast.
That old retaining wall gave the appearance of being trustworthy, but it was not. Neither is our own understanding when we try to put things in perspective.
We lack the overall picture. We miss details and important information. Sometimes we lack discernment. But God lacks none of these things. Because of who He is, His understanding is perfect. Therefore, all His ways are perfect, too.
We don’t know what the new year holds, but God holds us. We can trust Him with all our heart, and He will never let us down.
Action step
Here’s a little assignment for you today. List your dreams and your fears for 2024.
At the top of the list, write a prayer committing these things to God’s care. You might preface your prayer with, “I choose to trust in the LORD with all my heart for these matters.”
Know you are loved,
Grace
