Trust in the Lord

One of my favorite Bible verses to recite while walking around my pond and praying is Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

I want to make sure I understand what I’m reciting and believing. It is the word of God. It is a promise from God.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart. I feel like I only trust in the Lord with 75% of my heart. I worry about life situations. I worry about living with meaning and purpose. I worry about money. I worry about my adopted child. I worry about my mother and how I can help take care of her. I’m more afraid of living than dying. How do I get to 100% trust in the Lord? Maybe it isn’t possible in this life. I would like to get to 95% trust! Help me Holy Spirit.

Do not lean on your own understanding. This means do not support yourself by your own ability to figure things out. A building is supported by concrete and rebar. The concrete and rebar of your life cannot be your own imperfect understanding, your own thinking, your own intelligence. The concrete and rebar of your life must be trust in the LORD, trust in his goodness, trust in his plan and purpose even when you can’t figure it out with your own understanding. I remember a song, “Lean on me when you’re not strong and I’ll help you carry on.” It’s OK to lean on other people, but people are weak and fail and may not be able to bear the weight of your leaning. I know it’s hard to lean on the Lord because he isn’t in a physical body standing next to you. I think the disciples missed the physical presence of Jesus Christ, but they had the Holy Spirit. Lean on the Lord’s Spirit.

In all your ways acknowledge means be aware of the Lord’s presence with you in everything you do. It means enjoy uninterrupted fellowship with the Lord. Don’t let any worry or stress come between you and enjoying the Lord’s presence. If anxiety tries to build a wall between you and the Lord then listen to some worship music and sing along. Read some encouraging testimonies from other believers. (I’m reading a rare book Bill Wallace of China.) Get in a Bible study fellowship. And of course, read the word of God. Keep acknowledging the Lord.

And he will make straight your paths. Straight does not mean trouble free. A straight path is not a path without obstacles. The Lord’s straight path for you means guidance. He will guide you. The Lord’s straight path means he will get you to the goal he has for you; it means he will fulfill the plan and purpose he has for your life. Joseph had a straight path even though he was betrayed by his brothers, unjustly accused, and thrown into prison. That seems like a very crooked path! It was Joseph’s straight path because it was the Lord’s plan and purpose for him.

Isaiah 45:12-13 refers to the Persian king Cyrus, “I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hand that stretched out the heavens (the expanding universe), and I commanded all their host. I have stirred Cyrus up in righteousness, and I will make all his ways level – I will make straight his paths; he shall build my city and se my exiles free, not for price or reward,” says the LORD of hosts. The LORD declared his sovereignty over Cyrus. The Lord accomplished his plan and purpose through Cyrus, a king who didn’t even know him. The Lord overcame all human obstacles and satanic opposition for Cyrus to free the Jewish exiles and rebuild Jerusalem. He is sovereign over your life. The Lord will do the same in your life when you trust in him with all your heart.