The Bible repeatedly exhorts us to trust in the Lord, but translating that into something that is meaningful for us on a practical, every-day level can sometimes be challenging. There are many things that can worry us: an injustice committed against us, or our families, finances, job, past, future, or health, to name but a few. Even so, the Bible clearly says to be ‘anxious for nothing’ (Philippians 4:6).
Trust is an unshakeable belief in the reliability of something, to the point where we have no fear of it failing us. Trust cannot cohabitate with anxiety or worry. As we will see, God is the only one in our lives who is totally reliable and worthy of such unshakeable trust. However, often we say we trust in him but continue to worry about our problem. Trust can only exist when we truly give up our fear-based need to control a problem or situation, and allow God to take control of it instead:
‘They that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.’ Psalm 9:10.
Most things in our lives shift and change – people come and go, our health changes, or we may have a particular job one day but not the next – but God and his son, Jesus Christ, are ‘the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever’ (Hebrews 13:8). His word is also unchanging and therefore ever-relevant to us: ‘the grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever’ (Isaiah 40:8).
While people’s moods, values, and intentions are subject to change, we can always rely on God, ‘with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning’ (James 1:17). Others may let us down, but God will ‘never leave thee, nor forsake thee’ (Hebrews 13:5).
Moreover, God wants to help us with our problems:
‘Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.’ Hebrews 4:16.
As Peter said, we should cast all our care upon God because ‘he careth for you’ (1 Peter 5:7). God never runs out of compassion or faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23), nor condemns us for our mistakes or problems (Romans 8:1). He doesn’t faint or get weary with us (Isaiah 40:28).
In Psalm 103, David tells us more about who God is, writing that he forgives all our iniquities, heals all our diseases, redeems our life from destruction, ensures our needs are taken care of, executes judgment to all who are oppressed, is merciful and slow to anger, plenteous in mercy, and has ‘not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities’ (vs 3-10).
David goes on to remind us that ‘the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him’ (vs 17). He loves justice and, in his time, will always ensure we receive justice when we have been wronged (Isaiah 61:8). Unlike people, God has an eternal amount of mercy and compassion for whatever may be concerning us.
David also wrote about God as our protector:
‘The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.’ Psalm 18:2.
Each of these images represent unwavering protection and safety from an enemy – or whatever might be troubling us. God represents himself as a fortress, buckler (shield), or high tower because he is as strong and as unmoving as they are.
If they do come under enemy attack, they take the brunt of any harm whilst protecting inhabitants behind or inside them, just as God protects us. As is written in Deuteronomy 31:8, in times of trouble, God ‘will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee.’
We can also rely on God because he has all wisdom and knowledge:
‘O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord?’ Romans 11:33-34.
He has the whole picture of what is happening in our lives as he exists simultaneously in the past, present and future (John 8:58). While we only ‘know in part’ (1Corinthinas 13:9), there is no end to God’s knowledge or ‘no searching of his understanding’ (Isaiah 40:28), as it is infinite (Psalm 147:5). As God said to Isaiah:
‘My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are you ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.’ Isaiah 55:8-9.
His thoughts towards us are also incredibly detailed and caring:
‘O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether … How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand.’ Psalm 139:1-4, 17-18.
If we are to trust anyone, surely it is better to trust the one who knows us better than we know ourselves, is infinitely wise, reliable and unchanging, has our best interests in mind, and wants nothing more than to help us.
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