"Trust in the Lord"

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5 ESV)

Proverbs 3 is one of my favorite passages of Scripture that helps us understand our relationship with and dependence on God.

Solomon reminds us that God knows us. He does not merely know of us; no, He knew us intimately, even before He formed us in the womb (Jeremiah 1:5, Psalm 139). Every detail of our lives is planned by God, and He uses our trials and tribulations to shape us into the image of Christ.

God made us with a purpose, His purpose, not ours. His purpose was for us to glorify Him alone. Everything points to God as our sovereign creator, especially the gospel. We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, all for the glory of God alone. Add one thing to this formula, and like a house of cards, it crashes to the ground. This formula, this plan of redemption, is built on the solid foundation of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is through the penal substitutionary atonement of Christ and the receipt of His imputed righteousness that we find salvation.

The problem is that humans have an ego; many who do not know Christ believe they control their own destiny and must create their own life plan. If that is you, how is that working for you so far? When we rely on ourselves and our understanding, we start with a flawed perspective. We are flawed beings—sinful, egotistical, and foolish. God, on the other hand, is all-knowing, all-seeing, and all-powerful. It is when we recognize our inadequacy in life that we panic or make destructive choices, often messing things up.

However, when we live in Christ, and He in us, we learn to trust Him with every part of our being. We do not rely on, much less trust, our own understanding because we do not, and cannot, have all the answers to life's questions. The answers to every question, problem, or challenge in our lives can be found in the Scriptures. They are the breathed word of God.

Our lives are full of twists and turns, deciding what to choose and what not to choose. Relying on our understanding shows our foolishness. When we depend on Jesus's understanding, He straightens our paths. (v 6)

Our sin is great, and true repentance involves taking steps to limit or eliminate those temptations that trip us up in our walk with Christ. God’s plan does not include our temptation. (James 1:13-14) While God may allow temptation by the enemy, He does not create it, and He prays for us. (Luke 22:31-34). Our purpose in life is to glorify God; we cannot do that if we do not trust and rely solely on Him.

Have you placed your trust and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you relying on your own knowledge and wisdom, forsaking the predestined knowledge of God? Seek Christ as your Savior, be forgiven of your sins, and understand your true purpose in life.

Grace and Peace!