We all know this one.

The Cambridge dictionary defines the verb “to trust” as “to believe.” To believe that someone is good and honest and will not harm us, safe and reliable.

Trust in the Lord with all of your heart. A Bible commentator explained what it’s like to half trust God and keep the other half trust in ourselves. It’s like setting one foot upon the Rock and the other in quicksand. How’s that going to work out? One foot in will result in the same weird, horrible death as both feet in quicksand.

Of course, we are human, and it’s probably impossible to completely trust the Lord with all of our hearts. But that’s what these proverbs are for, to remind us to keep trying. God made us. He knows our faults. That’s why I love that these proverbs are in His Word. God is completely aware of how hard these are for us, but He says them anyway, He reminds us over and over again.

Lean not on your own understanding. Put away what we think you know and trust God. Sometimes I think this is just putting one foot in front of the other and praying that we’re heading in the right direction. We often can’t see the path ahead clearly, we must walk in faith, trusting that God is clearing the way ahead of us or will steer us away from the danger we walk toward.

Thinking we’ve got it all figured out is the reason mankind fell into sin in the very beginning. In the garden, Satan tempted Adam and Eve with that very thing- reliance on self, “you don’t need God, in fact, you can be God.” Today, the world says the same thing- take care of yourself; trust your instincts; do what makes you happy, you are your own god.

Quicksand.

In all your ways acknowledge Him. With every life step, every morning check in with God. He is always there, waiting. God may not show us the path ahead, but He leads us there. God has been faithful. He will continue to be faithful.

So often, we stop and worry. What if He fails me now? What if I can’t do it on my own? Why do we do that? That’s one foot in the quicksand, like Peter doubting as he stood on the water next to Jesus and beginning to sink completely because of his own doubt:

But when [Peter] saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
Matthew 14:30-31 NIV

God has always walked with us and watched over us. Why would He stop now? Especially in the dark and the storm and during the time of our greatest need?

He wouldn’t. Jesus didn’t move away from Peter on the water that day. He was always close enough to catch him.

Trust in the Lord with all of your heart.

Memorize this one if you don’t know it already. When you’re not feeling it, just say it. Over and over again. The more we say it, “I trust You,” the more we will believe it, and His peace will flood our hearts and minds.

Heidi xoxo