Trust is a word that is misused and abused a lot these days. It’s also a concept that is seriously lacking in our generation. No one trusts anyone anymore. And for good reason. It’s hard to find people that you can fully trust, even among your friends and family. But there is someone who you can absolutely trust.
The writer of Proverbs states in chapter 3:5-6 “Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize him, and he will make your paths straight and smooth” (removing obstacles that block your way). That sounds like someone you can fully trust doesn’t it? When you put your confidence in him, he backs that confidence up with his direction and provision. The hardest part for us is the trusting part.
When the writer of Proverbs talks about trusting the Lord he isn’t talking about a simple prayer or a few tears. He is talking about a made up heart and made up mind. Whatever comes my way I trust the Lord with everything that’s within me. Whether it looks good or bad I cling to the Lord, because I KNOW that he will turn it in my favor. Trust is taking your only son to the top of a mountain and offering him up as a sacrifice, even though God promised to make many nations out of him, like Abraham did. Trust is refusing to give in to the command of a king to bow down to him, even though he is threatening to throw you into a hot and fiery furnace, like Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael did. Trust is preaching and living the gospel, even if it may cost you your life. Trust means that I no longer live for myself, but I live for God and him alone.
It may seem ridiculous to have that kind of trust in a generation like this. After all, most of our generation lives like God doesn’t even exist. But that doesn’t stop my faith and my trust. I have seen God at work in my own life and I know that I can trust him. Job said, “Even if he kills me, I will still trust him.” That is the kind of trust this generation needs.
The thing that hinders that kind of trust is hurt. We live in a world that is hurting. Every person you come into contact with has been hurt in some way. So instead of dealing with that hurt, we tend to close down and refuse to trust anyone. We actually need to do the opposite. When you get hurt you need to open up, but don’t open up to just anyone. Open up to Jesus. Let him fix the hurt and the pain. I promise that you can absolutely trust him.
But don’t take my word for it. Take the word of Noah, who found him faithful in the flood. Or Abraham, who found him faithful through every twist and turn in life. Or ask Joseph, who found him faithful in prison. Or Daniel, who trusted him in the lions’ den. Hebrews chapter 11 is full of many more people who found God faithful through every situation. They echo the millions of other people throughout history who have put absolute faith in an absolute God.
