Monday Morning Encouragement - Assured Reliance

 



"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding." -- Proverbs 3:5


Last week I wrote about having a steadfast heart, and the importance of reading and meditating daily on scripture. I guess the Lord wants to stay on this subject for another week because my daily Bible reading this morning led me to this beloved verse:


"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding." 


And that prompted me to ask this question:


Why do we find it so difficult to trust God?

 

Before you answer that, let's look at the word trust a little closer. 


Webster defines the word trust as "assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something."


So, now let me ask my question in a different way.


Do you have an assured reliance on God's character, God's ability, God's strength and God's truth?


I've found in my many conversations with people, especially women, that while they have no problem trusting Jesus for their soul's salvation, they have trouble trusting Him with their daily lives. 


I get that. 


We trust Jesus with our eternal destination because we acknowledge the sacrifice He made to secure our salvation and we willingly turn from our own pitiful attempts to save ourselves and place our trust in the finished work of Christ on the cross. It's a choice we've made and we relax knowing that our Savior has saved us and nothing can change that.


Then comes life's challenges that really test our trust in the Lord's character, ability, strength, and the truthfulness of what He has told us in the Bible. Suddenly the very same God that resurrected from the dead to live again is unable to handle what concerns us.


What?


Jesus has the power to rise up from the dead, but He doesn't have the ability to handle everything that comes our way?


Do you see how nonsensical that is?


We need to decide once and for all that worry is Satan's tool to distract us from the truth that God loves us and has our future firmly in His hands. 


We need to raise up our own hands to Jesus and declare that He is worthy of our trust. We need to settle once and for all that we trust His character, we trust His ability, we trust His strength, and we trust that He IS Truth.


Honestly, this is the pathway to peace. The next verse after Proverbs 3:5 assures us:


"In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths." (v6)


Your future is known to the Lord and He will see you through whatever comes your way. 


Will you join me in trusting Him with all things?


I've selected another older praise song He Is Able by the Maranatha Singers. I pray this beautiful song will strengthen your trust in Him.



I love you, I'm thinking of you, and I'm praying for you.





11 comments


  1. He never promised us an easy life, but He did promise to be there for us in all things. We sometimes forget to put Him first and we try to handle things ourselves. That and the true fact that Satan is always there whispering lies and doubt into our minds. Once we recognize what is going on, we can arm ourselves to do battle. Our Lord is on our side always! In the big things like salvation but also in all the daily life things that test our faith. Look around you, every time I think my life is hard I can look and see someone else that is having a much harder time but walking in faith. At the moment I have a dear friend who is fight cancer, not only that but for the last year her husband has been in a nursing home with serious diabetic health issues and alzheimers not even recognizing her at times. He passed away a week and a half ago and she tested positive for covid the day before his funeral. Through it all she stands firm in her faith and her favorite quote, "God is Good, All The Time!" The same God that is growing in her spirit is the same God that is growing in mine and in yours . . . He is our salvation through everything, big and small. We can trust in the Man of truth. Our God Is Good!!! All the Time!!!

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    1. Connie, your friend is a wonderful testament to the Lord. So grateful for godly women like her who live their faith out loud. And for you, too, my friend. Thanks for sharing these thoughts. Hugs.

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  2. Good comments on this. It is exactly as you wrote; we do not trust God in our daily lives, even though we should. At least I would have a reason to change here, because I am the one who is easily worried about everything.

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    1. Worry is a hard habit to break. And, of course, there's so much in our world to "worry" about. I'm so glad that we have a Savior who is always with us and aware of everything that breaks our heart. Those things break His heart, too! xo

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  3. I always look forward to your Monday posts. Hope your Mother's Day was good. Have a wonderful week. xoxo Kris

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    1. Thanks, Kris. I did have a very nice Mother's Day with my son and his family. Enjoy your week! Hugs.

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  4. This is so encouraging today. I am constantly needing to be reminded that worry is Satan's tactic. Recently, I read that when our lives have been in turmoil, we look back and realize God made the turmoil to turn us to Him.
    Have a good week and enjoy the beautiful springtime in Colorado!

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    1. Oh, I absolutely agree that God uses turmoil to turn us to Him. And each time He rescues us we come to trust Him more. Thanks for visiting and sharing. Hugs.

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  5. I love that Corrie TenBoom quote. When I hear about some of the crazy and terrible things going on in the world, I worry about the future. But I remind myself that God is in control, and what a comfort! Also, I can look back and see how He has always taken care of us, even in the hard times.

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  6. This song has been on my heart all spring as I pray for my kids and grands. Thank you for sharing it and assuring me once again that "He is able." Blessings

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    1. I love that song so much. It has been an encouragement to me many times as I wait on God to move. xo

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