Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
Sunday’s church service was an awesome one filled with powerful praise and worship. After the main worship and a powerful ministry of the Word, there was a time of prayer for the saints of God and their families. During a later moment of praise and worship, while I was participating as a background vocalist, I felt an uneasy stirring in my spirit. It was not negative, but it was as if something was shaking my focus.
As I stood in agreement in prayer, I felt a warmth come over my body, and when I focused on the Lord, I heard Him audibly say, “Trust Me.” At that moment, I understood why I felt the stirring in my spirit. The Lord was trying to get my attention. I stood quietly, listening to what He had to say.
I knew in my heart why the Lord said this to me, for there have been many unexpected events happening to my family and I lately. As human beings, we all face situations and circumstances that can be beyond us. Sometimes these situations make you feel as if there is no solution. I say this because in times of uncertainty, especially when encountering a task that seems to have no immediate help or solution, that is when we ought to trust in the Lord.
“I put my trust in God” is easy to sing and proclaim until it sounds like a cliché. But do we truly trust the Lord to work things out on our behalf? When the situation is real and right before you, do you truly trust Him? During that church service, the Lord Himself reminded me. It was a whisper, but loud enough to still my heart and mind.
When we walk through difficult seasons, it can feel as though no one truly understands the weight we are carrying. At times, the very people we usually lean on may seem unavailable or preoccupied with their own responsibilities. That does not mean they do not care. However, in those vulnerable moments, the enemy seeks to plant the lie that we are alone, forgotten, or unsupported. Recognizing this tactic helps us guard our hearts and turn to God instead of allowing isolation to take root.
This happens because our natural tendency is to look to others for help and support, but the Lord Jesus is showing us that we must place our trust fully in Him. Trust Him to lead and guide us, especially when making crucial decisions. Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Yet because we are accustomed to seeking human help, we often fail to ask the Lord what steps we should take.
My friends, when the situation seems dire, and anxiety rises, the Lord is calling us to seek Him and trust Him.
These situations reveal our level of trust in the Lord. They test the songs we sing, our faith, and even our public and private declarations that we trust in Jesus. They test our hearts and our commitment to the Lord.
When despair comes and our faith is shaken, that is when we must turn to the Lord the most. I remember during the pandemic when my entire family became ill with the virus. At that time, you either admitted loved ones to the hospital with the risk of not seeing them again or remained quarantined at home without anyone physically checking on you. Those were uncertain and lonely days.
It was then that I looked to Jesus, even when I felt I could break down and give up. I remember clearly what He said to me: “Your tears do not move me. What do you believe?” Right there I said, “Lord, I believe in You. I trust in You!” At that moment, I placed my faith fully in Him and believed that only He could heal my family. He did so that very day.
God is faithful, and He cares about every part of our lives. If you feel you have lost faith because of a critical situation such as illness, loss of a job, or eviction, or broken relationships, remember these scriptures:
1. Isaiah 41:10 – Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand
2. 1 Peter 5:7 – casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you
3. Psalm 55:22 – Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved
4. Matthew 6:30 – But if God so clothes the grass of the field... will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
It grieves the Lord when He has promised through His Word, and we do not come to Him or trust Him. We often rely on human intervention, which may not align with His will. I am not discounting human help, but we should first seek the Lord in every matter. He is our God and King. David declared in Psalm 37:25 that he had never seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread.
There have been times when my own faith has been tested. You cannot truly understand it until you experience living on the edge of a situation that steals your peace. So today I challenge you, and I challenge myself with this question: In whom do you trust?
We have become too comfortable trusting in the arm of flesh. This refers to relying on human strength, intellect, or resources rather than God. The King James Bible describes this as a cursed state that leads to spiritual dryness. Jeremiah 17:5 warns against departing from the Lord in order to trust human power, which ultimately fails like a parched desert shrub.
It is important to read and meditate on Jeremiah 17:5-8:
5 Thus says the Lord, Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord.
6 For he shall be like a shrub in the desert and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited.
7 Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose hope is the Lord.
8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes. Its leaf will be green and it will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.
You see, it all comes down to what or who we trust. It all comes down to faith. There are consequences for trusting in the arm of flesh, meaning human strength in ourselves and others. There is also a reward and a blessed outcome for trusting in the Lord. Scripture says in Jeremiah 17:7-8 that the person who trusts in the Lord will be like a tree planted by the waters with roots spread by the river.
This is a good time to reflect on our faith and trust in God. We sing songs about trusting God, and we say with our words that we trust in Jesus, but do we truly trust Him from the heart? Are we believing what we are saying? We may believe that God is God and that He will not fail us, yet still live like the dried shrub in the desert because we continue to seek only human intervention and our own strength.
SO HOW SHOULD WE DEEPEN OUR TRUST IN THE LORD?
Before we discuss how to deepen our trust in Jesus, we first need to reflect on our relationship with Him. Often, we say that we know the Lord. We know about Him through reading Scripture and hearing sermons or testimonies from others. We may even pray every day, which is wonderful. But during our times of worship and private prayer, are we listening to hear what He has to say to us?
This is tremendously important. If all we are doing is praying, worshiping, making supplications, and interceding, which are all good, are we waiting long enough in His presence to receive guidance and direction? Secondly, do we truly know what His voice sounds like? We must learn to discern His voice, because sometimes it can be our own thoughts speaking, or even the voice of the enemy.
Many of us spend our lives praying to the Lord, yet we cannot discern His voice when He speaks. We often leave His presence quickly to attend to personal matters instead of remaining long enough to hear from Him. God communicates in many ways, including dreams, visions, an audible voice, and through our spirit. We must develop our spiritual ears to hear Him clearly. When we learn to recognize His voice, we will not have to depend entirely on what others say.
You can read more about this in my sermon teaching lesson, “Jesus Christ, Do We Know Him,” available on my website blog.
Now, let us examine the practical ways to deepen our trust in the Lord.
1. Have Total Dependence on Him
We sometimes take all our concerns to others before bringing them to the Lord. I am not discounting human help and intercessory support, but we must form the habit of coming to God first. Depend on Him not only in difficult situations, but also in good and joyful moments. Make Him your first source, not your last resort.
2. Have Faith
Even when a situation seems impossible, we must have faith. In the book of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace because they refused to bow to another god. Would we still have faith in God to deliver us from our own fiery situations? And even if God chooses not to act in the way we expect, will we still trust Him?
3. Develop Intimacy Through Prayer
As mentioned earlier, we must reflect on our personal relationship with the Lord. Is it where it should be? Even if we pray daily, are we listening for His response? We all know that conversations with loved ones are not meant to be one-sided. After we pray and present our requests, do we remain in His presence long enough to hear from Him?
We must also practice open and honest communication. Just as we speak openly with close friends or family members, we should speak honestly with the Lord. Tell Him about your struggles, your doubts, and your fears. When anxiety arises, bring it to Him. I have often shared my anxious thoughts with the Holy Spirit and asked for His peace.
Remember that He lives within you. He is not distant or unaware. He sees and knows everything you experience. Do not feel ashamed or weak in His presence. He is our strength in weakness. Second Corinthians 12: 9 reminds us that His grace is sufficient and His strength is made perfect in weakness.
4. Actively Obey His Guidance
If you are facing a situation that requires action, there are times when you may sense a gentle prompting from the Holy Spirit not to proceed. This often happens even in small matters. You may feel led not to share certain information with someone, even when the words are about to leave your mouth.
Sometimes these instructions come suddenly, and when you are making an important decision, it is far better to listen to His voice rather than the crowd or your own emotions. I have learned this through experience, and I would never want to repeat the mistake of ignoring His guidance. Trust Him, even when it feels difficult to do so.
5. Remember What He Has Done Before
Think back to the times God has delivered you. When my family became ill during the pandemic, I saw how swiftly God moved when things were turning in a negative direction. David faced Goliath with confidence because he remembered how God helped him defeat the lion and the bear.
When you remember past victories, your faith grows stronger. No matter how large or small the challenge, nothing is too difficult for God.
Conclusion
So, ask yourself today, in whom do you trust? Psalm 20:70 reminds us that some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we remember the name of the Lord our God.
Now is the time to bring everything before Him. Be honest with yourself and with God. Admit it to Him when a situation feels too heavy for you. Acknowledge when you have relied on your own strength or doubted His help. Confession opens the door for restoration.
Let’s pray together.
Prayer
Father God, I come before You today. I admit that in difficult situations, I have relied on my own strength and the help of others instead of trusting You completely. Your Word tells me to trust in You with all my heart and not lean on my own understanding. I confess that there have been times when I trusted human strength more than I trusted You.
Forgive me for my unbelief and lack of faith. Grant me grace and strength to trust You fully. Help me to seek You in every matter and to depend on You first. I rededicate my relationship with You today. Let it not be one-sided. Teach me to listen for Your voice and to recognize when You are speaking.
Strengthen my spiritual ears so that I may discern Your guidance clearly. According to Jeremiah 17:5-8, I declare that I am not like a dried shrub in the desert. I am like a tree planted by the waters, spreading out my roots by the river. I will not fear when heat comes. I will not be anxious in the year of drought, and I will continue to bear fruit.
Thank You for Your mercy, Your love, and Your faithfulness. I put my trust in You. Amen.
Author: Kimberly A.S. Williams