Trusting in God

What does trust mean?

Trust - firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.

"relations have to be built on trust"

Is God reliable?

If we’re being honest with ourselves, we’ve all wondered if we could truly rely on God at some point in our lives. Jeremiah had the same question when he was in a place of dejection.

Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail? - Jeremiah 15:18

In the 15th chapter of Jeremiah God is telling Jeremiah that punishment is coming to His people because they have disobeyed Him, not believed Him and as a result, turned from God. In verse 18, which we see above, Jeremiah speaks to God and asks how long shall he suffer without healing? He asks God if He will be to Jeremiah a deceptive stream, with unreliable waters for him. Jeremiah wants to know from God will His waters, His goodness and strength, His refreshing promises fail? Can he rely on God?

That is certainly a place of dejection for the prophet and we’ve all been at that point in our walk as believers. We have all prayed and not seen the immediate results which then lead us to question whether we can rely on God, but we need to listen to the response God gave to Jeremiah as he asked these questions of God. God’s response comes in the next three verses.

19 Therefore thus saith the LORD, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them. 20 And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD. 21 And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible. - Jeremiah 15:19-21

These are still keywords for us today when we find ourselves asking the same questions. God cannot move through our mistrust and lack of faith. Jeremiah had to return to faith and then God could move and fulfill His promises, the same answer holds true for us today.

Is God trustworthy?

There’s a multitude of examples in the Bible about God’s trustworthiness, but Psalms 146 gives us a good place to start. In the ten verses of the chapter David tells us who to put our trust and where our help comes from. David also tells us who not to put our trust in.

3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. 4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. - Psalms 146:3-4

These verses describe the powerlessness of man. No lasting help can come from any human being whose body will one day return to the dust from which it was made, whether he be a prince or a common man (“son of man” in this verse wasn’t talking about Jesus).

God does not die. Kings die. World leaders die. Loved ones die. If we put our trust in an earthly king, then when he dies so does our hope. The promise of a king and the hope that accompanies that promise only lasts while he is living. Because God is eternal, so are His promises and the hope that accompany His promises. His never dying makes Him trustworthy.

Is God able?

God promised to make Abraham the father of a great nation, and naturally Abraham needed a son in order for that promise to come true. God told him that Sarah would bear a son named Isaac through whom the promise would be fulfilled. Abraham was ninety nine years old and Sarah was ninety, and humanly speaking there was no possible way they could have a son. But God helped them to believe it by the way He introduced Himself that day.

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. - Genesis 17:1

The Almighty God can do anything He wants to do, even give babies to couples in their nineties. Sometime after that initial revelation, God again promised Abraham a son, this time in Sarah’s hearing, and she laughed to herself (Genesis 18:12). “Wherefore did Sarah laugh” God asked with convicting insight. Then He added, “Is any thing too hard for the LORD?” (Genesis 18:14). When Abraham and Sarah learned the answer to that question they would be able to believe that God would keep His Word. And they finally did as it says in the 4th chapter of Romans.

19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. - Romans 4:19-21

Most of us have had experiences with people who have promised more than they have been able to deliver, and we have a tendency to transfer our skepticism to God. Does He really care? Is He really in control? Does He really have the power to bring good out of adversity? Our doubts do nothing but raise our anxiety level and cause us grief. Believe just as Abraham and Sarah finally believed it. God is able to do whatever needs to be done in your life.

Is God strong?

God uses imperfect people to accomplish His perfect purpose. Moses was hesitant to answer God’s call because he felt inadequate and was slow of speech. He also struggled with anger, as evidenced by when he struck and killed the Egyptian. Yet, in God’s strength, Moses led the entire nation of Israel out of their captivity in Egypt. Not only did God equip him with the skills he needed to lead, but He also gave him the strength to do it.

Although Moses was by no means perfect, the rest of his actions illustrate his faithfulness and powerful leadership. Moses faced Pharaoh, led the Exodus, parted the Red Sea, and brought the people to Mount Sinai where the Old Covenant was established. Moses’ example reminds us that no matter how fallible we are, our God is mighty. After Moses dies, the Book of Deuteronomy closes with recognition of the prophet’s leadership.

10 And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 11 In all the signs and the wonders, which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, 12 And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel. - Deuteronomy 34:10-12

Trust in God.

Although there are many more examples of God’s reliability, trustworthiness, ability, and strength, hopefully these few words will help you truly trust in God. As the definition states above, "relations have to be built on trust."