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Apr 21, 2024 06:00am

You Can Trust Him

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It’s hard to know who to trust these days. In a world of social media and too many news sources to name, I often find myself ignoring most because I have no idea who is telling the truth. It is impossible to know who is operating from an agenda, and I have no idea who actually knows something.

The same is hard in our personal lives sometimes. People have motives. Sometimes motives are pure, but unintentionally, and by human nature, people are ultimately out for themselves—an entire race, self-centered and innately flawed. Too easily, people fall into traps of impure motivations, striving for more. More money, more followers, more status, or they operate from a place of desperation and lie or steal to get what they need. They tell you what you want to hear, and then they do and say what’s best for themselves when you’re not around.

I’ve been burned and betrayed, and those events have left me a bit jaded. I hate to admit it, but I find myself skeptical. And worse, if I’m not intentional about catching it, I can withdraw trust from those who haven’t done a thing wrong and determine to rely on myself. This self-reliance is a snowball-type thing. The temptation to trust no one and to become fiercely independent can start to look like building walls, isolation, a critical spirit, and ultimately, pride. When I decide to rely only on or trust myself, I can get lost in strategy and start using people rather than loving them. Relationships become strained, and my soul gets wounded by my own isolation and independence.

Can you relate? Sure, you have people. You are around people, but your mistrust is evident in the need for control. An “I’ll just do it myself” mentality.

As I’ve put some thought into this, I am realizing how slippery this slope can be. Mistrust of others can easily translate to a lack of trust in or reliance on God.

Independence takes over. Independence causes trouble.

The problem is that we aren’t designed for independence. We are designed for dependence—dependence on the one who is completely trustworthy. From that relationship, all others exist and are made better.

From Psalm 25, we read a prayer of King David. He had been betrayed. He was living in a form of isolation and on the run, yet, we see his prayer of dependence on God and I think we can observe several lessons from his words.

David begins, “To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust;”

Observation 1: David strived to put His trust only in the LORD, his God.

Despite the mistakes he’d made, the pain others had caused, times when he missed the mark, and times when he went too far, he asked for forgiveness and trusted in the steadfast love and mercy of God.

It’s hard to put our trust in God unless we know we are accepted by Him, and we won’t have that assurance unless we have repented of our sins and received His forgiveness.

So start there with repentance. Verse 2 continues, “Let me not be put to shame;”

Observation 2: David desired to know God’s ways.

In verse 4 he says, “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.” I have a picture of beautiful landscape in my home with the very next verse on it. I read it every day as a prayer to God, “Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” Trusting God means seeking His ways, His truth and His paths.

Which leads to the next task…

Observation 3: David waited.

Waiting may not seem like a task or a verb, but it is. It’s an active choice made in humility. Pride was removed, and in humility, David asked for help, remained teachable, and sought God’s truth about his situation. Why? Because he trusted God.

Examine verses 8-9, “Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.”

Observation 4: David knew God’s character.

He believed God is good. He believed God is right. He believed God’s love is steadfast. He believed God is faithful. And because of God’s character, he trusted. He remained obedient in the waiting and seeking because no matter how other people mistreated or wounded him, David knew God. He had settled in his heart and mind to cling to the promise God would show His love and faithfulness “to those who kept His covenant and His testimonies.” And so David locked in. He sought God in faith and trust and waited.

Verse 12, “Who is the man who fears the LORD? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.”

When we know God, we will trust God. When we make up our minds to trust God, we need to also determine to wait on Him. Revere Him and fear Him enough to humble ourselves before Him…and wait.

And then what?

In the rest of Psalm 25, verses 13 – 22, David relays the results of his trust and dependence on God. Beautifully, it turns out the results are 100% about God and not about David at all.

God will provide well-being for the soul.

God will give.

God will rescue.

God will instruct.

God will pardon.

God will partner in promise.

God will save.

God will befriend.

When we trust God and wait, we create space and margin in our lives for Him to work, to step in, and to be God. Dependence on Him is always right and always worth it!

So, pray.

Ask God to help you trust Him. Ask Him to help you sort through the hurts of others and the reasons you lean on yourself. Let Him dig up those roots. Be honest about the needs of your heart. I would regret not mentioning verse 17. David declares and confesses worry, “The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.” He lays his struggle out before God and acknowledges his need for God to bring him out.

Never be afraid or ashamed to tell God what has been hard and what is hard today. Confess what has been your fault. Explain who is against you and why you are struggling to trust and then ask God to guard your soul…to lift your soul…just like He did for David. He is a good and faithful God.

You can trust Him.