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The phrase “In God We Trust” can be found on our money, car tags, and even the walls of public and government buildings, but how true is the statement? Do we fully trust the Lord, or do we trust ourselves? Trust starts and ends with the truth! We must be truthful with ourselves and with God. We often say we trust God while we are devising our own plan. To trust God, we must fully relinquish control and allow God to work. We are willing to trust our “gut” and we will trust other individuals, but we will not trust the Lord. The words translated “trust” in the Bible literally mean “a bold, confident, sure security or action based on that security.” Trust is not the same as faith. Rather, trusting is what we do because of the faith we have been given. Trusting is believing in the promises of God in all circumstances, even in those where the evidence seems to be to the contrary.
While watching a movie, have you ever seen a main character get ready to do something dangerous because they were unaware of what was really happening. You had knowledge that the character did not have. You found yourself screaming at the television as you watched in horror. God has information that we do not have, and his ways are much higher and better than our ways. He sees what we are unable to see, and we must fully trust His plan even when we do not understand what He is doing. John Piper said, “God is always doing 10,000 things in your life, and you may be aware of three of them…Not only may you see a tiny fraction of what God is doing in your life; the part you do see may make no sense to you.” What God is currently doing in your life may not make sense currently, but please trust Him. He is working all things out for your good.
The Bible says in Proverbs 3:5-6, “5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” We must trust Him with all our heart, and without trying to figure things out on our own. I have no idea how to fly an airplane. I can promise you that I would not be in a cockpit telling the trained and certified pilot how to fly. I would be sitting in my seat allowing him to do his job. He knows much more than me and it is his job to get the passengers to their destination safely. If I removed the pilot from his seat, and took over the cockpit, I would certainly doom myself and all those on board. This analogy fits well in life. When we try to guide our own affairs with our own understanding of the world, we will surely fail. If we acknowledge God knows much more, and we submit ourselves to His perfect will, all will be well.
Billy Graham shared the following story, “There was a man who became shipwrecked on a deserted island years ago. He managed to build himself a hut to live in and with it stored the possessions he was able to salvage from his boat after it was wrecked. He would watch every day for some sign of a ship or airplane passing by. He prayed to God for help. Some days he would get discouraged and wonder if he would ever get off that island, but still … he prayed. One day he was on the other end of the island and noticed some smoke coming from the direction of his hut. He ran as fast as he could back to the hut and then he realized that his fears had come true. His hut and all his belongings were destroyed by a fire. All that was left was the smoke and rubble of it all. He asked God why this had to happen. He did not understand. Soon he would find out. Later that day a ship appeared on the horizon and soon landed on the island and rescued him. They told him that they were plotting a distinct course and noticed smoke off in the distance and thought the smoke was a signal for help. It was a sign for much needed help, and it was a sign from God that He was still in control and He would not forsake His beloved child even if there was a doubt or not.” We may not understand what God is doing, but let’s choose to trust Him!
(Brandon Young is pastor at Harmony Free Will Baptist Church in Hampton).