Many would say that they trust the Lord. Yet the way that many of us live would tell a different story. Instead, saying that we trust more in our health, employer, money, government, and those close to us than we do God. In order to see what it really looks like to trust we need not turn to others but to scripture. Because the Bible is our example and teaches us how we are to live.
1 Corinthians 10:11 (ESV)
11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.
2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV)
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
One of the people who stick out in my mind that give us a real example of what it means to trust God is the official whose son was sick. His son was sick to point of death and he sought Jesus to come with him to heal him. As he truly believed that He could.
John 4:46–49 (ESV)
46 So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” 49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
Jesus told the man to return home and that his son would live. This is the moment we begin to see what it looks like to trust the Lord. The man who sought to bring Jesus into his home to heal his son didn’t argue when he was told to return alone. He simply trusted the word he was given. Believing that if Jesus said his son would be healed that he would be. In that very same moment, his son was healed.
John 4:50–53 (ESV)
50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. 51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household.
Those who completely trust the Lord will live in like manner to this man. Willing to do as God has said even when it doesn’t match their expectation. Trusting the Lord means you are willing to walk blindly for some time believing that everything will be clear soon enough. When the man turned to go home he had no way of knowing his son was already healed. But he walked in faith and trusted it would be so. Christians today need to be willing to walk in faith just the same.
Many of the disciples also showed us what it looked like to trust God. As they walked away from everything to follow after Jesus Christ. They gave up jobs, family, stability, and so much more because they trusted the Lord to take them somewhere better. In fact. Peter along with his fishing companions walked away from the greatest catch they had ever brought in to the Lord in faith.
Matthew 4:20 (ESV)
20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
Luke 5:11 (ESV)
11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
Luke 18:28 (ESV)
28 And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.”
Those who place their trust in God are always willing to answer His call. Willing to go when He calls even if that means giving up so much to follow Him. Because they trust that God has a purpose and better things in store for them as well as others if they are willing to trust Him. They believe the words of Jesus that promise blessings on all those who trust in Him. More than they trust in the things of this world.
Luke 18:29–30 (ESV)
29 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”
Possibly the greatest sign that one trusts the Lord is believing that God will always do what is best for His people. That means letting go and allowing God to be in charge of your life. Knowing that even if you can’t see it God has a purpose in where you are and that He is working all things for the good of those who believe.
Romans 8:28 (ESV)
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
When Paul and Silas found themselves in jail for proclaiming the Gospel they could have been upset and questioned God. But that is not what they did. Instead, they trusted that God had a better plan and continued to praise Him. A belief that was confirmed when their time in jail led to the salvation of an entire family and possibly more.
Acts 16:25 (ESV)
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,
Acts 16:29–33 (ESV)
29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.
This truly what it looks like to trust the Lord. It goes far beyond simple words and even beliefs. Working its way into everyday actions. It is a willingness to do as God has said even when you can’t see the results. Following the Lord where ever He is leading you. Even giving up all you have to do so. All the while knowing that God is in control of your life and has a greater purpose in every circumstance.
Does your life look like this? Or have you not begun to trust God fully? Don’t hold back any longer but chose to give God all your trust and walk in the fullness of faith. Just as those portrayed in scripture did as our example. All that the world places its trust in will eventually fail and fade away. But the Lord will never fail us and will stretch into eternity still caring for us. All your trust should be in Him and your life should prove that it is.
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