To Encourage You

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

One of the symptoms of the sin that plagues the human race is that God has to command us to do things that are so obviously wonderful for us. Why is this necessary?  When we are told that God’s Word is “More precious than gold, than much pure gold (Proverbs 19:10),” and more to be desired than our necessary food (Job 23:12), why don’t we read it more than we do? Why don’t we meditate on its precious truths? 

For example, think about the verses above from the book of Proverbs. It’s a book of wisdom, wisdom from the mind of the omniscient God. But do we do what it says?  Do we realize how awesome this commandment is? Do we really understand its benefits? 

Notice how it tells us that we are to trust in the Lord with all our heart.  We shouldn’t have to be told to trust in One Who is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, for if we can’t trust Him who in the world can we trust?!  But do we?  Do we trust Him with all our heart and not lean on our own understanding? When we fear because we face a difficult situation and don’t know what to do, His Word to us is “Trust in Me with all your heart and don’t lean on your own understanding.”  When we face a serious illness, either our own or that of a loved one, and anxiety starts to put the squeeze on our soul, God’s Word to us is “Trust in Me with all your heart and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your paths.” When the money is tight and we don’t know how in the world we’re going to make ends meet, He tells us “Trust in Me with all your heart and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Me, and I will make straight your paths.” And when the problems come at us in waves, one on top of another, and depression threatens to rob us of joy, He just keeps telling us the very same thing: “Trust in Me with all your heart and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Me, and I will make straight your paths.” 

His Word doesn’t change. It’s fixed for all eternity. It’s always the same answer. It’s always the same thing. But do we do it? Do we believe it? Are we believing and obeying it right now?  If not, it’s not too late to start. What He has said yesterday, He’s still saying today, and He’ll keep saying the same thing as long as we live, “For he knows our frame;he remembers that we are dust” (Proverbs 103:14).  And He also knows that He’s just the opposite and that He can be trusted in any situation we will ever face. 

May God help us to remind ourselves of this truth each day and to trust the One Whose very name is “Faithful and True” (Revelation 9:11).