"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." Proverbs 3:5-6 (all Scriptures are quoted for the ESV unless otherwise indicated)
"And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you." Psalm 9:10
"The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him." Psalm 28:7
"Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD." Psalm 32:10
"Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah" Psalm 62:8
"O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!" Psalm 84:12
"Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD." Proverbs 16:20
"You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield." Psalm 115:11
"Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever." Psalm 125:1
"The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe." Proverbs 29:25
" 'Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.' " Isaiah 12:2
"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3
" 'Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.' " Jeremiah 17:7-8
Trust in the Lord. That is a simple enough command to understand, but how easy is it to follow? How often do we struggle with trusting God no matter what happens? No matter how unknown the future may be? No matter how big the trial? No one said it would be easy, but check out the benefits that we receive when we make the effort to trust in the Lord.
- our paths will be made straight/He will direct us
- we will not be forsaken
- we will be helped
- we will be surrounded by steadfast love
- God will be our refuge
- we will be blessed
- God will be our shield
- we will be steadfast, unable to be moved
- we will be safe
- we will not be afraid
- God will be our strength
- God will be our song
- God will be our salvation
- we will have perfect peace
- we will be nourished when the heat comes
- we will not have worry when there is a drought
- we will still bear fruit
Just in these verses that I listed, I found seventeen things that God promises to give us if we trust in Him. That's it. All we have to do is trust in God and he takes care of the rest. Let's look again at Jeremiah 17:7-8
" 'Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.' "
First, it says we are blessed if we trust in the Lord, then it tells us how we will be blessed. Picture a tree that is planted by a river. Since roots grow towards water, this tree's roots will grow towards that river. This means that the tree will have plenty of water when the hot summer days come and will still be green instead of withering and turning brown. There is no worry when the drought comes along because the roots are not dependent only upon the rain for nutrition, but can draw water from the river. This way, the tree still bears fruit even through the hot and dry seasons.
Now lets replace the tree in this example with ourselves, Christians. If we grow our roots towards God, by trusting in Him, when the heat of trials and hard times come, we won't have to fear. When the drought of unpleasant circumstances comes along, we will have no need to be anxious or worry because our roots are firmly planted in trusting God. We can still bear fruit for God during the difficult times because we have the proper nourishment.
