Proverbs 3

I was blessed and privileged to grow up in a Christian home, my parents would regularly read the Bible and pray with me. However, there are 2 specific verses that stick out in my childhood memories as they were said to me regularly to address my most common childhood antics. As a parent now I find myself saying these same verses to my kids (isn’t it funny how life works out like this, you become your parents?)

I used to have a lot of trouble going to sleep or I would wake up from bad dreams and my mom would lay in bed with me and say over me:

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬.

But more than anything I was a child who worried about a lot of things and my parents would quote:

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

As a young girl I had childish problems and a limited understanding of what fully trusting in God meant. But as an adult when I reflect on those words they carry a much deeper understanding of what trust means. Can I say I trust in God with all my heart when everything feels like it’s going wrong? Can I say I trust in God with all my heart on my worst days? And then the verse follows up with another pesky word, submission. It’s not just trusting in God, it’s submitting to him, laying it all down at his feet and trusting that God’s way is the best way.

Let’s back up a little in Proverbs 3 and see how we got to verses 5 and 6:

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This chapter of Proverbs was written by Solomon and he starts with a parental admonition, do not forget my teachings. This wasn’t speaking just to the physical act of memorization, he’s referring to living a life of obedience and keeping God’s commandments. We can know God’s word but if we are not actually obedient to God’s commandments we risk our peace.

Then Solomon advises on love and faithfulness, “bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart”. What does this looks like? Some people may physically write the word love on their bodies, but in this case we are called to keep them close to us, that showing love and faithfulness becomes our nature.

Finally, we get to the really good stuff in verse 4, “Then you will win favor…in the sight of God and men”. What does favor in the sight of God mean? Favor in this case means grace, receiving unwarranted grace from God and living in communion with Him.

This leads us back to Proverbs 3:5-6. So far, Proverbs 3 has shown that when I have laid the groundwork with God’s commandments in my heart, have love and faithfulness guiding my interactions with others, and realizing the favor (grace) of God on my life. I don’t have to stress about the goodness of God on my best days, my average days, or my worst days, I can “Trust in the Lord with all my heart” every day.

When my trust in God doesn’t make sense according to the world’s standards of success or goals I will “lean not on my own understanding, in all my ways submit to Him”. Leaning not on my own understanding is a tough pill to swallow. It’s saying even if it doesn’t make sense to me, I am trusting in the faithfulness of God. It is fully surrendering to say that with my finite human understanding I can’t begin to grasp the wonderful plans God has for me when I surrender my control and fully trust in Him.

And then finally verse 6 wraps up with “in all your ways submit to him and he will make your path straight”. In all your ways acknowledging God is inviting him into every aspect of your life, entering into communion with God daily. And then through all of that, by guiding of the Holy Spirit, you will start to see God’s direction for your life. You will no longer need to fear the future, because of the trusting relationship you have built in daily communion with God.

Dear God, thank you for never giving up on me, thank you for your forgiveness for all the times I have not trusted you. I pray for your direction in my life that I can walk with confidence trusting in your plans and believing in your faithfulness. I want to live in communion with you, I reject fear, doubt, and outside noise, please help me to continue to trust and seek you daily. Amen.

Trust in God