Who Do You Really Trust?

​When your world is falling apart, who do you trust? When your heart is so heavy with burdens, who do you trust to share them with? 

I learned several verses years ago that often I quote, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”  That is Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV. 

The Christian life is really a matter of the heart. That is what God is really interested in. What this means is that you and I are really supposed to live “inside out.” 

Our verse today has a promise you can live by. The promise is that God has a will for your life, which is His best for you. How do you say yes to God’s best? Trust Him. When you trust God, you look to Him, count on Him, and have confidence in Him. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, that is trust! 

But it is only the beginning. Because trust is not only an act but also an attitude. Trust is an activity that we do every day of our lives. It is both a point and a process. It knows that God is for you and that He is working with your best interest at heart.

You can always trust God! The Bible says in 2 Chronicles 16:9 NIV, “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war."  When you trust God, you begin an exciting journey. When you surrender and give Him control of your life, that is when you can start to see God’s best for you. Trust is not only an act, but it is also an attitude.

Let me give an example of Trust. These are the last words of Jesus. This is how Luke, the physician, tells the story of the last moments of Jesus’ life:

It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he said this, he breathed his last.
- Luke 23:44-46 NKJV

Luke is the only writer to record the last words of the Son of God: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Every word tells us something important:  Father—this was Jesus’ favorite title for God. It spoke of the intimate family relationship that had existed for all eternity. His first word from the cross had been, “Father, forgive them.” His last word was, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”  But in between, he had cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” He called him “My God” and not “Father” because in that agonizing moment, the Father turned his back on the Son as Jesus bore the sin of the world. God forsaken by God! But no longer! Jesus dies with the knowledge that the price has been fully paid, the cup emptied, the burden borne, and estrangement has ended. Whatever happened in those three mysterious hours of darkness is now in the past. Jesus yields his life to the One he called “Father.”  He Trusted the Father!

Into your hands means that I trust you totally! There is no touch like the father's hands...  What son does not long for his father to reach out and embrace him? There is something wonderful about this expression. It speaks of safety--"I am safe in my father’s hands"—and of greeting—"Welcome home, Son"—and of love—"Daddy, it’s so good to see you again"—and of approval—"I’m so proud of you, Son.” 

For about 15 hours, Jesus has been in the hands of sinful men. With their hands, they beat him. With their hands, they slapped him. With their hands, they abused him. With their hands, they crowned him with thorns. With their hands, they ripped out his beard. With their hands, they smashed him black and blue. With their hands, they whipped his back until it was torn to bits. 

Now we are at the final moments. Evil hands have done all they can do. Jesus now returns to his Father’s hands.

Jesus said, “I commit” — the word means to deposit something valuable in a safe place. It is what you do when you take your will and your most valuable possessions and put them in a safe-deposit box at the bank. 

Jesus said, “My spirit” —by this phrase, Jesus meant his very life, his personal existence. Now that his physical life is over, Jesus commits himself into his Father’s hands for safekeeping. “Father, I can no longer care for myself. I place myself in your good hands for safekeeping.”  Trust! 

We know that God, your Father in heaven, loves you more than any man will ever love you. We know that God cares about everything going on in your life. We know that God, your heavenly father, sees everything that happens in your life. He cares about everything that happens in your life. He has the power to help you with everything in your life. But most of all, he will help you if you trust HIM! You and I know or should know that He knows what will give you peace. He knows that His plan is better than yours. You and I know that if you trust Him, you will have all kinds of benefits in your life that you would not have if you rebelled and did your own thing and went your own way. We know that He is a loving, compassionate Father.

“As a father has compassion on his children,
​so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;”
- Psalm 103:13 NIV

The Lord only asks that you trust in him to know what's best for you… to not lean on your own understanding of how things should be.  It is like that bumper sticker I see all the time that says, "If God is your co-pilot, then you better trade places!" 

When you begin to trust in God for everything, He will do amazing things in your life for his glory! 

Make Every Day Count!