WHY IS IT SO HARD TO TRUST?

All my life I have been taught to be strong, to be self-sufficient, to not need to rely on anyone. While there are some positive aspects to this mindset, it also creates a fair number of problems, one of the biggest being, the ability to Trust. Take it a step further – when I have allowed myself to trust, those I trusted have let me down – they have not followed through on their commitment, or they have even turned around and “stabbed” me in the back. All of this has made it hard for me to live out Proverbs 3:5-6. The solution to this struggle is found in the passage itself. (Duh!) So let me walk you through the lessons I learned as it relates to Trust.

Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”

The first key is found in observing that there is a command to obey. The command is to Trust. It is not a suggestion. It is a simple choice to obey the God who bought me with the precious blood of Christ. So, I do not need to evaluate whether it is good for me to do this or not. I simply need to obey!
The second key is found in the object of my Trust. I’m not commanded to trust everyone I meet. I am commanded to Trust in the Lord. Here is the reality: He is trustworthy! He will never let me down! He will never lie to me! He has the power and authority to back up His promises! He has a proven track record! So, if I struggle to trust God, it is an issue of me needing to be reminded of His character and His track record. So, I go back to the Word of God and review who He is and what He has promised. For example, the question might arise, ‘Does God really care about me?’ All I have to do is read Matthew 6 and I am told clearly that He cares even for the birds of the air how much more for me? Or the question might arise, ‘Is God too busy to take care of my struggles?’ Again, if I go back to Psalm 121, I am told that I can lift my eyes to the hills and that my help comes from the Lord, creator of all, who never sleeps nor slumbers. He is always available and He has the power to take care of my problems. He is trustworthy so I choose to place my trust in Him daily.
The next thing we notice is that I am to trust in the Lord with all my heart. No half-hearted trust! No trust of convenience! No trusting only when things don’t work out on my own! Trust in the Lord without reservation!
Next, we are told to avoid leaning on our own understanding. This dovetails with the previous section. God is clearly reminding us that one of the hinderances to trusting is self-reliance. Who is wiser – me or God? Whose ways are better – mine or God’s? The answer is obvious!
Finally, we are told to take time to Acknowledge God in all we do. The idea is to seek His will or to submit to His truth and His leading. When we do this, it is easier to Trust because we know God’s desires and designs are for our good!

Truly the benefits of learning to rely upon God, to Trust that He knows best and that He is able to take care of us in our times of need outweigh the tendency to rely upon our own wisdom and strength.