What about... trust??

Proverbs 3:5–6 (NKJV)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He shall direct your paths.”

This Scripture is easy to recite yet often the hardest to live.

That’s where the heart work begins.

So, what is trust, really?

The definition of trust according to a quick google search,  is a firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something. It’s a subtle act of surrender that is rooted in expectation that what or whom we’re relying on will not fail us.

Trust is both rational and relational. It’s what allows us to:

-Sit and fly on an airplane.

-Drive across a bridge without doubting its foundation.

-Drop our kids off at school, believing they’ll be safe.

-Follow GPS directions without understanding the route.

We trust without even realizing it because, on some level, we’ve come to believe in the system, the process, or the person.

But when it comes to trusting God, Someone we cannot see, and Whose timing we rarely understand, it’s a much deeper leap.

Trusting Is Hard, let’s name that!

In our humanness, trust feels risky. It creates uncertainty. Especially when:

-We’ve been disappointed before

-Prayers feel unanswered

-Our hearts carry grief, confusion, or deep sadness

The weight we carry: anger, anxiety, bitterness, disconnection, sadness, reveals where we’ve struggled to trust. Sometimes we even mask it, presenting strength when we’re barely holding on.

But God is not intimidated or put off by our struggle.
He invites us to bring it all. Even our doubts (especially our doubts.)

Breaking it down as a heart posture, not just a command

Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord…”
Trust is a full-body, whole-soul experience. It means loosening our grip and placing our faith in the hands of a sovereign, loving God. Not just in the good times, but when we don’t understand the “why.” It’s saying, “I am Yours. I don’t see the whole picture, but I believe You do.”

“…with all your heart…”
It’s a deep, intentional kind of trust. One that starts in the heart, where emotions, beliefs, and desires live. When we slow down enough to reflect on God’s faithfulness, His goodness, His peace, and His steady presence, our hearts begin to soften. Then, like a domino effect, our minds follow, and even our bodies start to yield to the peace only He can give.

“…and lean not on your own understanding…”
This one stings. Because our understanding is what we’ve spent a lifetime building. But God, in His omniscience, sees the beginning, middle, and end. What we grasp in part, He holds in fullness. Trust means choosing His higher perspective over our limited one.

“…in all your ways acknowledge Him…”
To acknowledge Him is to invite Him into every moment, not just the big decisions, but the ordinary ones too. It’s giving Him the glory, the gratitude, and the room to lead.

“…and He shall direct your paths.”
Not might. Shall. It’s a promise. When we release our own understanding and truly let Him in, He will make the path clear, in His timing, in His way.

Rinse. Repeat.
Trusting is not a one-time decision. It’s a daily, intentional practice.

Trust isn’t passive. It’s active. When it comes to our God, it’s the continual decision to believe that He is good, present, and sovereign, even when we can’t see the full picture. Just as we trust the unseen forces around us every day, may we also learn to trust the One who sees all, knows all, and loves us more deeply than we can comprehend.

So, what does trust mean to you? 

What are you keeping in your heart that you’ve struggled to surrender to God?