Verse of the Day
“Trust the LORD completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge.”
Proverbs 3:5 ERV
Lesson of the Day
We can trust God wholeheartedly. The Hebrew word translated as “trust” is batach, which means to feel secure and place our confidence in something. Trusting the Lord completely is not merely a feeling—it is a decision to place the full weight of our lives in His hands instead of depending solely on our own ability to figure everything out.
Our understanding is limited to what we can see, but God sees the entire picture. Isaiah 55:8–9 teaches us that His thoughts and ways are higher than ours. Trusting God does not mean that we stop thinking or using wisdom. It means that we place God’s wisdom above our own.
The next verse says, “With every step you take, think about what he wants, and he will help you go the right way.” Proverbs 3:6 ERV. Other translations tell us to acknowledge God in all our ways. Acknowledging God means including Him in every part of our lives—not only when we are in trouble. We should seek Him concerning our families, health, finances, businesses, relationships, plans, and everyday decisions. When we acknowledge Him, we recognize that we need His wisdom and direction.
Encouragement
This subject is near and dear to my heart because I have personally experienced situations that taught me to trust God completely. I would be lying if I said I never have doubts. I am human, and God does not always give us what we want. He gives us what He knows we need. Because we do not know what God knows or see what He sees, we must trust Him.
The more we experience God directing our paths and coming through for us, the easier it becomes to trust Him. I have seen God show up for me many times, but it is often the small things He does that give me the greatest confidence. The small things remind me that I can depend on Him in my everyday life.
Sometimes I lose something, ask God to help me find it, and a thought comes to mind telling me exactly where it is. Sometimes I need a nearby parking space, and one becomes available just as I arrive. These things may seem minor or coincidental to someone else, but I recognize them as God’s daily care for me. Acknowledging God also means recognizing His hand in the little things and thanking Him for them.
Recently, after spending the day completing T-shirt orders for a church, my CRPS began to flare. I was in pain and knew I needed to lie down, but my grandson was hungry, and I had not eaten either. I pushed through long enough to prepare our food and then went upstairs to rest.
As the pain and swelling worsened, I prayed, “Lord, help me. I cannot afford to flare up right now. I have too many orders to fill.” I prayed a prayer of supplication, placed my hand on my arm where the pain begins, and said, “By Your stripes, I am healed.” Then I used my heating pad, rested, and watched television with my husband. About an hour later, the pain and swelling were gone.
God helps me every day. Sometimes He does things for me that I do not even ask Him to do. When money is low, bills still get paid. A check may arrive in the mail, or someone may unexpectedly bless me. Through these experiences, God has shown me that I can trust Him with my life, my family, my health, and my business.
You can trust Him too. Trust is the key.
James 1:6–8 says, “But when you ask God, you must believe. Don’t doubt him. Whoever doubts is like a wave in the sea that is blown up and down by the wind. People like that are thinking two different things at the same time. They can never decide what to do. So they should not think they will receive anything from the Lord.” James 1:6–8 ERV.
When we pray, we must believe that God hears us and trust Him with the outcome. Trusting God does not mean that He will always answer exactly as we want. It means believing that He knows what is best, acknowledging Him in all our ways, and allowing Him to direct our paths.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for being our Father and always looking out for us. Your love for us is greater than we can imagine. You want us to have an abundant life, walk in our calling, and follow the path You have prepared for us.
Help us to acknowledge You in every area of our lives. Bless us to hear Your call, recognize Your hand in the small things, and trust that You will guide us. Thank You for Your daily gifts and for being faithful even when we cannot see what You are doing. Our hearts and lives belong to You.
In Jesus Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.