Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil (Proverbs 3:5-7).
The first installment in the continuing series, Why should I put my trust in God to solve my problems, focused on the concept that God knows what trials and difficulties we face and how they will end according to the choices we make. That simple truth, if we would just take the time to remember it, would be enough to set many of our fears to rest. In this post, we’ll look at another promise made by God in the same featured passage that should also bring us comfort if we’d just take the time to take our problems to God.
Why should I put my trust in God to solve my problems?
God knows where the pits and snares are in our paths and can lead us safely past them (Psalms 142:3).
This is something that David, the author of the Psalms, understood quite well. When we allow God to lead us through whatever difficulty we face we can rest assured that he already knows where the traps and pitfalls are and will lead us safely over them (Psalm 91:3; Psalm 140:5). Solomon wrote that those who do not rely on God actually put snares in their own paths, often not realizing that their decisions, which may seem wise at the time, will do nothing beyond increasing their distress (Proverbs 12:13; Proverbs 29:6; Ecclesiastes 9:12). Everyone can think back to a time in their life when a solution we devised actually made the problem worse.
Additionally, God warns us that there are others – both human and demonic forces – that are constantly creating traps and blocks for us. Yes, as hard as it is to believe, often times when we are facing difficulties there are family members and friends that will encourage us to take the easy way out. Even Job faced this problem with his own wife and friends; they probably thought that their understanding of the situation and their solutions would benefit Job (Job 30:13). In reality, their plans, had Job actually listened and done them, he would have been outside the will and protection of God. Job understood that if he was going to survive what he faced he had to put his complete faith and trust in God. Job understood that God knew the obstacles that awaited him. All Job had to do was to follow the path that God had prepared for him (Job 41:32; Psalm 16:11; Psalm 142:3).
There is no better demonstration of this principle than the story of Abraham and his son, Isaac. Abraham faced a great trial – he had been asked by God to offer his only son, Isaac, as a sacrifice. He had complete trust in God that he never hesitated from the path set before him. When asked by Isaac where the lamb was for the sacrifice, Abraham simply replied that God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering (Genesis 22:8). Abraham had enough faith in God that he was unwilling to do anything other than follow God. He prepared the altar and even bound his son and was prepared to offer Isaac until an angel sent by God intervened to stop Abraham. Just as Abraham had told his son, God had provided a lamb for the sacrifice (Genesis 22:13).
Many of us may never have to face a trial of the magnitude of either Job or Abraham; however, how we face the ones we do experience offers the same evaluation of our character and faith as was done to these two men. We all know the numerous promises and blessings that God gave both men. Job became even more materially well off and had a larger family after his ordeal; Abraham was promised that he would be the father of a great nation and through him all the world would be blessed (Job 42:12-17; Genesis 22:15-18). God was able to bless these men because they put their complete faith in God and in his plan for their lives.
As mentioned in the first installment of this series, the apostle Peter had a similar test of faith when he stepped out of the ship to walk on water to Jesus. As he chose his path, Satan used the storm to distract Peter and to shift his focus away from Jesus Christ and onto the current circumstances. As the waves grew higher, the winds blew harder, Peter made the decision to concentrate on the trial he was facing – his surroundings – rather than keeping his complete faith on Jesus Christ and the path that he set before Peter.
Many years before, the prophet Isaiah wrote Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters; even Isaiah, who had never seen Jesus walk on water or the Red Sea parted, understood that if God can create a path for us where it seems impossible, how much more is he able to protect us and bless us when we trust the path he has set before us? (Isaiah 43:16).
The apostle Paul, knowing the trials and difficulties that believers would face, wrote the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God; if God loved mankind enough to send his Son to die on the cross to pay for our sins, then how much more would he provide us direction to prevent us from failing. It is through our personal devotions and prayer time, church attendance, and fellowship with other Christians that we strengthen our faith and begin to truly appreciate what it means to be a child of God (Proverbs 27:17). All it takes is for us to put our faith in God and trust that he will provide us the strength and ability to overcome the difficulties or trials we face.
