Trust - Easier Said than Done

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I retired last week.

From teaching preschool.

For only two years.

And I feel so good!  I feel as if a weight has truly been lifted right off of my shoulders!

I am ready for my next step.

But I have no idea what that next step looks like.

And so I wait.

And in the meantime, I'll write.

And I am trying really hard to put my trust in the Lord here.

But I have thoughts and ideas and plans...

And so you can imagine I was super excited (read the previous two words with a lot of sarcasm and perhaps a slight eye-roll) when these words hit me in the face on Sunday:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not lean on your own understanding. 

 In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths.

Proverbs 3:5 is probably one of the most quoted Bible verses, behind John 3:16 of course.

But I would say that it is probably one of the most difficult to actually live out.

It sounds so simple - so easy.  But trusting in the Lord with our whole heart requires that we stop putting our trust in ourselves, others, or things - and only trust in Him.

We are to "commit our way to the Lord" (Psalm 37:5) - and that can be tough.

It means we are relinquishing the need or desire to be in control.

Trusting God requires us to lay down our desires, thoughts, and ideas and "die" to our own selfishness.  And we are supposed to continue trusting and committing and relinquishing and dying, even when - actually - especially when we do not understand what the Lord is doing - or not doing.

God is not always working out things for our perfect life, which can be extremely difficult for us to understand.

But we are not meant to understand anything - we are called to trust.

And we are called to "acknowledge" Him - to "be ever mindful of God and serve Him with a willing and faithful heart" (NIV study note).  So through thick and thin - through plenty and want - through sickness and health - through good times and bad - we are to acknowledge that the Lord is at work and to continue serving Him willingly and faithfully - no matter what - because you trust in Him with all your heart.

So why would we do all of that?  Why lay it all down and allow our invisible God to "take the wheel?"

Because He is so good and so faithful.  He is loving and knows our needs.  He will protect us.  He will "make our paths straight."

Do not be deceived, though.

"Straight" does not mean easy or perfect, but rather the Lord will not lead you down "the paths of sin and destruction" (Matthew Poole).  He will guide you as you go, and He has plans for you (Jeremiah 29:11), but they are not always our plans.  And we must make the choice to follow.

So where does this leave us?

It leaves us with a choice to make.  Will we trust in the Lord?  Or will we trust in ourselves, others, or things?  Will we lay down our desires and thoughts and ideas?  Are we willing to relinquish our need to control and humble ourselves before the Lord, trusting in Him only?

Please hear this loud and clear: The Lord is worth this surrender.

The benefits far outweigh the temporary satisfaction of control.

But this kind of trust - this kind of full surrender - is not easy.  And it comes with a price.  And oftentimes it's a daily choice (or perhaps minute by minute...Luke 9:23).

So friends, where are you struggling today to surrender and put your trust in the Lord?  Know that you are not alone.  Ask the Lord for the strength to relinquish your desires, thoughts, ideas, and need to control - and to put your trust in Him.  And then do it again tomorrow.  And I'll be right there with you.