Inside: If we don’t put our confidence in God because He answers our prayers the way we want, then why do we trust Him?

Perhaps you’ve heard a popular worship song about trusting God. The one I’m thinking of has a catchy tune with a good message overall, but the bridge stops me every time I hear it.

Here’s a paraphrase: “I prayed earnestly and God answered my prayer, which is why I trust Him.”

To me, those lyrics imply cause and effect. I prayed, God answered (presumably how I wanted), so I trust Him.

Why Trust God?

But what if we pray and God doesn’t seem to answer, or the answer isn’t what we want? Why would we trust Him then?

These questions prompted me to think about my own life.

Why do I trust God? Not how, which would obviously be very imperfectly. But why?

I was raised in a solidly Christian home and wasn’t taught or given the impression that following Jesus would exempt me from hardship. In fact, now that I think about it, any trust in God that I’ve developed as an adult has come mostly through struggles and difficult seasons.

Perfectly Trustworthy

I know you’re not supposed to use the word you are defining in a definition, but when it comes to trust, God is the definition. He is perfect in every way, to paraphrase another familiar worship song, which means He is perfectly trustworthy.

This is clear when we consider other aspects of His character. For example, in an article on the Desiring God website, author Trillia Newbell explains that we can trust God because He is sovereign, wise and loving.

“God doesn’t do anything in his sovereign will that isn’t both wise and loving,” she writes. “If God is for you, who can be against you? We don’t trust God simply because someone tells us to. We trust God because he is God. He is holy and awesome and righteous in every way. We can trust God because we don’t serve a God who is only sovereign and wise. He is also infinitely loving.”

A Biblical Command

We do trust God because the Bible tells us to, of course. Isaiah 26:3-4 puts it plainly: “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 offers more guidance: “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.”

This passage doesn’t imply everything will always go well for us if we trust God. Rather, it assures us that He will show us the path of life when we follow His ways instead of our own plans and wisdom.

Well-placed Confidence

Our confidence is in Him, not in ourselves or anything else. As Psalm 20:7 says, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

Psalm 91:2 adds, “I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’”

My birthday is tomorrow, and in all my almost 55 years, I’d be hard pressed to think of another 12-month period when I have been more grateful that I can say this too.

• • •

What does trusting God mean to you? Please share in the comments.

♥ Lois

P.S. I’m linking up this week with #tellhisstory, InstaEncouragements, Let’s Have Coffee and Grace & Truth.