Proverbs 3: 5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

In the King James Version the second half of Proverbs 3:6 says “and he shall direct thy paths.” I am all for letting God direct my paths because it never ceases to amaze me how much better the outcome of my circumstances are when I let God’s Spirit lead.

To “trust” means to believe in the reliability, truth, ability or strength of someone to do what he says he will do. Oh that we could all exercise this much confidence in God for this is the essence of what He asks us to do. He is the guarantor of all that He is. We are asked to exercise the mind of a trusting child who puts his hand in the hand of the parent and joyfully skips along, unconcerned about all the mayhem that maybe going on around him. In that relationship the child feels protected and gladly obeys any instruction the parent gives.

The Psalmist David elevates the idea of such a relationship with God as one of delight: “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.” (Psalm 37:3-6).