The centerpiece of the Bible is trust

Published 7:30 pm Thursday, November 2, 2023

The trip to Israel had been planned since January. All the details for the tour were in place and all reservations had been made. A group of thirty friends were anticipating ten days in the Holy Land, seeing the places described in the Bible and being spiritually renewed as we walked “where Jesus walked.”

On Saturday, October 7, just 9 days before our departure, Hamas invaded Israel from Gaza and killed, captured, and tortured thousands of people. The anticipated trip had to be canceled. Sad, but thankful for our protection and safety, the group commiserated the situation. Why? Why? Why? Sometimes we have to lay down the questions and trust God’s prevenient grace.

The middle verse of the Bible is Psalm 118:8 NKJV, which states, “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” How much grief and sadness could you eliminate from your life by believing this scripture?

Personally, I have found a lot of disappointment comes from trusting, putting my confidence in mankind instead of the Lord. It’s easy to do because we want the relate to a tangible person who we feel understands us and can have immediate input in our lives. A person we can text or call and get an instant response from. Relating to an unseen God who knows us by faith and spiritual communion is a lot harder. For some people it seems like an impossible task to trust God.

The Hebrew verb for trust, “chasah” meaning “to trust, to hope, to make someone a refuge” occurs thirty-six times in the old testament. The Greek verb for trust “elpizó” meaning “I hope, hope for, expect, trust” occurs thirty-one times in the new testament. The concept of trust is interwoven with other words like faith, hope and expectation throughout the Bible. It is an inseparable concept to the faith walk of a Christian.

Psalm 57:1-3 NKJV, beautifully illustrates trust in King David’s life. “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by. I will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me. He shall send from heaven and save me; He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. Selah God shall send forth His mercy and His truth.”

This passage pictures David nestling under God’s wings for refuge, in the same way a defenseless, trusting baby bird hides itself under its parents’ wings. This is the essence of trust — waiting out the storms of life under the protective wings of God’s love and grace while expecting His protection, safety and deliverance. This illustration is also used the old testament in Ruth 2:12, 2 Samuel 22:3, and Psalm 91:4.

Jesus uses it in his lamentation over Jerusalem in Matthew 23:37 NKJV, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!”

The desire to love and protect is an attribute of the Godhead throughout the Bible. Allowing the trinity to do that is our decision. We must learn to nestle in the arms of a capable and willing Savior in order to trust. This concept of trust is the centerpiece of the Bible and our walk of faith.

As a young child I memorized Proverbs 3:5-6 and it became a foundational scripture in my life. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” In my more mature life, it is still foundational for everything I do. I want to be under His wings every moment of every day.

I like to share what I call “relationship wisdom” daily on social media. Yesterday I shared a video by FaithPanda that said, “Sometimes God closes doors because it’s time to move forward. He knows you won’t move unless your circumstances force you. Trust God always.” Many people responded and said they needed to be reminded to trust God.

When life isn’t going the way we planned, our first replied should be, “Lord I trust you!” Nestle under the Lord’s wings, safe and protected in His love! He’s got this!