Trust: Firm Dependence on a Faithful God

Trust is the confident reliance on the ability, reliability or truth of someone or something – the basis of every relationship, and nowhere more vital than in our relationship with God, who has never broken a promise.

The Basis of Our Trust in God

This is firm dependence on the ability, reliability or truth of something or someone. We exercise this attitude in everyday life, being confident of the outcome – for example, believing a chair will support us or the plane will arrive safely. Trust is the basis of any relationship: it is earned and strengthened by fulfilled promises, but destroyed when they are broken.

God never lies, fails to fulfil His promises or forsakes those who trust in Him with a confidence that He will do what we can’t do ourselves – this includes forgiveness of sins, making us right with God and empowering us to live the way He wants us to live (Num 23:19; Ps 9:10, 89:34; Rom 3:22, 5:1; Phil 4:13; Heb 13:5; 1 Jn 1:9). It is therefore logical to trust in this all-wise, all-knowing, all-powerful, gracious, merciful and loving God, who has good intentions for us, rather than relying on ourselves or on other people – sinful, unpredictable and unreliable – whose limited wisdom regularly produces bad choices swayed by emotion. Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid or troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me” (Jn 14:1). David’s attitude was “When I am afraid, I will trust in you” (Ps 56:3). Similarly the more we know Christ through vital, daily fellowship, the greater our intimacy with Him and the more certainly we can trust Him. Paul said, “I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him” (2 Tim 1:12).

Trusting God Through Trials and Delays

Genuine trust holds on to His promises, even when we don’t understand His plans and in spite of contrary circumstances, declaring with confidence, “In you Lord I put my trust” (Ps 25:1-2). Delays test our obedience and patience. When nothing seems to be happening we may, like Abraham or Saul, be tempted to take matters into our own hands; however, this just creates problems (Gen 16:1-5; 1 Sam 13:8-14). The Bible counsels, “Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it” rather than trying to force the situation by your own limited resources, ability and effort, resulting in worry, fear, stress and complaining that come from struggling alone. This only prevents us from receiving His best (Ps 25:9, 37:3-5, 44:5-8; Prov 3:5-6; Heb 3:19). Trust is the confidence that He has a better plan if our prayers are not answered our way.

God promises to keep those who trust in Him in "perfect peace'' at all times, making it clear it is far better to put our trust in Him than in money (Ps 62:8; Prov 16:20, 28:25, 29:25; Isa 12:2, 26:3; 1 Tim 6:17). Trust God in the dark times of life and you will be abundantly rewarded and blessed; when you look back you will see how God has sovereignly worked in your life (Gen 50:20; Rom 8:28).

Trusting God and His Word

The Bible makes some bold claims about itself. It states that it is the inspired Word of God (2 Tim 3:16). It claims that it is true and so we should treat it as the guidebook for our lives (Ps 119:9,11,105,160; Lk 4:4; Jn 17:17). Of the hundreds of predictions and prophecies in the Bible, the majority have already been fulfilled precisely as God has declared, and so we can confidently believe the remainder will be kept too. His Word has given us ample evidence that it can be trusted, and those who do trust the Bible have a solid foundation upon which to build their lives (Mt 7:24-27).

Scripture also uses several related words with similar meanings: belief is the sense of acceptance that something is true or accurate, such as belief in God. Hope is an optimistic attitude that something will happen in the future, based on expectations or desire. Faith involves seeing the possibilities and being certain that something is real even without direct evidence. The foundation of them all is the character of God and His total reliability.

Practical Steps: Growing in Trust

Growing in trust begins with feeding it daily in God's Word, because faith grows as we hear Him speak and get to know His character (Jer 9:23-24; Rom 10:17). It also grows by starting small: trusting God in the minor, everyday matters until greater trust naturally follows, for whoever is faithful with little will also be faithful with much (Lk 16:10). From that foundation, deliberately hand one specific area of your life over to God this week – a worry, a decision, a relationship – and leave it with Him (Ps 55:22; Mt 11:28).

Guard against substitutes as you do this: refuse to lean on money, people or your own ability in God's place (Ps 146:3; 1 Tim 6:17). And when answers delay, wait on God expectantly rather than forcing the situation yourself, confident that His timing is part of His care (Isa 40:31; Lam 3:25-26). Practised together, these habits turn trust from an idea into a settled way of living.

Trust in Action: Bible Examples

After twelve years of disappointment, one woman trusted that a single touch of Jesus' cloak was enough – “your faith has made you well” (Mk 5:25-34).

Reflection and Application

• What is it about the character of someone you trust that earns your confidence – and how does God measure up to that standard?
• Recall a time God proved faithful after you first doubted Him. How does that memory shape your response to today's uncertainties?
• What does your first reaction to bad news reveal about where your trust really rests?
• Is there someone watching your life whose trust in God could grow by watching yours? What would need to change for that to happen?

   See also: confidence, doubts, faith, hope, trustworthy.