As a Christian, the Bible is our go-to instruction for life. God’s instructions are not meant to control you, but as the Creator of all things, He knows best how you and this world operate. Therefore, when I choose to obey Him, my life is way better than when I obey my own desires.

As we continue on the third message (check out messages one and two) in this series titled, “5 Things I’d Tell My Younger Me,” I would emphasize the absolute certainty of trusting God in all things.

Trust affects every area of our life. Trust is the belief that someone or something can be relied on to do what they say they will.

Trusting in God can be a daunting step of faith. We can neither see nor feel Him, which causes our minds to doubt. However, God has given us convincing evidence on why we can put our complete trust in Him.

As the Creator of all things, He is not sharing a theory or opinion but truth. He created all things and holds all things together, Colossians 1:16-17. Nothing existed before Him, and nothing exists without Him. This makes Him exclusively qualified to instruct us.

• We discovered quadratic equations, but God created them.
• We discover solar systems, galaxies, and universes, but God put them into place.
• We unearth rare minerals and find new species, but God spoke them into existence.

So would it be wiser to get instructions from the one who is discovering these things or from the One who invented all things?

The opening phrase in Proverbs 3:5-8 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart.”The use of the name LORD all-uppercase underscores the trust factor.

The name LORD is pronounced as Adonai, which indicated to every Jewish man and woman that God’s name Yahweh was being used. Yahweh is God’s covenant-keeping name that represents His faithfulness. It’s used in the Bible to highlight how God never breaks a promise.

Even when we are unfaithful, God remains faithful to us, 2 Timothy 2:13. So you can trust God with all your heart because He will never ever let you down.

Trust is singular. We trust in the LORD and lean not on our own understanding.

It’s not trust in my politics and trust in the LORD. It’s not trust in my experience and the LORD or my education, employer, my finances and the LORD, but in the LORD.

When we add anything to our trust in the LORD, we dilute trust and forfeit the rewards that come with trusting God.

The word “acknowledge” in the phrase “in all your ways acknowledge Him” is about having an intimate acquaintance with God. Faith cannot be compartmentalized.

For example, if our school/work friends never cross paths with our church friends, we may be segmenting our spiritual life, preventing either group from seeing who we truly are.

We need to acknowledge God in our work life, among our friends, in financial decisions, passions, pursuits, hobbies, and habits. Leaving God out of these segments of life will slowly lead us to drift from God.

When we trust in the LORD with all our heart and acknowledge Him in every area of life, He will make straight your paths.

The Hebrew word translated “straight” means smooth, right, pleasing. It derives from the Aramaic word that means gentle, traceable, and easy. So even when trusting God is a challenge, God makes it rewarding!

In verse 7, we are taught to be not wise in our own eyes, which is a call to humility. Humility is a vital characteristic. The benefits of pride are always short-lived.

• When we humble ourselves, God will lift us up, James 4:10.
• God opposes the proud, James 4:6.
• Pride goes before destruction, Proverbs 16:18.

To counter pride, Solomon informs us to fear the LORD.

To fear the LORD is to hate evil and the things that God hates, Proverbs 8:13.

In verse 8, we are given one more blessing when trusting the LORD with all our hearts. “It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.”

Solomon suggests that our mental, physical, and spiritual health are connected.

Studies have shown how stress can weaken your immune system and make you more vulnerable to viruses. Likewise, prolonged exposure to high stress can increase your risk of a heart attack.

When you live in complete trust of God and lean not on your understanding, it brings healing to your body. God’s surpassing peace will go before you and trail behind you.

And verse 8 concludes by saying it will bring refreshment to your bones. The word refreshment means drink, irrigate.

“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22

Here dry bones are connected to a crushed spirit. Dry bones are also an illustration in scripture of lifelessness, i.e. Ezekiel’s vision. In Ezekiel’s vision, God brought the lifeless valley of dry bones back to life.

When you are surrendered to God’s instructions, which are designed for your good, He will provide refreshment to revive you, give life to your years, and replenish your passion.

All of this is available when you trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding and acknowledge Him in all your ways!