Beckett explores Proverbs 3:5-6 as a call to wholehearted trust in God's providence, arguing that worry represents practical atheism and a failure to acknowledge God's sovereignty over daily circumstances. She emphasizes that leaning on one's own understanding hinders genuine faith, while God's meticulous care—evidenced in His knowledge of every detail from the sparrows to the hairs on our heads (Matthew 6:25-34; Philippians 4:19)—should eliminate anxiety about future provision and earthly kingdoms. The article encourages believers to replace worry with confidence in God's faithful watchcare and absolute reign over all things.
What does the Bible say about trusting in the Lord?
The Bible encourages us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and to acknowledge Him in all our ways (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Moreover, the tendency to rely on our own understanding can lead to doubt and worry. By embracing the assurance found in God's promises, we learn to relinquish our anxieties. Philippians 4:19 reminds us that God will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory, assuring us that we are cared for beyond our comprehension. Thus, trusting in God becomes foundational for experiencing peace amidst life's uncertainties.
Proverbs 3:5-6, Philippians 4:19
Why is it important for Christians to avoid worry?
Avoiding worry is crucial for Christians because it demonstrates trust in God's providence and care (Philippians 4:6-7).
Furthermore, embracing God's providence can foster peace in our hearts. Philippians 4:6-7 exhorts us not to be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, to let our requests be made known to God. When we surrender our worries to God and rely on His promises, we experience a peace that surpasses all understanding, allowing us to face each day's challenges with confidence in His good and perfect will.
Philippians 4:6-7, Matthew 6:25-34
How do we know God's providence is real?
God's providence is evidenced by His active care and control over all creation, as highlighted in Scripture (Psalm 104:27-28).
Moreover, Jesus teaches about God's providential care for His creation in Matthew 10:29-31, where He highlights that not even a sparrow falls to the ground without the Father's knowledge. This intimate knowledge of and care for even the smallest details reinforces our understanding of God's providence. As believers, we can rest assured that God is continuously working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28), which further reassures us of His fidelity and involvement in our lives.
Psalm 104:27-28, Matthew 10:29-31, Romans 8:28
We all have favorite scriptures that come to mind frequently. Many times we may even use them out of context as a means to remember the Lord’s promises, well I do anyway! One of my favorites that the Lord brings to mind often is Proverbs 3: 5-6:
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.”
Solomon was known as wise and these Proverbs are words of wisdom for us from God. In fact the beginning of the book of Proverbs itself begins in that manner…..’to know wisdom’; so we know that it is of wisdom to trust the Lord with all our hearts.
The statement, lean not unto thine own understanding is the part that we need to heed because when we do try and lean to our own understanding that in and of itself becomes the hindrance to our trusting. Many do that with even salvation but I’m not talking of the glorious truth that we trust the Lord for all of our salvation. We trust fully that He has saved us, body, soul and spirit. That is forever settled in my heart and He is my very life and breath.
I’m talking about our daily lives, our sojourning here and how often we worry and fret about tomorrow. We lay awake, toss and turn and we can be scared and frightened about what might come our way. Someone once said that worry is actually praying to ourselves and I think that rings so true. If we worry we must think that there is something we can do to change the circumstances, we must think that there is something we control. I detest worry when it is in my spirit and when I do worry I know that I am not trusting that the Lord has it well in His Hands and that He knows what He is doing.
He knows exactly what we have need of today AND tomorrow, if tomorrow should come. If we don’t have it, we don’t need it. If we need it He promises to supply it (Philippians 4:19). Whatever circumstances He brings into our lives are needful for us and work for our good although we may not understand how and why. Jesus tells us that we are much more valuable to Him than the sparrow and the Father takes care of even the sparrow. He clothes the lilies of the field in grand array, how much more will He clothe us. He knows the EXACT number of hairs on our head each and every moment of the day for when one of them falls it is His will alone that it does. When a beloved saint comes to me with worry I look on their shoulder to find a hair that has fallen and I gently take it in my fingers and hold it up to them and I simply say….’not a hair can fall’. Oh how encouraging that is for them and for me to be reminded of the Lord’s good providence to His beloved. His watch care over us never fails, for He alone is faithful.
We are tempted today to worry about tomorrow. To worry about the election, to worry if our income will carry us in the future, to worry about our families, to worry about our freedoms in America, to worry about who will gain control or seemingly will reign over us and possibly make our lives a living hell. But we can and must be confident that the kingdoms of this world are His and the Lord our God shall reign for ever and ever.
Grace and Peace!
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