“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Most would agree that these are trying and confusing times. And as we look at the year before us, how can we know God’s will? By trusting and acknowledging Him in all our ways. Yes, it’s difficult in uncertain days, but remember: His will is not a “roadmap”—it’s a relationship.
God has a personal promise for us in Ephesians 2:10: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” God doesn’t just have plans for nations or congregations; He has a plan for you! God wants you to know the answers.
Proverbs 3:5-6 holds the key to walking confidently and successfully in dark times. These verses tell us to trust with all our hearts. This is complete, trusting confidence. And it is trust in the Lord—not in a purpose or plan, but a Person.
To fully trust God, we must start by knowing Him. As our knowledge of Him deepens, we come to love Him, then trust Him, begin to obey Him and be blessed by Him.
How do you start? Well, how did you come to love your spouse or a good friend? You spent time with them. It’s the same with God—it begins by spending time every day with God. It is the only way to know Him.
Verse five says not to lean on one’s own understanding. Does that mean not to have any understanding in the first place? Of course not. This is not an excuse for sanctified ignorance. Rather, it is a reminder to lean on God’s shoulder.
Proverbs 3:6a tells us it has to be total commitment: “In all thy ways acknowledge Him.” How do we “acknowledge” Him? As Lord—the Sovereign God—the rightful Ruler of life. We hand a signed, blank check to God and ask Him to fill it in. Have you ever handed someone a blank check? It takes ultimate trust, a total commitment of our ways to God’s way. Trust and commitment are the only way to find God’s way on a dark day.
Out of trusting confidence and total commitment comes a thrilling consequence: He will direct our paths (Proverbs 3:6b). Through what ways will He direct us?
The Hebrew word for direct in Proverbs 3:6b is yashar. It literally means “to cut a path or clear the way.” The exciting reality is: God will not only lead you, but He will clear the way.
If you will trust God and acknowledge Him in all your ways, He will set an angel on a bulldozer ahead of you to clear the wilderness, level jungles, melt mountains, and fill valleys to make your pathway smooth! The gates of hell cannot prevail against the will of God and the Christian submitted to it.
There is no itinerary for the journey of life. It is filled with surprises. You find God’s will for the rest of your life by finding His will for the next fifteen minutes. Do what you know He wants you to do today. Be faithful in the small things; the greater things will come. He will lead the way through a dark day.
