My Thoughts on Proverbs 3:5-6 for This New Year of 2021

-


As I was reading my Tecarta Bible application from my smartphone this New Year of 2021 - the verse for today is Proverbs 3:5-6. It ways that I should trust in the LORD with all my heart, I should never lean on my own understanding, and that in all my ways I need to acknowledge Him to direct my paths. The COVID-19 pandemic makes it very hard to trust God especially when there's no end in sight. However, even before COVID-19, I even can have a hard time trusting in God. The reason behind me having a hard time doing so is because I try to trust God with my own resolve. 

Trust God with my own resolve? That has to be very foolish (or moros in Greek) of me for this reason. It's because how can my sinful, fallen flesh actually assist me to really trust God with all my heart? It doesn't and all the flesh cares about is that it doesn't want to trust God. How often do I find giving in to temptation because I failed to ask God to help me resist temptation? Doesn't the Lord's prayer as a pattern includes not just to love my enemies but also to ask for strength to resist temptation? Samson failed because of overconfidence. David failed because of overconfidence. Solomon failed because of overconfidence. Peter failed because of overconfidence. If they fail because of overconfidence then what makes me think I won't fail because of overconfidence?

The King James Study Bible also writes the following about Proverbs 3:5-6, "Three commands are given: trust meaning "rely on, depend on"; lean not, meaning do not depend on your own native instincts; and acknowledge Him meaning have fellowship and intimacy with God in all of life. The result of such devotion is that God will make the paths straight before you." How many times have I lapsed into old habits because I forget that God doesn't only forgive but also cleanses those He forgives from unrighteous habits? Repeated offenses happen a lot because of trusting in one's own resolve. Why do old habits never die that easily? Why do I have a hard time controlling my mouth? It's because of certain behavioral disorders as a result of the sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Sinful behavior is but a symptom of the biggest problem - being born a sinner!

How often do I run into impatient decisions because of not trusting God? Not trusting God is really associated with impatience. Abraham and Sarah foolishly choose to buy an Egyptian slave to be a surrogate mother when it wasn't God's will. The result was that Ishmael was born and so were the Arab people. Just imagine what if Sarah decided to wait rather than buy a surrogate to bear babies for her. You can also think that Jacob got severely chastised by God for 14 straight years for not waiting for the right time to take his blessing. Moses later lost his patience and broke the rock at Meribah. Joshua lost his patience and signed a peace treaty with the Gibeonites. Samson in his impatience messed up with not one, not two (the harlot in Gaza), but three Philistine (that's Delilah) women. How often have I found myself rushing into danger because I don't want to trust God? How often do I only want to accept something is God's will only if it benefits me rather than that it glorifies God? 

What makes trusting God so hard can be my limited capacity to understand why God acts slow. I noticed how hard it is for me to feel God cares when times are hard? What I usually forget to understand is that God allows hard times so we know that He really cares. How can one feel the real goodness of God without the hard times? God sometimes delays things for a reason. God delayed judgment as many times as possible because we'd all be in Hell if He didn't. Psalm 34 had David thankful for everything God allows because there's a reason behind all of the hardship he was going through. In Revelation 18, we can see God patiently calling His people (the elect) out of Babylon before He destroys her. That's why I feel like rushing based on my flawed perspective than follow God in His divine perspective. It makes me wonder am I better than God to say that I've got a better timetable? That's what God asked Job in the conclusion of whether or not Job was there when the universe was created. Who created the Universe in perfect order but God?

The new year begins and it's going to be another journey. It should be time to ask at the beginning of the year whether or not am I trusting God with all my heart? Truth is, I can't say it and only God can give me that strength to do so. Why should I focus on what I don't have when God provides the needs that will be for my good over the wants that may not be for my good?

See also: