Lean Not

geralt / Pixabay
geralt / Pixabay

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV.

Sometimes I can fully rest in this verse. Other times, I have to continually remind myself that the verse is true. Recent events have me looking at trust with new eyes. What causes us to trust first without it having to be earned? Why do we insist on some people earning it first? Why do I automatically see the negative in some situations and the positive in others? I like to think it’s my nature to give the benefit of the doubt, but sometimes I don’t.
My son fell against the corner of the bed and hurt is back a few days ago. He started screaming that his brother shoved him against the corner. He was adamant that his bother intended to hurt him.
Did his bother push him? Yes.
Where they screwing around? Yes.
Was it an accident? Yes.
Did his bother intentionally hurt him? No.
Why did he assume his bother’s intent to be the worst? Why didn’t he see it as an accident? I still don’t have those answers.
There are a lot of factors that play into our willingness to give the benefit of the doubt to someone. Factors such as your history with that person, your history in general, recent conversations with others and our general attitude are just a few. It can be very complicated, but did you know that someone continually pointing out the negative will train you to see the negative first? It takes a conscious intention to override that response.
The same is true with God. Our history affects our ability to trust Him as the scripture instructs. Recent comments by others can play a role. If things aren’t going the way we want, it becomes difficult to trust. I remind myself that He can see things I can’t and that His purposes are bigger than mine. When a problem or circumstance overwhelms, I focus on Him. Sometimes, it is incredibly hard to keep that focus, but the more I do the easier it gets.
Leaning not on my own understanding is hard. It was hard for my son. I have to continually remind myself, sometimes we need to go through difficulties too experience the greatness on the other side. I’m learning to trust and lean not on my own understanding with an eye on the great things God can do with this circumstance. Will you join me? Will you lean not on your own understanding and trust him with your circumstance knowing there is something beautiful on the other side?

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