There are only two options when it comes to living life and being a spiritual leader. You are either “trusting God with all your heart” or you “lean on your own understanding”. There is no in-between. Sadly, I still have times when I don’t trust God with all my heart and have leaned on my own understanding.
I am a thinker and a problem-solver. I try to always attempt to anticipate all the different scenarios that I might face. As a problem is presented to me, I think, “I can do this, I can do that, I can do the other thing.” However, I find myself constantly thinking, trying to come up with all the contingencies. I begin to worry and stress over the problem and the solution because I feel like I need to come up with the solution. By the end of the process, I am exhausted. I have lost sleep because I have been thinking and worrying about the predicament. The sad part is, many times all the solutions I come up with either aren’t needed or I haven’t thought about the one that will solve the problem. At the end of the day, what did I accomplish? Nothing. Chuck Swindoll describes exactly what I have experienced.
If you want to spend an exhausting day, try to work out your problems only using your limited viewpoint. Chase down all the possibilities that you can think of. When you inevitably hit a dead end, back up and try a new man-made direction. Eventually, you will run out of ideas as well as energy. The, if you don't trust in God, you will only have one option left: worry. (C. Swindoll, Living the Proverbs: Insight for the Daily Grind, 44,45)
I hate to admit it but this is my experience more often than not. Instead of “trusting God with all my heart”, I “lean on my own understanding”. When will I learn?
The word that Solomon uses that is translated “acknowledge” is a word that is much more than just mental ascent. It come from the word “yada” which is experiential knowledge. It is this word that is used as a euphemism for sexual intimacy. It means a deep intimate relationship. So what Solomon is revealing is that as we continue to have a deep, growing relationship with God, our trust in Him grows as well. As we grow closer to Him, we will continue to see manifestations of His trustworthiness.
We also see that as we “acknowledge Him” not only will our trust grow , but “He will make our paths straight”. There are some who see this promise and wonder why the Christian walk isn’t easier. Isn’t that what Solomon promised? Notice how Chuck Swindoll explains it, “This word picture alludes to the ancient practice of highway building. They cleared obstacles, filled in the gaps, leveled hills, and cut straight pathways into the sides of mountains. Figuratively, the phrase means "to facilitate progress" or "to turn plans into reality." As we trust God and deepen our personal, experiential knowledge of Him, He will facilitate our progress through life and help us successfully follow the path He has marked out for us (Psalm 139:16).” (C. Swindoll, Living the Proverbs: Insight for the Daily Grind, 48)
Therefore the promise to a Christian is not a life of ease but a life where there is more peace and trust because we are involved in a deep relationship with God. We trust Him because we know that He loves us with an everlasting love, He is always good and always has our best interest at heart. The more we trust Him, the less we see the need to trust ourselves. As that relationship continues to intensify He will work out His plan for our lives.
Swindoll does a great job paraphrasing Solomon’s counsel to let God lead:
Throw yourself completely upon the Lord. Cast all your present and future needs on Him who is your intimate Savior-God…and find in Him your security and safety. Do this with all of your mind and feeling and will. In order to make this possible, you must refuse to support yourself with the crutch of human ingenuity. Instead, study the Lord. Learn about His character, discover His plans for you and the world, be amazed by His love and concern for you in each one of your circumstances. Then He- having been granted full control of your life-will smooth out and make straight your paths, removing obstacles along the way. (C. Swindoll, Living the Proverbs: Insight for the Daily Grind, 48,49)
Conversation:
- Are you "acknowledging God" or "leaning on your own understanding" in your life?
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