Proverbs 3:1-2: “My son (or daughter), forget not my law, but let thine heart keep my commandments, for length of days and long life and peace shalt they add to thee.”
We are going to start a new series in the Book of Proverbs, starting with my favorite verse of all scripture. The one we just read sets the stage for us, as we read King Solomon’s advice to his son—instructions that I personally have sown into the fabric of my life since my youth. The verses that we will study during this series have been my teachers, counselors, and trusted friends.
Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
The definition of some key words will bring insight into these verses. To “trust” is to confide in someone to the extent that all worry or care is removed. It implies an intimate knowledge of that person that you are trusting. Said in the reverse, it is hard, if not impossible, to trust someone you do not know. There are also levels of trust. The extent to which I would trust a friend is not to the same level that I would trust my wife. The use of trust in this verse implies the deepest of all levels, “with all thine heart.” This is complete transparency, where all fears, joys, and concerns are shared. This is even beyond the level I would have with my wife. As most of us know, incidents or concerns happen in life that would cause our spouses to worry. So, at any given time, there could be one or two things that are weighing on me that I would only bring to the Lord, until I have more clarity, or I can see the issue being resolved before I would share it without causing undue worry. So my transparency level is 110 percent with the Lord, meaning that my relationship with Him is “tight,” to use common language. If you struggle with trusting the Lord, ask yourself, “How much time do I spend in prayer or reading the scriptures?” If it is little to no time, then that is your root cause of lacking faith to trust Him. Simply put, you don’t know Him. Relationships are built through time spent together. We know that, yet for some reason, we do not apply that same knowledge to our walk with God. Both God, who longs to share His life with us, and us miss out by not taking at least 20 minutes a day to read and quiet ourselves before Him.
I used to spend time trying to figure out how a problem could be resolved, leaning (or relying) on my own understanding, and hence seeking to resolve it myself. I have learned many times over that it is a waste of time and emotional energy. As my relationship with the Lord deepened, I found it much easier to just pray about the concern and leave it with Him. It’s like a mouse trying to carry the “burdens of the world,” while this huge elephant is just waiting for you to give him the burden—a burden that is nothing for him. So leaning on my own understanding—seeing maybe one or two ways that a problem could work out based on my limited resources, compared to God’s infinite ways a problem could be resolved because His resources are limitless—was not wise.
To “acknowledge God in all thy ways” could be different for each of us. For me, I have developed the habit of praying before I start the day, praying before I start a new landscape job, praying as we move through the phases to completion, praying before I meet my next appointment, and praying as I feel the burdens or stresses of work and life weighing me down. I have learned to step back from life and to see it from God’s perspective and have often realized that things are not as serious or as hopeless as they initially appear—that with God in the equation, there is much hope. And in those moments that life is extremely serious—illnesses or accidents, especially involving our children—faith in God’s ability to conquer such moments is critical. From where will our children find hope if they do not see it in us first? Remember, He promised, “He shall direct (to make straight) thy paths.” That is a promise, and just as sure as we do not see the sun behind the storm, even though it is there, so it is with God. Whatever the storm, know that God is bigger still. In difficult times, I quiet my soul and start listening to what He would say, or look for circumstances to unfold during my day to get an idea of what He is doing but mixing the “unknown” with the confidence that one way or another, he is guiding me—this keeps me very positive. He also knows how to get my attention, especially when I am “tuned in” to seeking his guidance. Life then becomes more like an adventure. I used to read Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys in Junior High, and they were always going on these adventures. Mystery and intrigue were involved in solving each case. Life with God, especially if praying for others is part of your life, is like that. As mentioned, life can become very serious. You and/or people you know could be diagnosed with cancer; couples (friends) could be contemplating divorce; you could be helping a young person who has been mistreated by his/her parents; you could just be trying to get your own kids through the school system morally intact; or you could be working on your marriage. All aforementioned problems are serious challenges—life changing and potentially scary—but I have learned that God’s love and ability to make right the wrongs in this life far exceeds all the pain and “junk” that comes at us. As Joseph in the Old Testament said to his brothers, “You meant it for evil, but God used it for good.” With Him in the equation, the answer is not hopeless but extremely hopeful. I will end my journey here, not only a much better man than I would otherwise have become, but a sanctified and a redeemed man. Those whom I am blessed to influence and help will as well, as the life of Christ in me is infused into their life and faith. It’s a win-win situation, and I love that! And it can be the same for you!
Father God,
We can wonder at the beauty of life by taking You by the hand, or we can see all the ugly and sad things and fear. It’s the same field of vision. The only difference is with one, I am alone, and with the other, I have you teaching me to see life through your eyes—to view life knowing that in You all wrongs will be made right in your love; therefore, help me to always choose you. Thank you and Amen.
Dios lo Bendiga – Arthur