Who Do You Trust When Life Is Tough?

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding…” (Proverbs 3:5, ESV)

“Trust me. I’m certain this way leads back to the road.”

I looked up the steep slope of the hill in front of us. No clear trail in sight. Only trees and thick underbrush. We were following a trail that seemed to end, and I suggested we turn around and go back the way we came. But as my husband started half-hiking, half-climbing his way up the slope, I had a choice to make. Did I trust him enough to follow him, even when a clear path didn’t exist?

In the early years of our marriage, I probably would have insisted that we turn around. But over the 30 years of being together, I have grown in my “trust muscle”, and my husband has proven himself to be trustworthy.

I don’t want to oversimplify or minimize trust issues, because I sure do get it. Our past hurts and life experiences can greatly impact our ability to trust others. In fact, I had a weak and flabby trust muscle early on in our marriage. It was difficult for me to trust that my husband wouldn’t reject me or abandon me. On the flip side, I wasn’t very trustworthy. I said and did things that damaged my husband’s level of trust in me for a season in our marriage.

Trust issues run deep. And deep in my heart, I sometimes struggle to fully trust that God won’t abandon me when I mess up, or when life starts to unravel. Maybe you can relate. Who can we trust when we don’t know what to do?

Proverbs 3:5 offers us some hope and direction. We all have a choice in who we trust. We can either trust in the Lord with our whole heart, or we can trust in (lean on) our own understanding. Well I wonder who is more trustworthy? The choice seems so obvious, yet so difficult to make!

What does “Trust in the Lord” look like in the middle of a crisis, like a pandemic?

Maybe it is spending less time listening to the varied opinions that bombard us, and spending more time in prayer, asking for wisdom and peace in the middle of the crisis.

Or it’s taking time to remember all of the ways the Lord has been faithful in our lives. Make a list to share with your family or a friend to encourage them.

Or we can take a step, even a small one, that strengthens our “trust muscle”.

Perhaps sending a card to or calling someone you struggle to connect with. Or committing to praying each night and meditating on a Psalm before bed, instead of checking social media, as a way to trust God with your sleep. For me, writing this blog is one way I am learning to trust God with the outcome, that He won’t give up on me if I fail. And the same is true for you!

So what about that hike I mentioned? In case you’re wondering, I chose to trust my husband and follow him up the unmarked trail. It wasn’t an easy climb, but it did lead to a smoother road. And I got to exercise both my leg muscles and my trust muscle!

How about you? I would love to hear about what has challenged you in the area of trust, and what you are learning!