What Does The Bible Say About Trust?

Trust is a critical component of any relationship, including our relationship with God. The Bible has a lot to say about the importance of trusting in the Lord with all your heart rather than leaning on your own understanding.

This article will provide a comprehensive look at the biblical foundations for trust, the blessings that come through trusting God, warnings against misplaced trust, and what it means to truly trust in the Lord.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: The Bible teaches that we should fully trust in God, not in human beings or worldly things. Trusting God brings blessings, peace, and fulfillment, while misplaced trust leads to harm.

Old Testament Teachings on Trust

Trusting in God’s Promises and Faithfulness

The Old Testament provides many examples of God demonstrating His faithfulness to those who trust in His promises. When Abraham trusted God’s promise that he would become the father of many nations, God credited his faith as righteousness even though Abraham was old and childless (Genesis 15:6).

Joseph chose to trust God even when he was sold into slavery and imprisoned. As a result, Joseph was eventually made a ruler in Egypt and able to save his family from famine (Genesis 45:5-8). David as a young shepherd trusted God to deliver him from lions and bears to protect his sheep (1 Samuel 17:37).

That established trust in God’s faithfulness emboldened David to trust God against Goliath.

The psalmists frequently affirm their trust in God’s steadfast love and redemption (Psalm 13:5), His reliability as a stronghold and refuge (Psalm 91:2), and praise Him for His wonderful works and unfailing love (Psalm 107:8).

Wise King Solomon advised trusting wholeheartedly in the Lord rather than self-reliance (Proverbs 3:5-6). The Old Testament makes clear God honors those who demonstrate faith and confidence in His compassion and covenant loyalty.

Trust Leads to Blessings and Benefits

The Bible contains over 100 verses emphasizing the blessings, protection, and benefits that come from trusting God. Those who trust in the Lord “shall be like a tree planted by the waters” that prosper and bear fruit even in drought (Jeremiah 17:7-8).

Isaiah assured that trusting in God provides “everlasting strength” to overcome weariness and difficulties (Isaiah 40:28-31). Trusting the Lord brings security and helps avoid fear, as He shields those who take refuge in Him (Psalm 115:9-11).

In addition to spiritual blessings, God also bestows material blessings on those demonstrating faithful trust. For instance, because Joseph trusted God’s plans, he was put in charge of Egypt’s food reserves and became very prosperous even in severe famine (Genesis 41:37-57).

As David persisted in trust during times of threat, he was blessed to become Israel’s greatest king. Jesus later affirmed this principle of spiritual and natural blessing when He taught, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

Consequences of Misplaced Trust

In contrast to the blessings of trusting in God, the Bible warns frequently against putting trust in human strength, wealth, political power or idols. The prophet Jeremiah warned the Israelites of his day against trusting in deceptive words like “This is the temple of the Lord” while living unjustly (Jeremiah 7:4).

They suffered Babylonian conquest for trusting in their religious symbols rather than having an obedient faith in God alone. Jesus later criticized the religious leaders for neglecting “justice, mercy and faithfulness” even while tithing money and herbs (Matthew 23:23).

Overemphasis on outward religious looks while lacking an inward trust and obedience toward God incurs disastrous spiritual consequences.

The Bible gives multiple examples of kings and armies who trusted in military might and numbers rather than God and ended up being defeated (Isaiah 36:6-9; Judges 7:2). Other common misplaced trusts include believing in one’s own wisdom (Proverbs 3:5-8), wealth (Psalm 49:6), other people (Jeremiah 17:5-6) or carved idols (Isaiah 42:17).

All such trusts prove to be vain and “broken cisterns that can hold no water” (Jeremiah 2:13). Only by keeping their trust anchored in God can followers be blessed.

New Testament Call to Trust

Jesus as the Ultimate Object of Our Trust

Jesus Christ is held up in the New Testament as the ultimate object of faith and trust for believers. Time and again, Scripture urges Christians to place their confidence and reliance in Christ alone. For example, John 14:1 records Jesus telling his disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.

Trust in God; trust also in me.” This call to trust in Jesus reflects his divine nature and saving work as the Son of God. Those who put their whole hope in Christ for salvation will not be disappointed (Romans 10:11).

Furthermore, Jesus is completely reliable and worthy of our faith because of his sinless life, sacrificial death for sins, and glorious resurrection from the dead (1 Peter 1:21). Unlike finite human beings who often let us down, Christ proved through his victory over sin and death that entrusting our very lives to him is no leap of blind faith.

As Hebrews 10:23 affirms, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”

Trusting Through Trials

In addition to pointing us to Jesus, the New Testament also offers profound encouragement for trusting God even when our faith is tested by trials. For instance, James 1:2-4 challenges believers to “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

Though intensely painful, hardship provides an opportunity for our trust in Christ to be purified and strengthened.

Similarly, 1 Peter 1:6-7 praises the blessings that can come through suffering: “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

Trust and Spiritual Growth

Trusting God more deeply is closely tied to spiritual growth in the life of a Christian. As our faith in Christ grows, we become more firmly rooted in him, increasingly confident of his love and more willing to surrender all areas of life to his wise plan.

For example, Proverbs 3:5-6 offers this exhortation: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Letting go of trust in our own reasoning and abilities makes more room for radical reliance upon God’s perfect wisdom.

What True Trust in God Looks Like

Reliance on God for Our Needs

True trust in God means relying on Him to provide for all of our needs, instead of relying solely on our own efforts or other people. As Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

This requires humility and recognition that we are dependent on God. It may mean waiting patiently for God’s timing and trusting that He knows best what we truly need. An example of reliance on God is seeking Him first when we have a major decision to make rather than simply following our own reasoning (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Confidence in God’s Good Plans

Trusting God fully means having confidence that His plans for our lives are good, even when circumstances are difficult. Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that God has good plans to prosper us and not to harm us.

This doesn’t mean we will be spared from all hardship, but we can trust God is working all things for our long-term good (Romans 8:28). We can confidently obey His commands, knowing He wants what is best.

For example, tithing requires trust that God will still provide sufficiently for us if we give generously to His work first.

Surrendered Lives to God

True trust ultimately leads to fully surrendered lives to God. We yield our wills to Him, our plans, our relationships, careers, finances, and everything else. This level of trust says as Jesus did, “Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). It is giving God full control over our lives.

We trust Him enough to follow wherever He leads, even if it looks different than our own path. This kind of radical trust is challenging but brings incredible peace, freedom, purpose, and intimacy with God.

As Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) says, “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.”

Conclusion

In closing, the Bible makes clear that trusting fully in God is central to the life of faith. Misplaced trust leads only to harm. As we place our confidence in God’s faithfulness and goodness, rely on Him for our needs, and surrender our lives into His hands, we will experience the abundant blessings, peace, and fulfillment He desires for us.