By: Elizabeth Haarberg

Lean on the Lord

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link

It seems like a universal struggle for many Christians is trusting the Lord. Lack of trust can look many different ways such as using our brains to override what God has called us to or resisting direction from the Holy Spirit. When we catch ourselves or when others point out in us that our trust is lacking, we can look to scripture to reinforce what can be done to rectify the short-sighted understanding.

“Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition

“The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever leans on, trusts in, and puts his confidence in the Lord is safe and set on high.”
Proverbs 29:25 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition

Not only do verses say to trust but a more descriptive picture is to ‘lean on’ God. Leaning in to hear what Jesus has to say, leaning to be held by God, and leaning to connect with the Holy Spirit. “Leaning on” is a great place to start if trust is falling short in us.

“Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed.”
Psalm 37:3 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition

Again, we see the phrase “lean on” connected to trust, but we now see that we will be fed, not earthly food but food from God’s faithfulness. This is the sustaining ‘food’ we need to move forward in the word when pain is eating up our dreams and expectations. Trust is the fruit the Trinity supplies us to stay rooted in the path God has laid before us.

If you want to examine your trust level, ask a Christian friend to help you examine how you’re doing in the area of trust with God. You can then work through the identified areas with prayer, worship, and surrender to the Lord.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado