What does it mean to trust in the LORD?

Reading Psalm 118 it is evident that one of the important issues which it emphasizes is the need to trust in God. Remember verses 8 and 9:

“It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.”

It provokes us to have confidence in the promises that have been made and given to us by the Lord God almighty: “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?” (verse 6). You will recall that this very verse is quoted in Hebrews: “So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (13:6). That little phrase, “we may boldly say”, is a declaration of confidence. People who are confident can be bold, and this confidence is rooted in trust.

Trust in Everyday Life

Have you ever thought that at all levels of life it is trust which makes living possible? Life without trust would be a nightmare. Trust is the very foundation of almost everything we do. At the start of the day, when we run to catch the train or the bus, we have to trust that the driver knows the way and will stop at the right places. At work we have to trust the safety procedures provided for our protection. When it comes to lunchtime we have to trust that what is set before us has been prepared to help us and not harm us. We have to trust that the chef is a friend and not a poisoner; we eat in trust. If we had to check for malice before we could eat it ouir lives would be intolerable. The whole world of business holds together on a great system of trust. Men trade and give credit on trust. You keep money in the bank because you trust that it will be safe. Those in school or college have to trust their teachers. We have to accept knowledge that we have no opportunity to prove – we accept it on trust.

When it comes to the most intimate relationships, trust is paramount. Homes are homely because of trust. Jealousy and suspicion make them places of torment. Friendship is based on trust. If your brother cannot trust you, how can you be his friend? The point I am striving to make is that since trust is at the very center of ordinary life, it is ten times more true about religious life. It is trust which turns conviction into faith. Trust is faith in action. This is what Psalm 118 is telling us – whatever happens we must trust in God. Abraham had to trust God when he left home to go to a land he did not know and which he had never seen. Noah had to trust God when he was told to build a very big vessel in the middle of dry land. Moses gave up his status as an Egyptian prince to become an outcast with the people of God, because he trusted in the word of the Lord. Hannah left her burden with the Lord because she trusted in Him. Asa fought against trememdous odds because he trusted in the God of battles. The woman with the issue of blood touched tremblingly the hem of the Lord’s garment because somehow she trusted the man from Nazareth. Paul was able to say he will present you holy, unblameable and unreproveable because he could trust in the One who makes it possible. And the man of the seamless robe was able to face the cross-crowned hill because he trusted in his God and his Father. No wonder the psalmist tells us that it is better to trust in the Lord than put confidence in man.

Knowledge of God

Here is something to ponder: why did all these people put their trust in God? What is the ground of trust? Well, hear the word of the psalmist again: “They that know thy name will put their trust in thee” (Psalm 9:10). So the reason for trust is what we know of God. The warrant of faith is the divine character. There was a time in the life of King David when his enemies assaulted his faith. They said unto him, “Where is thy God?” They meant ‘He is impotent, He never does anything; what good is He to you?’ David was worried and disquieted by this and you will remember he speaks about it in Psalm 42: “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted in me” (verse 5). And then in his distress he falls back on his knowledge of God. He says, “I remember how He dealt with me at Jordan and Hermon and Mizar, how He succoured me and saved me. He commanded His loving kindness in the daytime and in the night His song was with me.”

So that is the secret of trust – your knowledge of God. And it is especially true when you are venturing on an unknown way; when you are stepping out into new circumstances or facing some unaccustomed experience. There are so many unknowns on the journey of life. How shall we make any progress? Well, trust in God; measure the problem of the unknown way by the problems of the trackless wilderness, for He who led then will lead again. The world before us is strong and hostile: how shall we overcome? Well, trust in God; He who was able to save in Egypt is able to save in Canaan. “Them that know thy name will put their trust in thee” (Psalm 9:10). It is incontrovertible – trust is fixed in what you know of God and in your experience of His power and love. Jesus once said to Jairus when news came that his daughter was dead, “Fear not, believe only”.

“I will never leave thee…”

Because God is righteous He cannot do wrong. Because God is love He can only act lovingly. Unbelief will try to deny this, as it did in David’s day. But have none of it. In spite of the mystery, in spite of the anguish, in spite of the trial, notwithstanding the uncertainty, the adversity, the hostility – put your trust in the Lord. He has said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”. If that is not true, then prophets, apostles, and the Messiah have all decieved us. Abraham was sure of the unknown land because he was utterly sure of the unseen God. This principle is timeless: “whom having not seen, we love” (1 Peter 1:8). Our trust is not in pundits or princes, parliaments or policies, else we be of all men most pitiable. Nor is it circumstances, else we should be at the mercy of every passing change. Our trust is in the living God.

I know you may be thinking it is easy to say that, but more difficult to live in accordance with it. I know that – like you I have natural fears. But that is the purpose of this moment of memorial [every Sunday]. It is designed to fortify our faith, to give us blessed assurance once more in this one great redeeming act of atonement; that through the bruising to death of this one man, our salvation is assured, and we can be forgiven and made new.

So in this solemn moment of bread breaking let us say: “Father in heaven, we trust you and our confidence is in your Son, the beloved, and in his redeeming blood.” May we each feel it to be true.

Excerpt from May You Know it to be True, Exhortations by Dennis Gillett. You can find this book here: The Christadelphian.