Trust is the foundation of relationship—be it a personal one (such as marriage or friendship) or a professional one (such as business or employment).

When you purchase a product online, typically you will need to pay in advance and then the product will be delivered to you. This means you pay the seller not only with money but also with trust (in the first place).

If you are an employer wanting to hire someone, it is likely that your decision will be dependent on whether or not you trust that person, even after reviewing the application documents.

Even if you are a presidential candidate wanting to get votes from people, you will first need to prove yourself whether or not you are trustworthy, that people can really trust you—your character, words, and actions.

I believe this principle is true for our relationship with God. He wants us (and we need) to trust Him, even if we do not see Him nor understand His ways. Trust is essential in our relationship with the Almighty. Without trust, there is no love and without love, there is no successful [profound, intimate, transforming] relationship.

So, what does it mean to trust in God?

First, it means trusting in His character (who He is) and then, trusting in His works (what He does) and His words (what He says)—all of which should be consistent with His character.

Humanly speaking, trusting in God is not easy because, again, we can’t see Him with our physical eyes. Moreover, His ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9) and, as a human being, we are inclined to lean on our own understanding (Proverbs 21:2).

Therefore, a call to worship God is a holy [precious, glorious] commandment to trust in Him wholeheartedly.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Five Divine Blessings (“5 P’s”)

There are five divine blessings that I believe can help us trust in God. As a mnemonic, we can use our fingers and each blessing starts with the same letter “P” as illustrated below.

God’s plan – Thumbs up! His plans are always good. He knows the plans that He has for us; plans to prosper us and to give us hope and a [bright] future (Jeremiah 29:11). We need to learn to know His plans and purposes in/through/for our lives because life that is lived within His will is worth living. Stepping out of God’s plans and purposes will bring disappointments or even disasters. That’s why it is essential that we draw near to Him (through the Word and the Spirit) to know His hearts or thoughts for us (Ephesians 5:17). God is the greatest planner—our hope in Him will not disappoint because He made His plans out of love (with us in His mind) and He works out those plans!

God’s promise – One sign or indicator that reveals God’s trustworthiness is the fulfillment of His promise. There are many promises of God in the Bible. From Abraham, we can learn that he was willing to obey God in sacrificing his son, Isaac, because he believed in the resurrecting God who is able to fulfill His promises (Romans 4:17-21). Do you believe so when God says that He will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5), that He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7) and will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19), that He is the One who causes all things to work together for your good (Romans 8:28)?

God’s presence – It is vital to believe that God is still in the midst—at work and in control—of every situation in life, especially during the times of trouble and confusion. He is the One who goes before us and is with us, protecting us from evil and the enemy’s attacks (Deuteronomy 1:30, 31:8). It is a blessing of divine companion and protection. In His presence, we feel safe, serene, and secure. That’s why, in His presence, there is fullness of joy. A joyous and peaceful life lies at the heart [centrality] of God’s comforting presence. Aren’t you grateful that God the Almighty loves you, wants to be with you, and watches over you?

God’s power – Our true strength comes from God and, Scripture reveals that, His power is made perfect in our weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:9). What a contrast! (It is represented by the ring finger, who is often thought as the “weakest” one). As we surrender our lives to the Almighty and let Him do what only He can do, we will experience the fullness of His power. Oftentimes, we rely on our [natural] human efforts and reject [to believe in] the supernatural because: (1) we are too proud to admit our limitations and (2) we want to get all the glory while it is only God who deserves it all. At heart, it is a pride issue, and therefore, Scripture warns us to “humble yourselves under His mighty hand so that at the proper time He may exalt you” (1 Peter 5:6). Humility precedes promotion by divine (supernatural) power. It is in humbleness that we can truly treasure God’s mighty works in our lives.

God’s provision – As we live this earthly life, God knows that we need all the earthly/physical things for our well-being. Jesus promises that as we seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness, all these things will be given to us (Matthew 6:33). God knows all our needs [even before we ask] and He delights in supplying them all because He is good Father—the source of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17). Sadly, we often forget this principle and take it for granted (much like we underestimate our pinkie, little finger)! God’s active provision demonstrates His faithfulness (interestingly, the linking of one’s little finger symbolizes a sincere, binding promise is made between two parties—to be faithful to each other and be respectful to the covenant). Above all the earthly blessings, God wants to fulfill our much deeper needs—a longing for the way, the truth, and the life—and Jesus promises that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied (Matthew 5:6).

Our Responses to God’s Holy Invitation to Trust in Him

Life on this side of eternity is filled with ups and downs, scars and struggles, battles and victories—and it is still way better with (than without) God. Yet, to have a truly meaningful, satisfying relationship with God, we must first trust in Him. Only then we will want to know and love Him more.

Again, trust is so precious that no wonder there are many instances throughout the Bible where God (or Jesus) commanded His people (or disciples) to believe in Him! (e.g., in Isaiah 41:10 and John 14:1 to name a few)

Now, it is impossible to trust in God wholeheartedly without entrusting our lives to Him. Why? Because it is God’s command that we submit ourselves to Him (James 4:7).

It is also impossible to trust in God the Father without trusting in God the Son, Jesus Christ, who wants us to fully commit to Him (Matthew 16:24) as He Himself is fully committed to us (Matthew 28:18-20). He declares, “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30).

After all, these [total submission and commitment to God] make the difference between Christ’s followers and the demons who also believe there is one God (James 2:19).

So, how does “surrender to God” look like in practice/reality?

Well, at least for me, surrendering to God means allowing God to work freely in my life. It can be likened to the work of a dentist or hygienist who is performing cleaning treatment to my teeth, taking care of my dental/oral health. While my teeth are being cleaned, I simply need to follow or obey his/her instructions, such as “open your mouth” or “close your mouth” or “move your head a little bit” and so forth. He/she can see the things that I can’t and has all the tools that I don’t. So, I need to trust that my teeth are in “good hands.” As I choose to surrender to God, I believe that my life is in His good hands. I trust in God and His sanctifying [cleansing, purifying] work in my heart. And I will demonstrate my inward trust by my outward action (obedience).

In the apostle Paul’s words, surrendering to God means that “it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20). Jesus Himself reveals, “If you love Me, you will keep (obey) My commandments.” (John 14:15). It is true what the old hymn says, “Trust and obey, for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey.” (words by John Henry Sammis).

Every time we lift our hands (or put a hand on the heart) in worship, let us remember that God is trustworthy—through the five divine blessings reflected in our fingers.

There is only One true God—He is good, faithful, all-powerful, and alone is worthy of our worship.

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal.

Isaiah 26:3-4

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^{This article was written in Delta, BC, Canada on July 29, 2024.
The featured image was designed by the author with images generated by Copilot AI.}

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• Faith Is Essential In Worship
• What Does It Mean To Trust In Jesus?
• What Does It Mean That Our Security Is In The Lord?