TRUST

“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.“
— Proverbs 3:5-6

Advent is not only about anticipating the birth of Christ but also about cultivating trust in God’s plan for our lives. Trust is a foundational aspect of our relationship with God—one that involves surrendering our worries, plans, and uncertainties to his perfect will.

What does it mean to trust God with all your heart? Trusting God fully requires us to let go of our need for control. It means putting aside our doubts and placing our confidence in the One who knows all things. It’s easy to trust God when life is smooth, but what happens when things feel uncertain or difficult? When have you experienced a moment of doubt or fear, and how did you lean into God’s trustworthiness during that time? For many, trust becomes even more challenging when we encounter struggles, but it is precisely during these moments that we are called to trust God more deeply.

Proverbs 3:5-6 calls us to not rely on our own understanding, but to submit to God’s will. This submission isn’t passive resignation; it’s an active choice to recognize that God’s wisdom surpasses our own. Are there areas of your life where you are still trying to control the outcome? How might you release these areas to God and trust him more fully? Trusting God means acknowledging that his plan for us is better than anything we could imagine for ourselves, even when the path ahead is unclear.

This Advent, as we remember how the people of Israel waited for the Messiah, we are invited to place our trust in the promises of God. Their trust was not in what they could see or fully understand, but in the faithfulness of God who had promised to send a Savior. How can you cultivate trust in God this Advent season? How can you prepare your heart for the coming of Christ by deepening your trust in his promises? The Israelites had to wait, often for generations, trusting that God’s timing would be perfect. In the same way, we are called to wait, trusting that God is at work in our lives, even when we cannot see the full picture.

True trust in God doesn’t mean ignoring our doubts or difficulties, but rather believing that God is with us even in the midst of them. In what ways might you strengthen your trust in God, especially when the journey seems uncertain? Trusting in God is a quiet assurance that he is leading us along the best path, one that is ultimately filled with his love and grace.

How can you support others in their journey of trust, especially those who may be struggling with uncertainty or fear? We can walk alongside others in their moments of doubt, reminding them of God’s faithfulness and sharing the stories of how God has been trustworthy in our own lives. Trust is often nurtured in community, where we bear each other’s burdens and encourage one another to keep believing.