Embracing Trust: A Journey Beyond Belief in God

Devotional

Day 1: Trusting God Is Relational, Not Just Intellectual

Trusting God goes beyond believing facts about Him; it means letting go of control and depending on His character, care, and guidance. Many people find it easy to believe in God on an intellectual level, but true trust requires a relationship where we relinquish our grip and lean into God’s promises, even when it feels risky or unfamiliar. Like learning to trust a new car’s technology, trusting God can feel exhausting at first, but as we experience His faithfulness, we begin to relax and rest in Him. Trust is not a one-time decision but a continual process of letting go and leaning in, especially when life feels uncertain or overwhelming. [30:03]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are still holding tightly to control? What would it look like to let go and trust God with that today?

Day 2: Wrestling with Trust Is Part of the Human Experience

Even the greatest heroes of faith, like King David, struggled with trusting God—sometimes expressing deep confidence, other times crying out in confusion or pain. From the very beginning, humanity has wrestled with trusting God, as seen in the story of Adam and Eve, who doubted God’s goodness when the serpent questioned His motives. Admitting our struggle to trust God is not a sign of rebellion or unbelief, but an honest part of our relationship with Him. God welcomes our questions, our doubts, and our wrestling, holding space for us as we learn to trust Him more deeply. [34:06]

Psalm 13:1 (ESV)
How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?

Reflection: When have you felt like God was distant or hard to trust? How can you bring your honest questions and struggles to Him in prayer today?

Day 3: God’s Love Is Unchanging and Unconditional

God’s very nature is love, and everything He does flows from that love—even when we feel unworthy or distant. Unlike human love, which can be inconsistent or fail, God’s love is steadfast and sacrificial, demonstrated most clearly in Christ’s death for us while we were still sinners. Our deep longing to love and be loved is a reflection of God’s heart for us, and He is never not thinking of us. When we struggle to trust, remembering the truth of God’s love can help us lean in, knowing He is always for us and with us. [40:30]

1 John 4:16 (ESV)
So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

Reflection: In what ways do you struggle to believe that God’s love for you is constant and unconditional? How might you remind yourself of His love today?

Day 4: God Is All the “Awesome Alls”—Limitless in Power, Presence, and Goodness

God is not limited like people; He is all-knowing, all-powerful, always present, and perfectly good. When we try to fit God into our human expectations, we make Him too small and risk misunderstanding His ways. God’s wisdom, presence, power, and goodness are beyond our comprehension, and trusting Him means letting go of our limited perspective and embracing the vastness of who He truly is. Knowing God’s limitless nature can help us trust Him even when life doesn’t make sense or when we feel let down by others. [46:09]

Jeremiah 32:17 (ESV)
Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.

Reflection: Where have you been limiting God by expecting Him to act like people in your life? How can you open your heart to trust His limitless power and goodness today?

Day 5: Trusting God Is a Lifelong Journey—Lean In, Even When It’s Hard

Trusting God is not a destination but a journey that can take a lifetime, with seasons of confidence and seasons of struggle. When trust is hard, God is patient and understanding, inviting us to lean into Him, open our hands, and rest our weight on His shoulders. He is not threatened by our doubts or struggles; instead, He meets us with compassion and grace, ready to hold us as we risk letting go. Even if you’re not ready to trust fully today, know that God will be there when you are, always ready to catch you as you lean in. [54:16]

Isaiah 40:11 (ESV)
He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can “lean in” to God’s care this week, even if you’re still struggling to trust Him fully?

Sermon Summary

Trusting God is often much harder than simply believing in Him. While belief can be an intellectual assent—accepting facts or evidence—trust is deeply relational. It requires letting go of control and depending on someone else, which can be terrifying, especially when our experiences with people have taught us that trust can be broken. Many of us, from childhood onward, have been let down by those we depended on, whether intentionally or not. These betrayals, even small ones, can make us wary of trusting anyone, including God. We often project our experiences with imperfect people onto God, expecting Him to act like a flawed human, and in doing so, we make Him smaller than He truly is.

God, however, is not limited by human frailty. He is love itself—His very nature is to love, and all His actions flow from that love. He is also all-knowing, all-powerful, ever-present, and perfectly good. When we struggle to trust Him, it is often because we misunderstand who He is, confusing Him with those who have failed us. Yet, God is patient with our struggles. He understands our fears and our need for control. He does not reject us for wrestling with trust; instead, He meets us in our honesty and gently invites us to lean into Him.

Personal stories remind us that the journey of trust is lifelong. There are seasons when trust comes easily, and others when pain or disappointment make us want to seize control. But God remains steadfast, finding ways to stay in relationship with us, even when we can only trust Him in small ways. Sometimes, He brings people into our lives who reflect His character and help us see Him more clearly. Ultimately, trusting God is not about never doubting or struggling, but about being willing to lean into Him, even when it feels risky. As we do, we discover that He is indeed trustworthy, and His love is deeper and more constant than we can imagine.

Key Takeaways

1. Trust is fundamentally different from belief; it is relational and requires relinquishing control. While belief is often intellectual, trust means depending on God’s character and care, even when it feels uncomfortable or frightening. This distinction is crucial for a living, growing faith. [30:03]
2. Our difficulty in trusting God often stems from past betrayals by people, especially those we depended on early in life. These wounds can cause us to project human limitations onto God, making it hard to believe He is truly different—limitless in love, goodness, and faithfulness. Recognizing this dynamic can help us separate our experiences with people from our relationship with God. [37:34]
3. God’s nature is not just loving, but all-encompassing: He is all-knowing, all-powerful, ever-present, and perfectly good. Understanding these “awesome alls” helps us see that God is not a bigger version of a flawed human, but wholly other—worthy of our trust because He cannot be anything but loving and good. [46:09]
4. Struggling to trust God is not a sign of rebellion or unbelief, but an honest part of the human journey. God is not threatened by our doubts or fears; He welcomes our honesty and meets us where we are. The process of learning to trust Him can take a lifetime, and that’s okay—He is patient and persistent in His love. [50:48]
5. Leaning into trust is a posture, not a one-time decision. When we find ourselves stiff, unbending, or grasping for control, it’s a sign to pause and consider what we’re holding back from God. As we learn to relax, open our hands, and lean our weight onto Him, we experience the freedom and peace that come from trusting the One who is truly trustworthy. [51:29]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[24:10] - The Old Car and the New Car: A Lesson in Trust
[25:51] - Learning to Trust New Technology
[27:02] - The Challenge of Relinquishing Control
[28:54] - Trusting God vs. Trusting Machines
[30:03] - The Difference Between Belief and Trust
[31:27] - Biblical Examples of Trust Struggles
[32:29] - The Garden: The First Breach of Trust
[34:06] - Why Trusting God Is Hard
[35:47] - Childhood Betrayals and Broken Trust
[37:34] - Projecting Human Limitations onto God
[39:41] - God’s Limitless Nature
[40:30] - God Is Love
[45:19] - Understanding God’s “Awesome Alls”
[47:44] - Personal Story: Wrestling with Trust
[49:34] - The Holy Spirit: Meeting Us in Our Struggle
[50:48] - Trusting God Is a Lifelong Journey
[51:29] - The Posture of Trust
[54:16] - Invitation to Lean into God
[56:06] - Communion: Remembering God’s Love
[58:07] - Closing and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 John 4:16 (ESV) — > So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

2. Romans 5:8 (ESV)
> But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

3. Genesis 3:1-6 (ESV)
> Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” ... So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

Observation Questions

According to 1 John 4:16, what does it mean that “God is love”? How does this verse describe the relationship between love and God’s presence?
In Romans 5:8, what does Paul say is the proof of God’s love for us?
In the story of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:1-6), what was the serpent’s strategy to make them question God’s trustworthiness? [32:29]
The sermon described how trust is different from belief, using the example of the new car. What made trusting the car (and God) so much harder than just believing information about it? [30:03]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says that trust is “relational” and requires letting go of control. Why might it be so much harder to trust God than to simply believe in Him? [30:03]
How do past experiences of broken trust with people (especially parents or authority figures) affect our ability to trust God, according to the sermon? [35:47]
The speaker mentions that we often “project” human limitations onto God. What are some ways we might do this, and how does it impact our relationship with Him? [37:34]
The sermon says that struggling to trust God is not rebellion or unbelief, but honest wrestling. How does this perspective change the way we approach our doubts and fears? [50:48]

Application Questions

The sermon described how we can become “stiff, hard, and unbending” when we struggle to trust God. What are some signs in your own life that you might be holding back trust from God? [51:29]
Think about a time when someone you trusted let you down. How has that experience shaped the way you approach trusting God? Are there specific areas where you find it hard to let go of control? [35:47]
The speaker shared that God is “all the awesome alls”—all-knowing, all-powerful, all-present, and all-good. Which of these qualities is hardest for you to believe about God, and why? [46:09]
The sermon encouraged us to “lean” into God, even if it’s just in small ways. What is one practical step you could take this week to lean into trusting God more, even if it feels risky? [51:29]
The speaker talked about how God sometimes brings people into our lives who help us see His character more clearly. Who has been that person for you, and how did they help you trust God? [49:34]
When you think about God’s love as described in 1 John 4:16 and Romans 5:8, how does it challenge or encourage you to trust Him with something you’re currently worried about?
The sermon said that God is patient with our struggles and meets us where we are. How does knowing this change the way you talk to God about your fears or doubts? [50:48]

Sermon Clips

But what if all these things are true about how God loves us? Let me reread these card sentiments. And think about it as if God was saying this. My heart is with you wherever you are. Loving you is the first and last thing I think about every day. No matter how much I say I love you, I will always love you more. I want to tell you I love you so much, sometimes it hurts. I fell in love with you even before we met. But I just want to say you make me happy every day. I am never not thinking of you. That's amazing love.

Sometimes trusting God is exhausting. Believing in God is relatively easy. A recent Gallup poll discovered that two-thirds of the population of the entire world believe in God. Believing is knowing some facts, having some evidence, and then deciding it's true, so you're going to believe it. Believing is usually intellectual. I believe that my car would do what the manual said it would do. I got the information, and I said, yeah, okay, this can do that. But trust my—let go of my control, and trust the cameras, and trust the cruise control, and trust the lane-changing thing? That was much harder. Because trust is relational. Trust means we have to relinquish control and depend on something or someone else. Trust always involves a relationship, and trust always involves letting go. Trusting God is relational. It's putting confidence in God's character, in his care, in his guidance. Well, that's terrifying. [00:29:43]

Saying you don't trust God isn't unbelief. It isn't rebellion. It's honest wrestling with God. It's being honest about feeling betrayed by God when he seems distant or inconsistent or unfair. [00:34:06]

We all know the pain of trusting someone and then discovering they aren't completely trustworthy. Usually, this betrayal comes first from our parents. Now hang with me. I'm not going to blame anyone. Come on. I'm a parent. But babies come into this world totally dependent. Do you agree? They think we are in control, loving and nurturing and are here to cater to their every need. And we do our best for them. But then, one day, they discover we're human. We're too slow to feed them. We accidentally get soap in their eyes in the bath. We say no to something they want. We leave them with a babysitter. We may yell in anger. We may get sick. Maybe one parent moves out. As parents, our betrayal of trust is usually so unintentional. But as children, we have all been hurt because we think our parents are perfect. [00:34:44]

As we grow older, trusting, we grow beyond trusting just our parents. We trust people at school. We trust our friends. We trust people at work. We trust people we volunteer with. We trust people at church. And we get disappointed. We get hurt. And each time trust is broken, we stiffen up. We close in. We step back just a little bit. So one reason trusting God is hard is because we've been betrayed by people. [00:37:07]

Another reason trusting God might be hard is when we box God in to being a human being. We personify him. We expect him to act like a person. We want to understand God. That is good. We want to give him human qualities so that we can know him better. But sometimes that's not good because he doesn't act like a human being. He created human beings. He's not a human being. And when we think he will do what we think he should, we make him so small. [00:37:55]

We personify God and think he only has eight colors. Do you know there's over 400 colors of crayons now? There's over 400 colors of God. In fact, who he is is absolutely limitless. [00:39:26]

If I don't know God very well, I'll mix him up with people who haven't been trustworthy. So let's talk about who God is. First of all, God is love. John says in chapter 4, verse 16, it says, God is love. So there it is. God is love. He can't be anything else but love. It's against his nature. It is his character. Romans 5, 8 says, but God demonstrates his love for us in this. While we were still sinners, before we did anything for God, Christ died for us. All his actions are based on love. So the overarching umbrella for God is love. [00:40:17]

Do you know God put a deep desire in your heart to love and be loved? It's as much a part of us as breathing. We can't escape our need for love unless we get lobotomized. And we all know that love can be painful as well as amazingly wonderful. We all need human love. Yet love comes at great cost sometimes because we love other human beings who are fallible just like us. [00:41:26]

I'm wondering if we can let go of personifying God and let him be who he really is. Only loving. [00:44:51]

Well, next, God's a bunch of big words. Omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, omnibenevolent. That's what God is. There, do you get it? Make sense? Well, it didn't for me. I don't know what those words mean. I had to break them down. I had to dumb them down so that I can understand it more clearly. First of all, omni. Omni means all. Like an omnivore is an animal that eats all the things. Or an omnibus is a bus that carries all the people. Well, God is all of the awesome alls. [00:45:05]

Omniscient simply means he is all-knowing, which is wisdom. And he sees the past, the present, the future. Omnipresent means he's everywhere. He's everywhere at the same time. He's not limited to time and space. Omnipotent, he's all-powerful, almighty. He has unlimited power and authority. He has no limitations except that he's loving. Omnibenevolent, he's all-good. He's perfectly good. So, God is love. And God is all the awesome alls. [00:45:55]

This is God's heart for you. Some of you know I had a rough childhood. In my late teens, I learned about God. I trusted him. I believed in him. I gave him my future. I trusted him with my marriage. I trusted him with my kids. And life was good. But then my past started to affect the present. And life got really hard. So I didn't know if I wanted to continue to live. I believed God existed. I did. I did. but it seemed like he didn't care enough to help me. I lost trust in God. [00:47:21]

I struggled with thinking God gave me a hard life just so I would have this amazing story so he could look good. I didn't trust his love for me. I was afraid he would get me soft toward him and then pull the rug out from under me. I didn't trust he was all good. I never knew anybody who was powerful who was also good. So instead of trusting God with my life, I grabbed on to the little control I felt that I had and I decided I would be in charge of the decision whether I live or die. [00:48:10]

But his struggle with me trusting him didn't change his love and care for me. Because he is all-knowing, he knew I put attributes on him that really belonged to people who hurt me or betrayed me or who disappointed me. He wasn't threatened or angry at me because I had a hard time trusting him. [00:48:56]

So in spite of my struggles to trust God, he found a way to stay in relationship with me and helped me connect to him through the Holy Spirit. And then God brought godly people into my life who helped me see the lies I was believing. They showed me who God really was. They showed me that God was really all the alls. They became the face of God the Father. They proved that there were trustworthy men in the world. They became the face of Jesus. [00:50:11]

I want you to know something. Listen, this has been a 40-year journey for me. Trusting God can take a lifetime. Trusting God in some areas and struggling in other areas is a long road. So be encouraged. Struggling to trust God can take your entire life. You'll find you trust him a lot and then something happens and you'll want to grab control because it's just too scary to let go and trust God and trust that he is who he says he is. [00:50:59]

So I have a pretty good idea when I'm not trusting God. I get stiff. I get hard. I get... unbending. And I have a pretty good idea when I'm trying to trust God. Instead of being stiff and unbending, I lean. I lean into letting go. I open my fists. I relax. I soften. I tilt my head towards God and let its weight fall on his shoulder. I trust he won't drop me, at least in that one area. Only then, when I lean, can I breathe deep enough to remember God is all-loving, all-knowing, all-good, all-everywhere, all-powerful. [00:51:42]

Is it possible that your lack of trust is from a misconception of who he really is? Has someone untrustworthy in your life that you have caused suffering and pain, and now you're afraid to trust God? Now you're afraid to take a risk and trust again? Admitting we don't trust God is not a rejection of God, but it is a human cry that God can hold. [00:53:01]

Do you know God understands that? He's okay with your struggling. God's a big boy. He can handle that. God's a big boy. He understands you. He knows trust is hard. [00:53:54]

Can you imagine letting go of what you can't trust him for? Can you imagine leaning into him, maybe tilting your head to the side and letting it drop on his shoulder? It doesn't have to be now, not until you're ready. But just know when you're ready to take that risk and let go of what you need to control. He'll be right there to hold you as you lean on him. [00:54:16]

Now, as proof of this incredible love love that God has for us, he sent Jesus. He wants us to connect with him and he wants to connect with us so much that he sent his own only son, to give his life to cover for our sin and to repair the separation that sin has caused. Jesus died because of love. [00:55:31]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?