Leaning on God: The True Nature of Trust

Devotional

Day 1: Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart

To trust in the Lord with all your heart means placing your deepest confidence, hope, and commitment in God above all else—not just in what you say you believe, but in what you actually lean on when life presses hard. The heart, as the Bible describes it, is not just the seat of emotions or intellect, but the anchor point of your life, shaping your thoughts, will, and feelings. When challenges arise, it’s easy to lean on your career, relationships, or even your own understanding, but true trust is revealed by what you rely on in those moments. God invites you to let Him be the foundation you lean on, the one who holds you steady when everything else feels uncertain. [37:40]

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: When life gets difficult, what is the first thing you instinctively turn to for support or reassurance? How can you intentionally shift your trust to God in those moments today?

Day 2: Trust Is a Continuous Posture, Not a One-Time Act

Trusting God is not a momentary decision or a weekly nod in His direction, but a continuous, daily posture of dependence and seeking Him in every part of your life. The Hebrew word for “acknowledge” in Proverbs 3:6 means to know deeply and personally, suggesting an ongoing relationship rather than a passing mention. This kind of trust is about leaning your whole weight on God, not just in crisis but in every ordinary moment, allowing Him to guide your steps and shape your motives. Even when your default is to trust yourself, God calls you to return again and again to Him, making trust a rhythm that anchors your life. [41:58]

Proverbs 3:6 (ESV)
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Reflection: What is one daily routine or habit where you can intentionally pause and invite God’s guidance, making trust in Him a continuous part of your day?

Day 3: God’s Straight Paths Are About Purpose, Not Predictability

God’s promise to “make your paths straight” does not mean life will be easy, comfortable, or follow your timeline; rather, it means your life will be aligned with God’s good purpose, moving toward wholeness, peace, and flourishing. Even when circumstances are confusing or painful, God’s direction brings meaning and hope, inviting you into a bigger story of shalom that extends beyond your own comfort. Trusting God doesn’t guarantee a smooth journey, but it does set your life on a trajectory toward His redemptive purposes for you and the world. [44:39]

Proverbs 3:7-8 (ESV)
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.

Reflection: Where in your life are you frustrated by a lack of clarity or control? How might you look for God’s purpose and direction even when the path feels uncertain?

Day 4: Leaning on God Means Letting Go of Self-Reliance

Self-reliance and self-trust often bend your path away from God, coloring your motives and blinding you with pride, while trusting in the Lord leads to righteousness, peace, and flourishing. The wisdom of Proverbs and the teachings of Jesus both point to the futility of building your life on your own plans or strength; instead, you are invited to lean your full weight on God, who alone can secure your steps and bring lasting fruit. This is not about neglecting responsibility, but about surrendering control and allowing God to establish your way. [42:39]

Proverbs 16:1, 9 (ESV)
The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

Reflection: In what area of your life are you most tempted to rely on your own plans or abilities? What would it look like to surrender that area to God’s leading today?

Day 5: Abiding in Jesus Is the Foundation That Holds

True wisdom and security come from abiding in Jesus, the solid rock, who invites you to lean your whole life on Him—not just in belief, but in daily practice and dependence. Jesus teaches that those who hear His words and put them into practice are like wise builders whose lives stand firm when storms come, because their foundation is unshakeable. Trusting Jesus doesn’t promise an easy life, but it does promise an abundant, flourishing life that endures and blesses others, rooted in His love and faithfulness. [48:00]

Matthew 7:24-25 (ESV)
Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can “abide” in Jesus today—through prayer, obedience, or rest—so that your life is built on His unshakeable foundation?

Sermon Summary

Trust is something every person practices, whether we realize it or not. Each of us leans on something—our plans, our intellect, our emotions, our relationships, or even the labels and promises the world offers. But the real question is not whether we trust, but what or who we trust. Proverbs 3:5-6 calls us to “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.” This is not a call to blind passivity or neglecting our responsibilities, but to a deep, ongoing posture of dependence on God.

The heart, as the Bible describes it, is not just the seat of emotions or intellect, but the anchor point of our lives—what we love, what we hope in, what we count on when life presses hard. Trusting God with all our heart means putting our full weight on Him, not just giving intellectual assent or lip service. It’s easy to say we trust God, but when the storms come, our true foundation is revealed. Often, we find ourselves leaning on our own understanding, our resources, or our ability to control outcomes.

Yet, the wisdom of Proverbs is not about suppressing our feelings or exalting our intellect, but about aligning our whole selves—mind, will, and emotions—with God’s trustworthy character. Trust is not a one-time decision or a weekly nod; it’s a continuous, daily leaning into God, submitting every part of our lives to Him. This kind of trust doesn’t guarantee an easy or predictable life. “Straight paths” in Proverbs are not about comfort or the absence of trouble, but about direction, purpose, and alignment with God’s good purposes, even when life is confusing or painful.

Jesus embodies this life of trust. He invites us to abide in Him, to build our lives on the solid rock that holds firm when storms come. The practice of daily examine—reflecting on where we leaned on ourselves and where we leaned on God—can help us cultivate this posture of trust. Ultimately, the wise life is not about self-reliance, but about leaning fully on Jesus, who leads us into abundant life and the flourishing of the world God loves.

Key Takeaways

1. The true test of trust is not how confidently we lean, but what we lean on. Our confidence or the promises of the world cannot make something trustworthy; only God can truly hold the full weight of our lives when pressure comes. The difference between wisdom and folly is not in the act of trusting, but in the object of our trust. [33:39]
2. The biblical understanding of the heart challenges both ancient and modern views. The heart is not just about feelings or intellect, but is the anchor of our commitments and the steering wheel of our lives. What we love and hope in shapes our thoughts, decisions, and emotions—so to trust God with all our heart is to let Him be the center of our deepest commitments. [37:40]
3. Trusting God is not passive resignation or neglect of responsibility. It is an active, ongoing posture of seeking, submitting, and depending on God in every area of life. The Hebrew word “yada” (to know) in Proverbs 3:6 points to a deep, continuous relationship, not a momentary acknowledgment or ritual. [40:54]
4. Straight paths do not mean an easy or predictable life. God’s promise is not comfort, but direction and alignment with His purposes, even when circumstances are hard or unclear. Trusting God leads us into shalom—a flourishing peace that is bigger than our personal comfort and extends to the world around us. [44:39]
5. Cultivating a life of trust requires intentional practices, like the daily examine, to notice where we default to self-reliance and where we truly lean on God. This rhythm trains our hearts to spot pride and anxiety, and to anchor ourselves in Christ, who alone is the solid rock. The wise life is a life of daily, wholehearted trust in Jesus. [49:53]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[30:59] - Introduction and Object Lesson: The Two Sticks
[32:28] - Trusting: What Are You Leaning On?
[33:39] - Proverbs 3:5-6: The Foundation of Wisdom
[35:14] - Reading and Reflecting on Proverbs 3:5-6
[36:28] - The Heart: Ancient, Modern, and Biblical Views
[37:40] - What Does It Mean to Trust with All Your Heart?
[39:12] - The Real Test: What Do You Lean On When Life Presses?
[39:50] - Trust Is Not Passive: The Meaning of “Acknowledge”
[40:54] - Ongoing Trust: The Depth of “Yada”
[41:58] - Proverbs 16: The Dangers of Self-Trust
[42:39] - The Promise and Challenge of Straight Paths
[44:39] - Straight Paths: Not Always Easy, But Aligned with God
[45:38] - Skateboard Illustration: Leaning and Trusting
[47:05] - Jesus: The Model and Foundation of Trust
[48:00] - Building on the Rock: The Wise Life
[49:26] - Cultivating Trust: The Daily Examine
[50:33] - Training Our Hearts to Trust
[73:56] - Benediction and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

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.

Observation Questions

According to Proverbs 3:5-6, what are we told to do with our heart, and what are we told not to do with our own understanding?
In the sermon, what were some examples given of things people tend to lean on or trust in besides God? ([33:39])
What does the sermon say about the meaning of the “heart” in the Bible compared to how ancient and modern cultures view it? ([37:40])
What is the promise attached to trusting God in all our ways, according to Proverbs 3:5-6?

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says, “The true test of trust is not how confidently we lean, but what we lean on.” What does this mean in the context of Proverbs 3:5-6? ([33:39])
How does the biblical understanding of the heart challenge both ancient and modern ideas about emotions and intellect? ([37:40])
The sermon mentions that trusting God is not passive resignation. What does it look like to actively trust God in daily life? ([39:50])
What does the phrase “he will make your paths straight” mean if it doesn’t guarantee an easy or comfortable life? ([44:39])

Application Questions

When life gets hard or uncertain, what do you usually lean on first—your own plans, your resources, your relationships, or God? Can you think of a recent situation where this was revealed? ([39:12])
The sermon describes the heart as the “steering wheel” of our lives. What are some things you love or hope in that might be steering your decisions more than God? ([37:40])
The Hebrew word “yada” (to know) in Proverbs 3:6 points to a deep, ongoing relationship with God. What is one area of your life where you find it hard to submit or “acknowledge” God? What would it look like to invite Him into that area this week? ([40:54])
The sermon says that “straight paths” are about direction and alignment with God’s purposes, not comfort. Is there a place in your life where you are frustrated because things aren’t easy or clear? How might God be inviting you to trust Him for direction rather than comfort? ([44:39])
The practice of daily examine was suggested as a way to notice where we lean on ourselves versus God. Would you be willing to try this for a week? What questions would you ask yourself at the end of each day? ([49:53])
Jesus invites us to “abide” in Him and build our lives on the solid rock. What is one practical step you can take this week to lean more fully on Jesus—maybe through prayer, Scripture, or a specific act of obedience? ([47:05])
The sermon warns that self-reliance can lead to pride and anxiety. Are there signs of pride or anxiety in your life that might be connected to not trusting God? What would it look like to bring those to Him in prayer? ([49:53])

Sermon Clips

``So here's the point. Both of them leaned. Both of them trusted. The difference wasn't in how much they leaned. It was in what they leaned on. One was trustworthy. One was not. It just claimed to be. Proverbs 3, 5, and 6 says, trust in the Lord with all your heart. In all your ways, acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Oh, lean on in your understanding. I skipped that part. The truth is we all trust something. We trust our plans. We trust our intellect. We trust our emotions. You might even trust our hustle, or you might even trust the label that says best stick in the world, right? But Proverbs reminds us that wisdom isn't self -trust. Trust. It's God trust. [00:33:29] (49 seconds) #TrustGodNotSelf

So at the start of the series, we saw the big theme of Proverbs is the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And we've learned that fear of the Lord doesn't necessarily mean being afraid of God. It means trusting God. So you could just as easily say trust in the Lord. Trusting the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. [00:34:50] (24 seconds) #TrustIsWisdom

But you might be asking, okay, making straight paths, this is the result of trusting God? How come in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight? Right? That's what God's words are. That's the promise of trust and leaning on God. It sounds good, but let's be honest. Sometimes it doesn't feel like that. Right? Maybe we've done our best to follow God. We obey God's commands. We serve God. We pray and ask for His leading, but sometimes it's not very clear what we should do. And all of a sudden, life throws a curveball at us. [00:43:22] (40 seconds) #StraightPathsMeanPurpose

Straight paths doesn't mean life is easy and comfortable or predictable. It doesn't mean life follows your timeline. It does mean direction and purpose and alignment with God's good purpose eventually. [00:44:03] (23 seconds) #TrustIsFullWeight

When we lean our whole weight on God, he pulls our lives into his redemptive trajectory towards wholeness, towards justice, and towards joy. And ultimately, it's Jesus who shows us what this kind of life looks like. In John 15, he says, abide with me, because apart from me, you can do nothing. That's Proverbs 3 in the flesh. Trust isn't a quick nod to God. It's constant and daily abiding.with Jesus, a continuous leaning your whole weight on him and in his ways. [00:47:17] (43 seconds) #FoundationOnRock

In Matthew 7, Jesus says everyone who hears these words and puts them into practice is like a wise person who builds their house on a rock. The storms still come, but the house still stands. Why? Because the foundation is immovable. It is solid. That's the promise that Proverbs begins to hint at. Straight paths aren't moral advice. They're the life that holds when the storms come, because the path is Jesus himself. [00:48:00] (35 seconds) #LeanOnSolidRock

Again, the question for you is, what are you leaning on? Your career outcomes? Your bank account? Your family? Your relationships? Maybe it's your own ability to solve all the problems and figure out, figure it out. These things bend the path away from God. They can't hold your full weight. The wisdom of trust is this, lean all the way, your heart, your soul, your mind, your strength on Jesus, the solid rock. And when you do, he doesn't promise the easy life. What he does promise is the abundant life. Not just for you, but for the flourishing of the world that God so loves more than you. That's the truly wise life. [00:48:35] (54 seconds) #AbundantLifeInChrist

Friends, everyone trusts something. The question isn't if you trust. It's what you trust or who you trust. Proverbs says, don't lean on your own shaky scaffolding. Lean with your full weight on the God who loves you, who sees you, and he will make your paths straight. Trust and follow Jesus to cultivate this wisdom for life for your whole life. [00:50:50] (35 seconds)

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