Trust And Obey" Elder Delano Cadore

Devotional

Day 1: Trumpets Before the Tumble

Joshua’s men gripped their weapons as priests blew ram’s horns. For six days, they marched silently around Jericho’s walls. On the seventh day, they circled seven times. At Joshua’s command, they shouted—and stone crumbled. God required no battering rams, only obedience. [01:52:12]

The walls fell because Israel trusted God’s absurd strategy. Their victory came not through skill but surrender. Jesus still dismantles impossible barriers when we follow His counterintuitive commands.

You face walls—financial, relational, spiritual. God says, “Walk, wait, shout.” His methods defy logic but demolish strongholds. What Jericho-sized obstacle are you straining to fix through human effort?

“When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed.”
(Joshua 6:20, NIV)

Prayer: Ask God to reveal one “illogical” step He wants you to take toward your struggle.

Challenge: Write down a fear you’ve tried to solve alone. Circle it seven times in prayer today.

Day 2: Flour That Defied Famine

The widow scooped her last handful of flour. Elijah said, “Feed me first.” Her hands shook, but she baked him a cake. Oil dripped. Flour settled. And God stretched her obedience into a miracle. [02:01:04]

God didn’t refill her jars until she acted. Her empty hands became vessels of provision. Jesus still multiplies meager offerings given in radical trust.

You ration time, money, or energy, fearing scarcity. But Kingdom math reverses earthly limits. What “last portion” are you hoarding that God asks you to release?

“The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.”
(1 Kings 17:16, ESV)

Prayer: Thank God for three provisions you’ve taken for granted this week.

Challenge: Give $5 or a grocery item to someone before sundown—no strings attached.

Day 3: Leaning on the Shepherd’s Chest

Proverbs shouts, “Lean not!”—a warning against self-reliance. Ancient shepherds carried lambs against their chests; to “lean” meant resting fully on the guide. God says, “Press into Me, not your plans.” [01:46:56]

Human understanding scans for escape routes. Divine wisdom sees the canyon and says, “Jump—I’ll catch you.” Trust isn’t passive; it’s active dependence on Christ’s character.

You’re strategizing career moves, relationships, or ministry without kneeling first. Where have you substituted Google searches for gut-level prayer?

“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, NIV)

Prayer: Confess one decision you’ve made this month without consulting God.

Challenge: Text a mentor: “What’s one area I’m leaning on my own smarts?”

Day 4: Sparrows and the Single Hair

Jesus pointed to sparrows—sold two for a penny. “Not one falls without your Father.” He counts your hairs, too. Anxiety assumes God lost track. Trust knows He micromanages the universe. [01:44:30]

Worry is practical atheism. It confesses God’s sovereignty but lives as if He’s absent. The Creator who dresses lilies won’t forget your rent, your diagnosis, your prodigal.

What “sparrow concern” have you elevated to eagle-sized panic? Name it. Then watch—will your fretting alter one feather on a bird’s wing?

“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”
(Matthew 6:26, ESV)

Prayer: List three “sparrows” you’re clutching. Pray, “I trade ______ for Your care.”

Challenge: Spend 10 minutes outside today observing nature’s provision.

Day 5: Saltwater on Sandaled Feet

Peter stepped over the boat’s edge. Waves slapped his ankles. For three steps, he walked on liquid. Then he fixated on the storm. Jesus grabbed his sinking arm: “Why did you doubt?” [02:03:23]

Faith isn’t the absence of fear but the choice to fixate on Christ’s face. Every believer walks water—until they count the waves.

You’re mid-miracle right now—a strained marriage, a fledgling business, a shaky recovery. Are you staring at the Savior or the squall?

“Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?’”
(Matthew 14:31, NIV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to recalibrate your gaze to His scars, not your storms.

Challenge: Whisper “Fix my eyes” every time you check the clock today.

Sermon Summary

The exposition emphasizes trust and obedience as inseparable responses to God’s sovereignty. Scripture anchors the argument in Proverbs 3:5-7, John 14:1-3, Matthew 6:25-32, and Isaiah 54:17, and defines trust as confident reliance on God’s character and promises while defining obedience as following God’s commands. Historical narratives supply vivid proof: Adam and Eve illustrate the cost of choosing human judgment over divine direction; Joshua at Jericho shows that unlikely, counterintuitive obedience can release God’s deliverance; Elijah and the widow in Zarephath demonstrate providential provision when faith yields concrete action. The exposition frames modern anxieties—financial strain, fear of judgment, global threats—as spiritual stressors that call for redirection from worry to prayer and dependence on the Creator.

Practical theology runs throughout: trusting God reshapes daily choices, and obedience becomes the visible proof of that trust. Wisdom comes from God, not human cleverness, so humility and acknowledgement of God’s direction lead to right paths. Obedience does not depend on understanding every outcome; it rests on the character and promises of God, who owns every resource and rules over every storm. Followers receive both assurance and responsibility: God’s protection and provision accompany faithful conformity to his will, and faithfulness until the end secures ultimate hope in eternal life. The exposition closes with a concrete invitation to move from assent to action, urging a public demonstration of commitment that aligns words with life.

Key Takeaways

1. Trust precedes true obedience True obedience originates in a settled confidence in God’s character and promises. Trust removes the compulsion to control outcomes and replaces anxious calculation with willingness to follow. When trust deepens, obedience stops being a duty and becomes a natural expression of allegiance. [106:38]
2. Do not rely on self Leaning on personal understanding narrows vision and breeds fear. Scripture calls for the admission of human limitation and the deliberate seeking of divine wisdom. That posture opens the way for God to direct paths that human insight cannot foresee. [106:56]
3. Providence supplies faithful obedience God’s provision often arrives through ordinary means when people act in faith. The story of the widow shows that giving from lack can trigger sustained supply rooted in God’s promise. Trust invites God to transform scarcity into continued abundance for his purposes. [115:11]
4. Obedience produces tangible spiritual proof Unusual commands can yield unmistakable outcomes when followed in faith. The Jericho narrative affirms that corporate faithfulness to God’s instructions can remove barriers that human plans cannot. Visible deliverance validates the reality of divine involvement in everyday events. [113:13]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[90:13] - Opening and purpose
[90:53] - Theme: Trust and Obey
[99:21] - Scripture readings
[100:29] - Definitions: trust and obey
[106:38] - Trust and Proverbs 3:5-7
[110:23] - Joshua and Jericho: trust in action
[115:11] - Elijah and the widow: providence
[123:23] - Faith amid storms
[128:45] - Call to action and altar invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Proverbs 3:5-7 (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. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

Joshua 6:1-20 (ESV)

[Summary] God commands Joshua and the Israelites to march around Jericho for seven days, culminating in a shout that brings down the walls.

1 Kings 17:7-16 (ESV)

[Summary] Elijah asks a widow to share her last meal with him, promising God’s provision. Her obedience results in sustained flour and oil during a famine.

Observation questions

Proverbs 3:5-7 includes three commands: "trust," "do not lean," and "acknowledge." What specific actions or attitudes do these commands discourage or encourage?
In Joshua 6, God’s instructions for conquering Jericho involved marching silently for six days and shouting on the seventh. How might this method have challenged the Israelites’ expectations of warfare?
The widow in 1 Kings 17 initially planned to cook her last meal and die. What practical fears or hesitations might she have faced when Elijah asked her to feed him first?
The sermon highlighted modern anxieties like financial strain and global threats as “spiritual stressors” [01:42:25]. What examples of these stressors were mentioned?

Interpretation questions

Why does Proverbs 3:5-7 emphasize not leaning on “your own understanding” as a prerequisite for God directing your paths? How does human wisdom differ from divine wisdom?
The Israelites’ victory at Jericho required strict adherence to God’s unusual strategy. What does this story reveal about the relationship between obedience and outcomes when God’s methods seem counterintuitive?
The widow’s act of giving her last meal to Elijah triggered God’s provision. How does this story redefine scarcity and generosity in the context of trust?
The sermon stated, “Trust removes the compulsion to control outcomes” [01:46:38]. How might anxiety or fear signal a reliance on human control rather than trust in God?

Application questions

Identify one area where you habitually “lean on your own understanding” (e.g., finances, relationships, health). What practical step could you take this week to acknowledge God’s wisdom in that area instead?
The Israelites had to obey God’s instructions for seven days without seeing results. Is there a situation in your life where you’re being called to persist in obedience despite delayed outcomes? How can you cultivate patience?
The widow acted in faith despite her scarcity [01:55:11]. Where do you feel a sense of lack (time, resources, energy) right now? How might trusting God’s provision shift your response to that scarcity?
The sermon warned against claiming independence with phrases like “I’m my own man” or “I turn my own key” [01:36:18]. In what areas of your life do you struggle to surrender control to God? What would obedience look like in those areas?
Joshua’s story required corporate obedience (the entire nation acting together). Are there ways your community or family could unite in trusting God’s direction? What barriers might need to be addressed?
The altar invitation urged moving from “assent to action” [02:08:45]. What is one specific, tangible action you can take this week to align your choices with trust in God’s character?

Sermon Clips

65s

#TrustThroughObstacles

“Things seem to be at a halt, a major roadblock. My Jamaican friends would say, they buck up on something. My Grenadian friends would say, and we bounced into something. My Trinidadian friends would say, boy, we meet up something, you know. Things seem to be at a halt. The walls seemed impossible to breach. I imagine many having the memories of Egypt in their mind. They became fearful, anxious, uncertain, and, of course, some are angry. The naysayers were disappointed in their leader, Joshua, for not doing the proper reconnaissance to find another way around. But God had a plan. Just trust and obey.”

40s

#GodIsSovereign

“Why should we trust in God? God is sovereign. God is a sovereign owner of the universe. All creatures and things are under his command. He has full authority above all things because he created all things. So trust in God's power and majesty and do his will rather than yours. God is always victorious. Just trust and obey.”

46s

#EdenChoice

“God placed Adam and Eve in a beautiful garden. It was the ultimate perfection where they could enjoy eating from every kind of tree except just one. It was God's gracious way of giving them a fair choice. By trusting God and not eating of the forbidden tree, they would live forever in paradise. By choosing to listen to Satan, they chose to run away from the source of all life, God, and naturally experience death.”

30s

#LoveMeansObedience

“Now when we trust, what happens? Because we trust, we obey. So let us obey totally. Jesus in his scriptures mentioned, you say you love me. But if you love me, keep my commandments. Keep my commandments simply mean that you should obey. That's all.”

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Trust And Obey" Elder Delano Cadore | 05/2/2026