Only Trust Him

A Personal Reflection: Trusting God’s Guidance

Like many teenagers, I had my share of arguments with my parents. One day, in a burst of youthful defiance, I boldly declared, “You can’t tell me what to do.” That sentiment was so strong I wrote down my thoughts on a few pages of paper—pages my parents kept. Now, as a parent and grandparent myself, I’d give anything to read those pages and see how my younger self thought I had it all figured out.

Looking back, I realize I wanted the privileges of adulthood without the responsibilities. I thought I knew everything, yet I had no job, no real skills, and relied completely on my parents for everything I needed—and much of what I wanted. Despite all they provided, I was convinced I could navigate life better than they could guide me.

Sound familiar?

A Familiar Story: Adam and Eve

My teenage rebellion mirrors the story of Adam and Eve. God gave them everything they needed in the Garden of Eden, but one day, the serpent planted a seed of doubt: “Did God really say that? He’s holding back from you. He doesn’t want you to be like Him.”  (Genesis 3)

Here was God—the Creator of the universe—walking and talking with them daily, showering them with love and provision. Yet, in that moment, they believed a stranger over the One who had cared for them all along.

It’s easy to judge Adam and Eve, but don’t we do the same thing? We know God’s goodness. We’ve seen His faithfulness. Yet how often do we choose to trust our own limited perspective or follow the advice of the world, ignoring the God who loves us?

The Struggle to Trust God

The Bible is filled with stories of people who struggled to trust God’s timing and guidance:

• Abraham had a child with Sarah’s servant instead of waiting for God’s promise (Genesis 16).
• The Israelites tried to conquer Ai without consulting God and faced defeat (Joshua 7-8).
• Moses struck a rock instead of speaking to it, costing him the chance to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 20:11-12).

Time and time again, God’s people chose their way over His. And every time, they paid a steep price.

Nowhere is this pattern clearer than in the book of Judges. Over and over, the Israelites turned from God to worship powerless idols. The refrain is haunting: “Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord.” (Judges 10:6)

Why did they do it? Maybe for the same reason, teenage me said, “You can’t tell me what to do.” It’s tempting to follow something—or someone—that won’t hold us accountable.

But There’s Good News

Thankfully, the story doesn’t end there.

At a Promise Keepers rally in 1996, Max Lucado said, “There is nothing we can do to make God love us more, and there is nothing we can do to make God love us less.”

Let that sink in: Nothing.

 

No matter how many times we mess up, God’s love for us doesn’t change. He promises to be with us always, offering His guidance through the Holy Spirit—a Counselor, Comforter, and Friend who sticks closer than a brother (John 14:26).

We don’t deserve this grace. We haven’t earned it. But God offers it freely because of His boundless love.

 

The Safest Place to Be – Trust Him

Corrie ten Boom, a woman who risked everything to save Jews during the Holocaust, once said, “The safest place is in the center of God’s will.”

Why live in uncertainty when you could rest in God’s care? Instead of repeating the pattern of “they did evil,” let’s aim for the peace and safety found in following God’s plan, in trusting Him.

 

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me even when I stubbornly go my own way. Help me trust Your wisdom and place every decision in Your hands. You know what’s best for me. Guide me today and always. Amen.