The Secret to Stronger Faith

Whether you're just beginning your faith journey or you've been at it for decades, you've probably wrestled with situations or even seasons where it felt difficult to trust God.

Our circumstances can sometimes feel overwhelming. The medical report isn't what we'd hoped for. Our bank account is already hovering near zero and then the unexpected bill comes in the mail, the car breaks down or even worse, we lose our job. Maybe it's a strained marriage or a difficult child.

So what's the answer? Are we destined to struggle for the rest of our lives? Are worry and anxiety always going to be our unwelcome visitors?

Let's look at two verses that will offer not only hope, but very practical steps we can take to strengthen our faith.

Proverbs 3:5 says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."

Let me suggest that one of the most important words in that verse is the word and. It's impossible to learn to trust God without also learning how to not lean on our own understanding.

The opposite of trust is not doubt. The opposite of trust is misplaced trust. I can't say I trust God and then immediately get myself worked up when I can't fix or figure things out.

There's a very simple way to tell if you're leaning on your own understanding. You'll begin to feel anxious, worried or fearful. Think of those negative emotions like the warning lights on your dashboard.

I can't simultaneously have my heart and mind set on the LORD while I'm also focused on my circumstances. It doesn't mean we ignore the medical report or negative account balance or the problems in our marriage. We just choose to not give them authority they don't deserve in our lives.

The other verse is Psalm 9:10: "Those who know Your Name trust in You, for You, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek You."

To know someone's name is to know their character, their reputation, their fame. King David is telling us that those who know God by reputation, especially in their own lives, trust Him. They have a track record with Him. They've seen Him come through. It doesn't mean they don't experience difficulties and never suffer; it does mean that even in their most painful moments, they experience His grace, comfort and strength.

The verse ends with, "You, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek You." The Hebrew word for seek can mean to beat a path. In other words, when we continually beat a path to God's door, we get to know His Name and we discover that He never forsakes us.

If you're struggling to trust, make it a point to wear out the path between your heart and God's. Trample it down. Make the ground hard.

Start with setting aside time everyday to read His Word. Prayer is two-way communication. We talk to Him and He talks to us. And primarily, He does that through His Word. Imagine talking with a friend and asking for advice, but then never listening to what they say.

Remember, the opposite of trust is misplaced trust in our own understanding. And it's easier to stop leaning on our understanding when we've invested the time beating a path to His door.