What the Bible says about Trusting God

Bible study on Trust

BIBLE STUDIES

Emma Hamilton

3/12/20268 min read

person standing on rock near ocean during daytime

Whether we realise it or not, we all put our trust in something or someone.

Of course, as Christians, we say that we trust in God, but as we go about our day-to-day lives, the reality is that this is often not the case.

When we’re faced with stressful events, sickness, tricky decisions, temptation, difficult people, everyday life, our own sinful nature, we can find ourselves actually placing our trust in all sorts of other things, instead of Him.

Things such as our finances, our health, our image, our homes, our husbands, our children, our careers, our friends, our parents, our pension,…the list is endless really.

The Lord recently convicted me that my trust was placed in being in control. Ouch. That was not a nice reality to face, but I’m thankful that He showed it to me, as I’ve been able to confess and repent of all the ways of the ways that I’ve not been trusting in Him and have been trusting in my ability (or lack thereof) to control situations and people instead.

God’s desire is that we fully trust Him, not because He’s a control freak, but because He has incredible things for us that are only possible when He is in control. When we place our trust in people, circumstances and ourselves, we are building our lives on the sand. Then, because we actually have no control over these (although we like to think that we do), we end up feeling frustrated, discouraged, anxious, overwhelmed, and all sorts of other negative emotions.

When our trust is in the Lord, however, we no longer need to try and control people and situations. When God is in control and our trust is fully placed in Him, situations no longer feel overwhelming or uncertain, people no longer bother us, and life is suddenly an exciting adventure rather than a treacherous path to walk.

The Bible is full of encouragement to put our trust in the Lord. Let’s have a look at some scriptures that talk about it! As you do, I would encourage you to ask the Lord to highlight any to you in particular that He wants to speak through, and take some time to meditate on these.

16 scriptures about trusting God

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD. (Ps 4:5)
But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You. (Ps 5:11)
O LORD my God, in You I put my trust; save me from all those who persecute me; and deliver me. (Ps 7:1)
And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You. (Ps 9:10)
In the LORD I put my trust; how can you say to my soul, "Flee as a bird to your mountain"? (Ps 11:1)
Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust. (Ps 16:1)
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Ps 18:2)
Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. ... commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. (Ps 37:3, 5)
Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. (Ps 56:3)
In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? (Ps 56:11)
I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. (Ps 61:4)
Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God [is] a refuge for us. (Ps 62:8)
I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust." (Ps 91:2)
O Israel, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield. (Ps 116:9)
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. (Prov 3:5)
Trust in the LORD forever, for in YAH, the LORD, [is] everlasting strength. (Is 26:4)
Who among you fears the LORD? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness And has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD and rely upon his God. (Is 50:10)

What/who should we not put our trust in?

Again, as you read these scriptures, ask the Lord to highlight any in particular. Then, as He shows you where you have been placing your trust, I encourage you to confess and repent of this and thank Him for forgiving you.

Security in physical things/strength

They shall besiege you at all your gates until your high and fortified walls, in which you trust, come down throughout all your land. (Deut 28:52)
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD! (Is 31:1)
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. (Ps 20:7)
For I will not trust in my bow, nor shall my sword save me. (Ps 44:6)

Kingdoms of this world / political leaders / earthly stability

Now look! You are trusting in the staff of this broken reed, Egypt, on which if a man leans, it will go into his hand and pierce it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him. (2 Kings 18:21, 24)
Woe to you who are at ease in Zion, and trust in Mount Samaria. (Amos 6:1)

Riches

Those who trust in their wealth and boast in the multitude of their riches, none of them can by any means redeem his brother… (Ps 49:6-7)
If riches increase, do not set your heart on them. (Ps 62:10)
And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! (Mark 10:24)
Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. (1 Tim 6:17)

Lies / empty words

No one calls for justice, nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies. (Is 59:4)
Do not trust in these lying words, saying, 'The temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD [are] these.' ... Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit. (Jer 7:4, 8)

People (instead of the Lord)

It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes. (Ps 118:8-9)
Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. (Ps 146:3)
Do not trust in a friend; Do not put your confidence in a companion. (Micah 7:5)

Idols

They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, who trust in carved images, who say to the molded images, 'you are our gods.' (Is 42:17)

Ourselves

Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead… (2 Cor 1:9)

What happens when we trust in the Lord?

When we repent of putting our trust in anything other than the Lord and we choose instead to place all our trust in Him, the Bible has many wonderful promises for us!

He heeds our prayers

And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all who [were] with them, for they cried out to God in the battle. He heeded their prayer, because they put their trust in Him. (1 Chron 5:20)

He preserves and saves us

Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust. (Ps 16:1)
Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You. (Ps 17:7)
And the LORD shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him. (Ps 37:40)

He is our shield

As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. (Ps 18:30)
O Israel, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield. ... You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield. (Ps 115:9, 11)
Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. (Prov 30:5)

We will not be ashamed

Keep my soul, and deliver me; let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You. (Ps 25:20)
In You, O LORD, I put my trust; let me never be put to shame. (Ps 71:1)

He prepares goodness for us

Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men! (Ps 31:19)

We will not be condemned

The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned. (Ps 34:22)

We are blessed

Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust, and does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. (Ps 40:4)

We do not need to be afraid

In God (I will praise His word), in God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me? ... In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? (Ps 56:4, 11)

We will have an answer for those who reproach us

So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, for I trust in Your word. (Ps 119:42)

We cannot be moved

Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. (Ps 125:1)

We hear His lovingkindness

Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You. (Ps 143:8)

We shall possess the land

When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you. But the wind will carry them all away, a breath will take them. But he who puts his trust in Me shall possess the land, and shall inherit My holy mountain." (Is 57:13)

We will be delivered

"For I will surely deliver you, and you shall not fall by the sword; but your life shall be as a prize to you, because you have put your trust in Me," says the LORD. (Jer 39:18)

God knows us

The LORD [is] good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him. (Nah 1:7)

He gives us richly all things to enjoy

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. (1 Tim 6:17 )

What an incredible list!

Relinquishing control of our lives and choosing to repent of those things that we’ve been putting our trust in isn’t easy. But coming under God’s authority and living with Him as our Heavenly Father who we can run to and truly put our trust in brings so much freedom and joy.

Let’s be women of courage who boldly choose not to put our trust in the vain things of this world that will surely let us down, but who run to our Heavenly Father and put all our trust in Him!