Notes of Faith February 1, 2026
Pastor’s Pen Pulpit
August 27, 2000
“TRUSTING IN THE LORD”
Proverbs 3: 5, 6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
If you would ask the average Christian, “are you trusting in the Lord?” you would probably get this answer: “Of course I’m trusting in the Lord. I’m a Christian!” However, there are different levels of trust. There is salvation trust where the Gospel is presented, we are made aware of our sin of unbelief by the Holy Spirit and we trust Jesus to save us. This puts us in God’s family. There is trust for our daily needs. This includes trusting God to keep us healthy so we can work and provide for our family.
Then there is another level of trust which is what is in view in Proverbs 3: 5 and 6 when you come up against a problem that is larger than you’ve ever seen before. You try your best to figure some way to get through it. The harder you try the more complex the problem becomes. Finally you throw up your hands in despair. “What’s the use?” you ask. “I’m helpless against this barrier in my life. What’s a person to do?” Ever been there? I know some of you have. Some of you are there now. It’s quite a bit different than trusting God for daily needs, isn’t it?
Yes, God calls each one of His children, sooner or later, to this highest level of trust. He does it to prove Himself to us. André Crouch wrote in one of his songs:
If we never had them (trials) we’d never know we need Him.
Through it all, through it all, I’ve learned to trust in Jesus,
I’ve learned to trust in God. Through it all, through it all,
I’ve learned to depend upon His Word.
That is what is in view in this passage:
• “Trust in the Lord with all your heart.” This means with all your inner being - all you are.
• “And lean not on your own understanding.” This is perhaps the most difficult of all for us to do. We are naturally programmed to trust ourselves. But in cases like this, it is not good to lean on our own understanding.
• “In all your ways acknowledge Him.” This takes in our daily needs and the otherwise immovable mountains in our path. We acknowledge that God is the One we look to.
• “And He will direct your path.” God not only knows everything, He also sees everything. He can see around corners. I’ve always taken great comfort in that fact. Literally, He will make your paths straight. Ever feel like your way was blocked? That something was in your path and you couldn’t get around it? Or that you were going down a crooked road and couldn’t see clearly? I’ve been there a few times. These are the times when God makes the crooked places straight. He will make the crooked places straight for you.
Let’s work on this highest level of trust together. I’m faced with it every day. I’m sure many of you are. Happy trusting!
Love to you all,
Pastor Charles Covington
Heb 2:10-18
10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying,
"I WILL PROCLAIM YOUR NAME TO MY BRETHREN,IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE."
13 And again,
"I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM."
And again,
"BEHOLD, I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME."
14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. 16 For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. 17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.
Hebrews is one of the books that needs to be studied carefully to understand the wisdom and truth that it contains. These verses speak of Jesus and His complete trust in doing the will of His Father, that He might be glorified, providing the way for His bride, the church, to be redeemed, forgiven for their sin, and made perfect and able to enter into the glory of God, to be with Him forever.
Let us give thanks every day for the One willing to suffer and die that we might receive life, and that eternal.
1 Peter 5:6-10
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. 10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
I pray for all of you as I pray for myself…to be established in the truth of the Word of God, knowing intimate relationship with God, walking with Him through every circumstance, recognizing my weaknesses and most of all, trusting in God and His love for me, to bring me to my forever home, with Him, perfect in His transforming power toward me and all who trust in Him!
Pastor Dale