“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV)

“Hand on the wall and you will not fall.” Our guide through the Belizean jungle drilled this motto into us as we plodded through slippery muck. He was an expert on this wilderness, knowing every plant, predator, and potential pitfall. My husband and I were thankful to have a capable leader. We followed every instruction, knowing he had gone this way before and knew how to keep us safe.  

It’s easy to trust someone we can see. Our guide went ahead of us, clearing the trail. All we had to do was keep our eyes on him and follow.

It’s easy to trust someone we can see.

When the way is laid out for us, faith seems simple. But trusting God isn’t always so easy. He asks us to believe in His goodness even when we can’t see what’s coming next or understand why.

Proverbs 3:5-6 is more than just a favorite memory verse or a feel-good saying. This deep promise from God guides us if we’re willing to surrender our understanding and follow Him.

When It’s Easy—and When It’s Not

When the bills are paid, health is good, and relationships are peaceful, saying “I trust God” comes easily. But what happens when the bottom drops out? When sickness strikes, money runs dry, or loved ones hurt us, trust feels like walking in that slippery Belizean muck.

We’ve all walked through seasons when we wondered if we’d make it. And yet, we have. Not because of our strength but because God showed up. He carried us when we were too tired to continue and cleared a trail where none had been before.

Many of us have experienced the Lord’s intervention—food arrived when the cupboards were bare, money was miraculously there to pay bills, or medical miracles unfolded when hope had all but vanished. These aren’t just lucky breaks. These are God’s fingerprints on our lives.

Trusting with All Our Heart

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart.”  That’s a powerful invitation. Not just some of our heart. Not just the part we show on Sundays at church or in front of our Bible study group—all our heart.

That means turning over the areas of our lives we’d rather keep to ourselves. The fears. The doubts. Sections we still want to control. Trusting with our whole heart means surrendering fully, even when it’s hard—especially when it’s hard.

When the road ahead feels uncertain

Remember God’s faithfulness

“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago.”  (Psalm 77:1-2)

Remember God’s Presence

“For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you.” (Isaiah 41:13)

Remember God’s Provision

“Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” (Psalm 103:2)

Remember to Praise

“Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.” (Mark 5:19b)

Remember to remember—when we recall the Lord’s past faithfulness, it becomes easier to trust Him for today and tomorrow.

When Our Understanding Isn’t Enough

“Lean not on your own understanding.” That’s a tough one. We like to be in control, but our understanding is insufficient. We only see a sliver of the picture, while God sees the whole.

On our journey through the jungle, there were moments when my husband and I wondered why our guide led us in a specific direction. It was counterintuitive to what we could see with our eyes, but we had limited knowledge of our situation. If we trusted our instincts, we would have gotten lost—or worse.

Remember to remember—when we recall the Lord’s past faithfulness, it becomes easier to trust Him for today and tomorrow.

We don’t always know what’s best for us. Sometimes, we want things that appear good but in the long run will do us harm. God sees what we cannot. He knows where the road will lead—and sometimes, He says “no” or “not yet” because He’s protecting us.

It’s comforting to know that God doesn’t ask us to understand; He simply asks us to trust. God knows all, sees all, and loves us enough to lead us step by step.

Acknowledging Him in All Things

“In all your ways acknowledge Him.” Trusting isn’t a casual nod to God when it’s convenient. Trust is a call to place Him first in everything—in our decisions, desires, relationships, and struggles.

This doesn’t mean recognizing God’s authority in some areas or just for the big decisions. The verse says all. While that kind of surrender can be scary, it’s also freeing. When we give everything to God, we no longer carry the responsibility ourselves. He carries it.

He Will Direct Your Path

“…and He will direct your path.” When we trust God, He promises to direct our paths.

The promise doesn’t mean life will be trouble-free. However, with God leading, our paths— even if painful—will have purpose. We won’t wander in circles or make decisions out of fear or desperation. We’ll be following a guide who knows the way.

God sees every pitfall. He knows what lies ahead. Because He is good, we can trust that He will do what is good for us.

The Bottom Line

If you struggle to trust, remember you don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to trust the One who does.

God is faithful. He is trustworthy. He’s already in your tomorrow, preparing the way. When the road is uncertain, your steps feel unsure; lean into the promise of Proverbs 3:5-6.

Trust Him. Acknowledge Him. Then watch as He leads you forward—step by step.