Trust: The Key to Peace

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." — Proverbs 3:5-6, KJV

In life, we often have situations in our pasts we do not understand or things in our future we don't know how to face. In the past, you may have been through a difficult childhood, a relationship that didn't work out or have been forced to leave a job from which you thought you would retire. You may be tempted to ask, "Why did this happen to me?" On the other hand, now you may be going through a sickness, a period of unemployment or whatever you are going through and wonder, "How is this going to work out?"

There will always be things we don't understand while we live on this earth. That's why the key is to TRUST. The activity of trust, allows us to have peace. I call it an activity because sometimes we have to work at trust. You can make a well-intentioned decision to trust, but no sooner have you made the decision than worries start revolving around in your mind again. Our minds can be restless, unfortunately.

So what do we do? Today's verse says, "In all your ways acknowledge him." An excellent way to acknowledge God is to thank and praise through out each day. Say, "Thank you, Father, that you're working everything together for good. Thank you that it will all work out!" Praise and thanksgiving put your faith to work, allowing trust to grow in your heart. Gratitude, therefore, is an activity that builds trust and allows your mind and soul to rest.

Another great way to acknowledge God is to use your gifts to the best of your ability. I find that nothing allows my mind to rest like writing. It's one of my gifts. The great thing is, it helps me to forget about the "What ifs?" I have peace about the things I don't understand, not just while I'm writing, but all throughout the day.

Finally, make a decision to trust God. Then take some time each day to acknowledge and thank him for his eternal goodness, and praise him with your gifts. When you activate your trust in these ways, you'll have more peace and consequently, greater joy. You'll know that while you may not understand, he does, and his peace will be with you. God bless you!