Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant.
II Samuel 7: 28 (NIV)
Scripture: II Samuel 7: 18-29
The last devotion began the How Is Faith Different Than Trust series by looking at faith. This devotion continues by looking at trust. It concludes by considering both terms.
Nuggets
- Trust is believing God will do what He says He will do.
- We can trust Him even when we are afraid because of His unfailing love.
- We can trust God because He is Sovereign God — our God.
- Trusting God also has benefits.
To read devotions in the How Is Faith Different Than Trust? series, click the button below.
In the previous devotion, we discussed faith. In this devotion, we will look at trust, and then compare the two terms.
Let's Put It into Context
Trust is a believing that you can rely on someone or something. It is the considering that something to be true.
Trusting Is Believing
Trust is believing God will do what He says He will do. “Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant” (II Sam. 7: 28 NIV). We know God is trustworthy because He has never abandoned those seeking Him (Ps. 9: 10).
Trust in His Unfailing Love
God doesn’t abandon us because of His unfailing love (Ps. 13: 5; Ps. 143: 8). Putting our trust in this love is better than putting our trust in material things (Ps. 20: 7). We can trust Him even when we are afraid (Ps. 56: 3).
Trust Because of Who He Is
We can trust God because He is Sovereign God — our God. “But I trust in You, O LORD; I say, ‘You are my God.’” (Ps. 31: 14 ESV). We can lean on Him (Prov. 3: 5-6).
God never abandons those who seek Him and put their trust in Him. “Everyone who honors your name can trust you, because you are faithful to all who depend on you” (Ps. 9: 10 CEV).
Those seeking God and putting their trust in Him will be blessed (Prov. 16: 20). “Oh, the joys of those who trust the LORD, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols (Ps. 40: 4 NLT).
We should seek God rather than putting our trust in mankind. “Put not your trust in princes, and a son of man, and home there is no salvation” (Ps. 143: 3 ESV).
Trust Also Has Benefits
Trusting God also has benefits. God rewards those who trust Him (Ps. 37: 4-6). Because we trust Him, God will bless us (Ps. 84: 12). “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by the water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious and the year of drought, or it does not cease to bear fruit“ (Jer. 17: 7-8 NIV). We thrive when we put our trust in Him (Prov. 11: 28).
God gives His peace to those that trust Him (Isa. 26: 3). “May the God of hope fill you with all the joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 15: 13 NIV).
God keeps us safe when we trust in Him (Prov. 28: 26). Case in point — Daniel in the lion’s den (Dan. 6: 23). God is our strength and shield (Ps. 28: 7).
When we trust in the Lord, we will wait for Him. “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They shall soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (Isa. 40: 31 NLT).
Making the Connections
So, let’s have a recap of what faith is.
- Faith is belief.
Doubt detracts from faith. - Believers gain much when they have faith.
- People who do not have faith in God suffer consequences.
- Even though believers are called to live by faith, that does not guarantee believers will have easy journeys.
Trust, on the other hand, is the following:
- Trust is believing God will do what He says He will do.
- We can trust Him even when we are afraid because of His unfailing love.
- We can trust God because He is Sovereign God — our God.
- Trusting God also has benefits.
Part of me sees faith and trust as interchangeable. They both are contingent on belief. Can you have one without the other? Is this another chicken and the egg instance?
Part of me sees them as being different. I see faith as a noun and trust as a verb. Faith is underlying foundation. Trust is how we get it and exhibit it.
I know. I wrote that sentence and said, “Is that even possible?”
We can’t exhibit trust until you have it. We have to have the belief before we can latch on to it.
The belief is the faith. We say, “Yes, I am going to believe Jesus is the Son of God.” The trust ingrains it in us. It grows our faith.
How Do We Apply This?
I am sticking with chicken and egg. We have to believe enough to put our trust totally in God. Little faith equals little trust. Little trust calls our faith into question.
We have to choose what we are going to believe. Then we need to go whole hog. We have to grow our faith until our trust is solid.
I would say that we probably can’t parcel out faith and trust. God makes it abundantly clear that we are to do both. We need to grow both.
Loving Heavenly Father. You call us to have faith in You — even when we can’t see You. You call us to put our trust in You — even when it contradicts what the world tells us. Lord, help us to seek You. Help us to grow in You. We thank You in advance for the rewards and blessing You will give us as we grow closer to You. Amen.
What do you think? Do you think faith and trust are the chicken and the egg? Can you have one without the other?
Leave me a comment below (about this or anything else) or head over to my Facebook group for some interactive discussion.
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