David Bahn – Reflections

Proverbs 3:5-8

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
⁷ Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
⁸It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.

We struggle with the whys of life. We believe that if we are able to explain why things are as they are we will better be able to deal with them. This is partly true – at least to the extent that we are able to make wiser decisions because we understand why life has unfolded the way it has. Being able to answer why helps us to avoid certain negative outcomes.

But Solomon offers us a better means of handling todays and tomorrows. He says trust in the Lord is better than trusting our own understanding. In other words, if we trust our own understanding of things – no matter how erudite we may be – we have focused our faith on the wrong thing. Indeed we are focusing our faith on ourselves and entrusting our future to a very finite and short-sighted god.

Trusting in God, however, places our lives into the hands of One who has all power, knowledge, wisdom, insight, and an eternal love and goodness. God not only has the power to direct the flow of life, but he also has every contingency covered and every situation in hand. We cannot make that claim for ourselves.

When we acknowledge God in all our ways and keep his commandments he will direct our paths. When we admit that we do not have the wisdom we need even to comprehend the twists and turns of life we will find health and refreshment.

These word are good words for those facing difficult times and who want answers. But we don’t need answers, we need hope, and love, and the assurance of God’s presence in our lives. Truth is, however, we all need hope, love, and the presence of God – whether in times of joy or times of difficulty.