The Gift of Trust
Psalm 33:20-21 ESV says, “Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.”
Learning to wait on the Lord is a critical part of the journey of abiding. The practice of trusting in God leads us to a place of security and hope that nothing on earth can provide. God is so worthy of our trust. He’s proven himself time and time again, but so often, our perspective shifts away from faith into doubt.
It’s worth considering the power of practicing trust in the “good” times. When we don’t necessarily feel the need to trust in the Lord, it is the perfect opportunity to develop a deeper bond of faith with God. The fruit of daily trust is a soul settled into the rest of God. This posture of prayer and trust is more than a short-term response or a wise plan; it’s a lifestyle of growth.
What does it look like to have a soul that waits on the Lord? How do we live a life of gladness in God? How do we live under the shield of God all the time, not just when we feel we are in danger?
Perhaps it looks something like what Paul describes in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, saying, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
We won’t understand this fully until we put it into practice. Even then, the journey of maturity in prayer, rejoicing, and Thanksgiving is a lifelong pursuit. The depth and scope of such a lifestyle is worth pursuing through daily practice.
There’s no magic switch that makes us instantly always grateful and always praying. There are times when the weight of God’s glory makes it easier to pray and naturally give thanks. But there are many times when life in God is simpler, smaller, and more routine. I find that these places are where God deepens my trust.
In a daily surrender, we discover more and more closeness to God. One day, we might realize that we’ve been in a non-stop prayer session for as long as we can remember. We will hear the voice of the Spirit reminding us of his nearness, assuring us of his presence.
I think this is the image of a life that waits on the Lord. Daily learning to trust him and letting the Spirit work in our hearts the gift of trust.
