Trust is a funny thing, oftentimes It is not something that we come by easily in this world. The definition of trust is, “a firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.” So, what does it mean to trust God?

I have found myself constantly wanting to have control over the things in my life. I subconsciously believe that if I am able to attain control, I can trust that all will go well. Ultimately, my need for control has only driven me to stress and be anxious.

Being aware of my desire for control has allowed me to refocus my attention on the areas in my life where I need God most. As I go throughout my day, I now have an awareness of when I strive to have control over my circumstances. I can feel my stress levels rise and sense fear begin to creep in.

After 2 years of living in Germany, my family and I have decided to move back to the United States. In this transition, we had all of our possessions packed up and shipped out to our new home mid June. We do not know when our household goods, or cars will arrive to the states.

We are still in the process of buying a new home, and have been living in temporary situations for almost 2 months. This has been a season of stretching our faith; trusting in God for His provision. Between the monetary expenditure, and the discomfort of not having a place to call home, there has been much to stress over.

However, I am grateful for the ways God has stretched my capacity in the past to prepare me for this time. I have felt the subtle presence of fear and worry, but choose to captivate those thoughts, and remember the truth of God. I am trusting in God to provide for my family. This is why I have had peace in the midst of it all.

John 14:9-11 NIV Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe in the evidence of the works themselves.

We know God through Christ. It is because of what He did for us in His life, death and resurrection that we are able to know the Father. This is what Jesus is saying to Philip.

The question Philip asked in verse 8 was, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus is trying to show us how we can trust God. We trust God when we know Jesus.

So how do we get to know Jesus? It is through the things that we know about Him that we are able to trust in Him. Knowing Christ requires our time and attention in studying His life, staying cognizant of His sacrifice, and believing in His resurrection.

Through these things we grow and build our knowledge of Christ and thus His promises for our lives. More knowledge of Him will fortify our trust in Him. Our capacity for trust is only expanded by our capacity of what we know to be true.

Psalm 37:3 says, “Trust the Lord and do good; live in the land, and farm faithfulness.” What seeds are we planting in ourselves to farm faithfulness? It is the work of coming to know Christ that we are able to trust in God.

What do we know about Christ? What are the reminders we tell ourselves about His promises for our lives? Answer these questions for your life; see if you are able to discover the things you need to learn about Him in order to trust Him.