Following God no matter what it looks like

Proverbs 3:5–7 (ESV)
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.”

There was once a time when business was done through a simple handshake. If someone told you they were going to do something, you could take it to the bank. As long as you trusted their word, it was as good as a legal document. Trusting a person’s word is an important part of relationships. And in our relationship with God, trusting Him and His Word are key to walking in His ways and living in peace.

In Proverbs, we see that we are called to trust in the Lord with all our hearts, not allowing our own understanding or earthly perspectives to be our ultimate guide. If, in everything, we acknowledge Him, there is a great advantage.

What does it mean to ACKNOWLEDGE Him?

When we acknowledge God, we are declaring some important realities. First, we acknowledge that He is God. As God, He reigns supreme over everything. He has all power. He has all authority. He is all-knowing. He is the only One you can truly trust.

On top of this, we are acknowledging that this God who has all power is also fully trustworthy. We can trust Him because He is trustworthy. Yes, life sometimes doesn’t LOOK like it’s working for our good. Sometimes things don’t go as we planned or as we expected God to work.

Nevertheless, when we trust God beyond what we see and what we feel, when we acknowledge that He is faithful, the promise is that He will make our paths “straight.” In other words, even though the route may seem curvy, the paths will lead straight to the will of God.

Prayer:
Father God, life can be so confusing. Things can happen that don’t seem fair and definitely don’t make sense to us. Watch over my kids as they navigate through life. Help them develop a confident trust in You and Your ways. Prove Yourself to them. Guide them into Your perfect will. Protect them from the enemy's schemes. As they trust in You, turn their curvy routes into paths that lead directly to Your will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.