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The Power of Trusting in God

Insights from The Weekly REBOOT

Trust is one of those things that can take years to build, seconds to break, and a lifetime to rebuild. Over the past few blogs, we’ve explored trust and mistrust—what it looks like, how it’s formed, and how it can be broken. But today, we bring it all together with one central truth: The only safe, solid, and eternal foundation for our trust is God Himself.

1. We Were Made to Trust

Whether we realize it or not, all of us are wired to trust. We trust people every day: family, friends, institutions, even strangers driving next to us on the highway. We also trust ourselves—our instincts, our plans, our goals. But all that trust has to be placed somewhere.

Proverbs 3:5-6 urges us:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

From the very beginning, God designed us to live in relationship with Him, a relationship built on trust. But in a world filled with betrayal, trauma, and pain, trusting anyone can feel risky. So how do we rebuild trust when it’s been broken?

2. Trusting God Begins with Surrender

One of the hardest things to do after being hurt is to release control. But that’s exactly what trusting God requires. Unlike people, God never fails. Isaiah 26:4 reminds us:

“Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.”

Trusting God means letting go of the illusion that we’re in control and believing that even when we don’t understand, He does. It means choosing to believe that His timing, His promises, and His character are good, even when life doesn’t feel that way.

3. Abraham: A Model of Radical Trust

Abraham’s story, found in Genesis 12, 15, and 22, is a powerful picture of what it means to trust God. God promised Abraham descendants as numerous as the stars, even when he and his wife were well beyond childbearing years. Then, once the promise was fulfilled, God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. Abraham trusted not in the outcome but in the One who made the promise. And God provided.

Like Abraham, we’re invited to trust God not just with the easy stuff but with our most precious things—our relationships, our futures, even our pain.

4. Trusting Others Requires Discernment

While trusting God is always safe, trusting people requires wisdom. Proverbs 4:23 says,

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

Jesus modeled this perfectly. Though He loved everyone, He didn’t give equal access to everyone. He had the masses, the seventy-two, the twelve disciples, and His inner circle of three. Even with those closest to Him, He set healthy boundaries. Jesus knew Judas would betray Him, and yet He still loved. But He wasn’t naive.

We can and should build relationships, but we must do so with prayerful discernment.

5. The Danger of Overtrusting

It’s easy to overtrust. We put our full hope in people, jobs, money, health, or even ourselves. But Jeremiah 17:5 warns us:

“Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord.”

Why? Because all those things will eventually fall short. They’re not meant to carry the full weight of our trust. When they inevitably fail, we’re left broken, disillusioned, even bitter. Only God can sustain the full weight of our faith.

6. When Trust is Broken, God is Close

No matter how strong your faith is, life will still throw curveballs. You will still experience disappointment, betrayal, or loss. But here’s the promise:

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18

If you’re walking through broken trust today, know this: God is not distant. He is near. And He specializes in restoration. Whether you’ve trusted too quickly, been hurt too deeply, or are afraid to trust again, God meets you there. He heals. He restores. He redeems.

7. How to Begin Rebuilding Trust

Rebuilding trust, especially after trauma, doesn’t happen overnight. But it can happen. Here are three steps to begin the process:

  • Pray for wisdom. Ask God to guide you in knowing who and what to trust moving forward.
  • Set healthy boundaries. Not everyone deserves full access to your heart, and that’s okay.
  • Trust God first. When He is your foundation, you can withstand the ups and downs of life.

Psalm 56:3 reminds us,

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.”

Fear and trust can coexist because trust is a choice, not just a feeling. And the more we reflect on God’s character, the easier that choice becomes.

So, What Now?

Trust is a powerful thing. When placed in the wrong people or things, it can lead to heartbreak. But when placed in God, trust becomes the pathway to peace, healing, and freedom.

Let’s choose to live by faith, placing our ultimate trust in the One who is always faithful.

Prayer:
Lord, we choose to trust You above all else. Help us to place our hope in Your unchanging love and wisdom. Heal what’s been broken. Restore what’s been lost. Give us courage to trust again with discernment, grace, and Your guidance. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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