Scripture
Trusting in the Lord
1My child,[1] never forget the things I have taught you.
Store my commands in your heart.
2If you do this, you will live many years,
and your life will be satisfying.
3Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!
Tie them around your neck as a reminder.
Write them deep within your heart.
4Then you will find favor with both God and people,
and you will earn a good reputation.
5Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
6Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.
7Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.
Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8Then you will have healing for your body
and strength for your bones.
9Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the best part of everything you produce.
10Then he will fill your barns with grain,
and your vats will overflow with good wine.
11My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline,
and don’t be upset when he corrects you.
12For the Lord corrects those he loves,
just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.[2]
13Joyful is the person who finds wisdom,
the one who gains understanding.
14For wisdom is more profitable than silver,
and her wages are better than gold.
15Wisdom is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
16She offers you long life in her right hand,
and riches and honor in her left.
17She will guide you down delightful paths;
all her ways are satisfying.
18Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
happy are those who hold her tightly.
19By wisdom the Lord founded the earth;
by understanding he created the heavens.
20By his knowledge the deep fountains of the earth burst forth,
and the dew settles beneath the night sky.
21My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment.
Hang on to them,
22for they will refresh your soul.
They are like jewels on a necklace.
23They keep you safe on your way,
and your feet will not stumble.
24You can go to bed without fear;
you will lie down and sleep soundly.
25You need not be afraid of sudden disaster
or the destruction that comes upon the wicked,
26for the Lord is your security.
He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.
27Do not withhold good from those who deserve it
when it’s in your power to help them.
28If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say,
“Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.”
29Don’t plot harm against your neighbor,
for those who live nearby trust you.
30Don’t pick a fight without reason,
when no one has done you harm.
31Don’t envy violent people
or copy their ways.
32Such wicked people are detestable to the Lord,
but he offers his friendship to the godly.
33The Lord curses the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the upright.
34The Lord mocks the mockers
but is gracious to the humble.[3]
35The wise inherit honor,
but fools are put to shame!
Translation notes (3)
- 3:1 Hebrew My son; also in 3:11, 21.
- 3:12 Greek version reads loves, / and he punishes those he accepts as his children. Compare Heb 12:6.
- 3:34 Greek version reads The Lord opposes the proud / but gives grace to the humble. Compare Jas 4:6; 1 Pet 5:5.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6
“How do I know God’s will for my life?” This is a question that many, if not all of us, have asked or heard someone ask. It is a natural and good question to ask. After all, most of us would say that we want to follow and honor God with our lives, so it is only natural that we want to know God’s will. God’s will may seem very far off or hard to understand, but believe it or not, we will see this week that we can know God’s will for our lives. Today, we will see in our Bible study that if we want to know God’s will for our lives, we have to stop relying on our own understanding.
Proverbs 3 teaches us to lean on God rather than our own understanding. In this chapter, the writer of this Proverb says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding,” verse 5 says. This command is particularly important when seeking out God’s will for our lives. It is so easy when we are trying to discern God’s will and make His will align with ours. Without realizing it, we can make God’s will bend toward our will instead of becoming more like Jesus. Instead of imposing our own will and desires on God, Proverbs 3:5 tells us to trust God. When we trust God, we can follow Him and His guidance.
The writer of Proverbs 3 continued his teaching, “Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take (verse 6). When we decide to chase after God’s will, this verse tells us that he will show us the path to take. How does He do this? He does this by giving us wisdom, bringing wise people into our lives, closing the door to one of the paths we considered taking, and I could go on. When we faithfully seek God’s will, He faithfully guides us.
There is a quiet confidence in knowing that God will show us what path to take. He sees everything, and He knows the future. Because of this, He is the exact person we would want to show us what path to take. He is the all-knowing, wise God who helps guide us and show us His will. We have to decide if we will be faithful to listen and follow His guidance.
Moving Toward Action
When wondering what God’s will for our lives is, Proverbs 3:5-6 is both a challenge and comfort to us. Commit these verses to memory. Memorize them to have confidence when trying to discern His will for your life. Write these verses on a notecard and stick the notecard in your Bible to remind you to trust God with everything and not your own understanding.
Going Deeper
Proverbs 3:1-35 (NLT)
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