Have you ever gone through a hard time and heard the advice “Just trust God”? I cannot count the number of times I have heard and given that advice. The question then becomes: “Well how do I do that?” Do I just decide to trust God? Is believing God easy or difficult?

Knowing God vs. Knowing about Him

Knowing someone and knowing about someone are two very different experiences. I can hear about someone, who they are and what they’re about, and yet my perspective could be vastly different from the truth. Depending on who you talk to, someone could be a saint or a devil. Furthermore, when we don’t personally know someone, it’s almost impossible to trust them with something as personal as access to our checking account, or keys to our house. It would be absurd to give someone a key to your home that you don’t know and say “Well I have heard you’re a pretty cool person, here ya go, don’t do anything that would damage my personal property and make sure you keep it clean.”

Here lies the danger in knowing about God and not knowing Him personally. I will only be able to trust Him to the extent I know Him. I can go to church and hear good things about God, but it’s not until I experience Him and know Him for myself that I can trust Him. 1st John 4:16-18 (AMP) says: We have come to know [by personal observation and experience], and have believed [with deep, consistent faith] the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides continually in him. In this [union and fellowship with Him], love is completed and perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him]; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love [dread does not exist]. But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves [the expectation of divine] punishment, so the one who is afraid [of God’s judgment] is not perfected in love [has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God’s love].

Notice what verse 16 says: “We have come to know [BY PERSONAL OBSERVATION AND EXPERIENCE].” Jesus gave us access to a personal relationship with Him so we could fully know and trust Him. When I get to know who God is, I start to understand His will and nature. I know Him as good, as someone who is the strength of my life and works all things out for the good of those who love Him who are called according to His purpose. Without personal investment in your relationship with Jesus, you will not have the confidence or faith to trust Him fully with everything.

The Bible tells us in (Romans 10:11 AMP) that those who trust in the Lord will not be disappointed. When we choose to put our trust in God for His will to be done in our lives, it takes all the pressure off us. Instead of being tormented by the fear of how something will or won’t turn out, we will have peace knowing our Father in Heaven is caring for us. Take a look at what Isaiah 46:3-4 says:

“Listen to Me, O house of Jacob,
And all the remnant of the house of Israel,
Who have been upheld by Me from birth,
Who have been carried from the womb:
Even to your old age, I am He,
And even to gray hairs, I will carry you!
I have made, and I will bear;
Even I will carry and will deliver you.

All throughout the Word, God promises and reminds us that He loves and cares for us. His promise of peace is always available to those who will take hold of it and trust Him.

Practical Application

Get to know God for yourself. While teaching from others isn’t bad, you need that personal relationship for yourself. Romans 10:17 Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Trusting God takes a personal investment to know His Word.

When a challenge comes your way, ask God for help. (Lord help me trust you in this challenging situation, so your will is done). Ask God to show you scripture to base your faith on.