5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
Proverbs 3:5-6
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6 has a profound impact for those who believe in God. We must learn to do this one thing if we ever want to experience true freedom in life.
We must learn to trust God.
The meaning of Proverbs 3:5-6 is for the one who believes in God, to trust God with every part of themselves, not relying on their own understanding. In every way possible, we give Him thought and consideration, so that He may direct our actions and choices in the way we ought to go.
What is Proverbs 3 talking about?
Proverbs 3 in the Bible is an instructional section of the Bible written by the king of Israel, King Solomon. This portion covers the topics of pursuing wisdom, trusting God, and treating others the right way according to God.
Proverbs 3 has a few famous Bible verses and quotes that many Christians and non-Christians have most likely heard or seen at least partially in their lifetime.
Famous & Popular Bible Verses in Proverbs 3
“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck” Proverbs 3:3
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;” Proverbs 3:5
“Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.” Proverbs 3:7
“Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding,” Proverbs 3:13
“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,” Proverbs 3:27
The Wisdom Of God | Why Study Proverbs
To understand the importance of the book of Proverbs, you must first understand how it came into existence.
One of the kings of Israel, King Solomon, was asked by God what he wanted. He didn’t ask for money, power, or anything like that. Instead, he asked for wisdom and it pleased the Lord.
Let’s take a look at the exchange and what happened.
5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
6 Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.
7 “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” 15 Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream.
He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court.
1 Kings 3:5-15
God blessed Solomon in response and then he went on to write the book of Proverbs. How exciting is it we get to enjoy this blessing from God to Solomon so many years down the line?
What is the meaning of Proverbs 3:5 & 6?
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
Proverbs 3:5-6
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
The meaning of Proverbs 3:5-6 is for the one who believes in God, to trust God with every part of themselves, not relying on their own understanding. In every way possible, we are to give Him thought and consideration, so that He may direct our actions and choices in the way we ought to go.
What does it mean to trust in God with all your heart?
When we are trusting God with our whole heart, we are whole-heartedly trusting in Him to the best of our ability. While we won’t be perfect in anything we do, as Christians, our lives are, as much as we are able to see and do, trusting God with our whole hearts.
What does this kind of trust look like in our lives?
That of a child.
For a child clings to and trusts their father. The child is hanging on every word, believing every word, and wholeheartedly trusting that its father knows best and is working on behalf of them.
It’s this kind of trusting with our whole hearts we must actively do daily.
What does it mean that God will make your paths straight?
When we act in accordance with Proverbs 3:6 which tells us to submit or acknowledge God in all our ways, God makes sure of it that we do His will, and do what pleases Him.
This promise of directing that God does over our life is one of His sweet promises for the Christian to cling to. For if God is directing and in charge of what we are doing, we don’t have to worry about messing it up.
God’s love watches over us, directs us, and shows us the way in which we are to go.
Scripture is full of insight into how we as Christians can allow for God to have more influence in and through our lives.
This happens when we abide in God’s love, when we trust Him fully, and when we keep our focus on God.