Not Trusting God Leads to Stress
By Rick Warren
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” Psalm 20:7 (NIV)
Everyone trusts something. The question is, in what—or in whom—do you place your trust?
Our society tends to spurn trust—or at least we say we do. We’re skeptical of everyone and everything. We don’t trust the government or journalists. Employees don’t trust employers. Customers don’t trust businesses. We don’t even trust the weather report! When you get down to the bottom of the decline of trust today, you’ll find that our society’s “truth decay” is a big part of it.
Truth and trust go together. You trust people who tell you the truth. You don’t trust people if you don’t think they’re telling you the truth. And if you don’t believe in absolute truth, then you can’t trust anyone to tell you the truth.
Our lack of trust causes us tremendous stress in life. We were born to trust. God wired us with the capacity and desire to trust in something greater than ourselves, because he wanted us to have a relationship with him.
If you don’t trust God, then you will create something else to trust. It may be a diploma on the wall, money in the bank, your spouse, your career, or a hobby. This desire to trust in something larger than ourselves is nothing new. The biblical writers were keenly aware of it in their cultures as well. The Bible says in Psalm 20:7, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (NIV).
The Bible has a word for whatever we place our trust in rather than God. The Bible calls it an “idol.” God’s Word says that, for our own good, we need to stay away from idols: “For your own good . . . do not sin by making for yourselves an idol in any form” (Deuteronomy 4:15-16 GNT).
So, how can you know truth? You spend time reading and studying and meditating on Scripture. You learn what truth is by getting to know a person, Jesus Christ. As you do, you’ll find the most secure place for your trust and a foundation for life.
PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
Experience More of God’s Presence in 2025!
Prayer has the power to transform your year and that’s why we hope you’ll request a copy of the brand-new Daily Hope Prayer Journal!
This year’s theme, Resting in the Great I Am, will help you experience more of God’s presence in the year ahead as you learn to pray with greater passion and purpose.
Request your Daily Hope Prayer Journal: Resting in the Great I Am when you give below, knowing your gift will be DOUBLED by the $100,000 Match to help reach more people with the hope of Jesus in 2025.
Thank you!
*All gifts will be doubled up to the full amount of the grant. Thank you for your generous support!
*The USA IRS code permits you to deduct the amount of your financial gift to Daily Hope that exceeds the fair market value of materials you received from Daily Hope.
This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
You can listen to Rick Warren on OnePlace.com.
