IN ME WE TRUST

April 13, 2025

“Our culture celebrates self-trust. We’re taught that if we dig deep enough, we’ll find the strength, the wisdom, and the power we need to succeed.”

“Scripture teaches something very different. It says we’re not enough—and that’s not a bad thing! It’s the beginning of freedom.”

“The sooner we learn that we aren’t the saviors of our souls, the captains of our fate, the sooner we can trust the One who is.”

THE PROBLEM: TRUSTING MY PLAN OVER GOD’S

“It’s not that I don’t believe in God. It’s that I think I know how things should go, and I want Him to bless MY version of the story.”

“We say we trust Him, but we’re really asking Him to co-sign our agenda.”

[Proverbs 28:26] “Those who trust their own insight are foolish, but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe.”

[Proverbs 16:9] “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.”

“When I push forward with my plan while ignoring His Word, His Spirit, and His timing, I’m no longer submitting – I’m resisting.”

[Jonah 4:3] “Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”

“God’s sovereignty isn’t always comfortable, but it’s always better.”

• “His detours often lead to deeper character.”
• “His delays are not denials—they’re development.”

THE DANGER: CONFIDENCE BECOMES UNDOING

“When I start trusting in my abilities, my experience, or my track record more than I trust in God, I begin walking a line that looks like strength but leads straight to pride.”

“Pride quietly whispers: ‘I don’t really need help. I’ve got this.'”

[Jeremiah 17:5] “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord.”

[Psalm 20:7] “Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.”

[Daniel 4:30] “By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city…”

[Daniel 4:33] “He was driven from human society… until his hair was like eagles’ feathers…”

“Self-sufficiency says, ‘I’ve got this.’ If God sees pride, he’ll put pressure on you until you finally say, ‘I need You.'”

“Pride is not just a behavior problem—it’s a trust problem. It’s me saying to God, ‘I don’t need You right now. I’ve got this covered.'”

“God loves you too much to let you succeed without Him.”

[Hebrews 12:6] “For the Lord disciplines those he loves…”

[James 4:6] “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

“When God sees pride, He doesn’t ignore it. He resists it—because pride is the wall that keeps us from grace. And if tearing that wall down takes pressure, then pressure is grace.”

“God will let you bend until you finally kneel. Not to break you, but to bless you.”

A.W. Tozer: “The reason why many are still troubled, still seeking, still making little forward progress is because they haven’t yet come to the end of themselves. Coming to the end of ourselves – that’s where trust in God truly begins.”

THE WAY OUT: SELF-DENIAL AND SURRENDER

“If the root of our problem is trusting ourselves more than God, then the solution can’t be trying harder—it has to be trusting deeper.”

“The way out of pride, pressure, and frustration isn’t more striving—it’s surrender.”

What surrender means:

• “Stop forcing my will and start seeking God’s.”
• “Lay down my need to be right, in control, and I pick up obedience.”
• “Stop demanding answers and start choosing faith.”

“It’s not the end of effort—it’s the end of ego.”

“You don’t lose anything in surrender that God wasn’t planning to replace with something better.”

[Luke 9:23-24] “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”

“Jesus didn’t say deny your bad habits—He said deny yourself.”

[Philippians 2:6-8] “…He made himself nothing… and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!”

“Jesus didn’t cling to His position – He emptied Himself.”

CONCLUSION

“When we live like we’re our own provider, guide, protector, and savior…

• We cut ourselves off from the grace that only comes to the humble
• We risk missing the preferred future that God had planned”

[Proverbs 3:5-6] “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.”

“You don’t have to carry what only God can hold.” “You don’t have to know what only God can see.” “You don’t have to be who only Jesus can be.”

“He’s not asking you to surrender because He wants to break you. He’s asking you to surrender so He can bless you.”

PRAYER REFLECTION

“God, I Submit my plans to you today. I want what you want for me. Show me where I need to adjust. Show me what to keep doing. Use all of it for your glory because I trust you with everything.”

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