Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and He will make your paths straight.

1. Trust in the Lord with all your heart
2. Lean not on your own understanding
3. In all your ways submit to him
4. He will make your paths straight 

This is a familiar passage from God’s living word, but have you ever wondered if it has reached “too familiar” status?  We get jazzed about God’s part, “He will make your paths straight”, however when I lean into the verses that pertain to me, it is that word, “all” which gives me pause every time.

What does “all” even look like?  How do we even know when we have trusted to the very borders of our heart where “all” resides? Could it be that over time we have been lulled into believing that a lesser percentage of trust, actually feels like “all” in our heart?

Before moving forward, please allow me to share one incredible observation that begs to be highlighted.  If, living Proverbs 3:5-6 with God were impossible, then He would never have admonished it, and then gifted us a promise when we achieved it. Oh how I hope this fills your heart with encouragement and joy.   

The Yellow Carriage –

I pulled back the slightly faded linen curtains and surveyed the New York skyline.  Dark clouds heavily pregnant with rain threaten to alter afternoon plans with the son.  Scrumptious food, outdoor markets, and a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art were on the docket, and rain was not.

I quickly finished getting ready, and then schlepped (no other way to describe it) down five flights of stairs to hail a yellow carriage.  Within a few minutes without a single whistle, or flapping my arms like a chicken the carriage stopped before me.  The coachman opened my door, and then with the slightest nod of his head confirmed the luncheon destination.  Spoiler alert – these opening pleasantries would ultimately be the high point of our journey.    

Full disclosure – When traveling via taxi in Manhattan, there are a few important things you need to know.  Slow and steady does not win the race, caution lights trigger jet propulsion thrusters, and red lights are mere suggestions to be ignored.  Thus, when we lurched forward into a non-existent traffic lane I was wary, but not entirely surprised.  The gentle mist was now a steady drizzle. 

Twenty minutes later I stood triumphantly on a sidewalk extremely grateful to deeply breath in the sweet aroma of rain. What occurred between those opening pleasantries, and sidewalk breathing is what I call the “mushy middle”.  

After, I heard the click of the seat belt, I quickly surveyed the interior of my carriage, and then immediately wanted to unfasten it, and run all the way to the restaurant.  It seemed that the taxi driver thought he was racing in the Indy 500, and his vehicle of choice was an absolute schmutz fest of unidentifiable crumbs, smeared greasy hand prints, and a film of dusty, stickiness on every surface imaginable.  All of that would have been barely tolerable as long as I held my hands in the air like a surgeon.  However, the absolute worst thing was that the cab smelled like a sweaty locker room left to ferment for months in the summer boiling heat.  I rotated between holding my breath until I wanted to pass out, and then deeply inhaling noxious gases that could singe your nose hairs.       

In retrospect it’s not difficult to identify the part I played in this travel debacle.  I was in a hurry to get to my destination and allowed impatience to take the lead.  Thus I chose the first and ultimately worst option available to me.  Yep, this was a prime example of “lean not on your own understanding.”

As, I look back it’s hard to believe that this was how one of the most important God days of my life began…

Sometimes what looks like an inconvenience or interruption is actually an intervention orchestrated by God to reveal something to us…

A Father Daughter Stroll –

After, I had inhaled plenty of fresh air, and my adrenaline surge subsided, I completed my journey toward the restaurant on foot.  Upon arrival I exchanged my name for a buzzer, and then joined my fellow hungry wall huggers huddled together under a velvet green canopy. 

I leaned against the wall content to watch the flow of strangers across the street. I saw everyone, but focused on no one.  Then, as if a photographer adjusted the aperture of his camera, I noticed a father/daughter duo, Stroller Dad and Adorable Daughter.  Their lives were about to briefly brush the edges of mine, but their impact would remain forever.  God would use their intimate exchange with one another to reveal the purest form of what “trust with all your heart” looks like to him. 

It Looks Like The Trust Of A Child –   

Initially, they captured my attention, because they were traveling at a much slower pace than the average rushed NYC walker.  The effect on the approaching pedestrian traffic behind them looked similar to what occurs in the middle lane of an interstate.  When the power walkers drew near the dawdling duo they would split to the left and right, and then cut back into the middle lane once they passed them.  Of course no turning signals were used for any of these maneuvers.       

Then, as if an orchestra conductor lowered his baton signaling the opening movement of the symphony to burst forth in sound, the clouds ripped open to empty their contents.  In the blink of an eye barely polite New Yorkers morphed into a compact mass of black umbrellas with legs that could barely move.  That is except for the unfortunate curb walkers who lost their balance and then tumbled into ankle deep rushing water.    

Stroller Dad was unfazed; his demeanor was completely different from the other frenzied walkers.  Though sandwiched in the middle of irritated, wet humans, he was calm yet alert as he moved his head left to right, and back again in an effort to avoid a human/stroller collision.  As a father his responsibility was to protect his child from dangers only he could see while navigating her journey.   

At this point with the stroller top pulled down, Little Miss who looked to be about three years old could no longer see her dad.  The only view in front of her consisted of a walking wall of legs on all sides.  Not only could she not see her father, but the deafening wail of emergency sirens and honking horns rendered anybody outside incapable of hearing their own thoughts, let alone someone speaking to them.  Sadly, there was no way Adorable Daughter could even hear her father’s comforting voice yet just like her father she was unaffected by the chaos of the crowd. 

The blessing of “Trust with all your heart” is peace.  

Actually, in that moment it was I who became overwhelmed after realizing what was actually unfolding before me.  This was not a lesson about enduring an unpleasant encounter, or avoiding obstacles.  It was about trusting her/our Father completely when faced with obstacles.

As, I marveled at what was unfolding, suddenly Stroller Dad stopped inching his way through the crowd all together.  In that moment I thought the benefit of having a giraffe’s neck would’ve been incredibly useful. 

What was wrong?  Why did he stop?  What had changed?

Without hesitation I abandoned the safety of the protective covering, and boldly stepped out to battle the pouring rain armed with my utterly useless mini umbrella.  I walked a few feet down the sidewalk until I was exactly parallel and in front of daddy/daughter.  It was absolutely imperative that I have an unobstructed view of what was unfolding.  God was teaching me something, and there was no way I was going to miss one minute of this class.   

As, if they were the only two in the entire world, Dad calmly shimmied his way toward the front of the stroller, and then bent down so his face was all she could see.  Darling Daughter immediately radiated pure joy as her little arms reached for him.  Lovingly he caressed her chubby cheeks and then moved closer to whisper something in her ear.  As, if responding to what he said, she scooted back a bit in her stroller, and then (wait for it) he draped a blankie over her face and arms.  A wall of legs no longer surrounded Little Miss; instead she was now surrounded with a blanket that completely obstructed her view of everything.  Yes, my face was wet, but not from the rain.   

In the next few minutes I was captivated by what she was not doing, as much as by what she was doing.  Then for the first time in my life I talked to the restaurant buzzer still tightly gripped in my hand, “You better not vibrate right now, because I will have to ignore you.” It was imperative that I discover exactly what Adorable Daughter would do next.  I could almost hear God say, “Keep watching.  Keep Watching.”

I wondered if the excruciatingly slow pace, and the increased anxiety level of the crowd would cause her to fling the blanket off of her head and face?  She never turned around in the stroller seeking comfort, and affirmation from Dad that all was still well like I have?  No and No.  

In case you are wondering if she had fallen asleep. That would be a “no”, because occasionally, I could see her little hand pop up, and then wave to people she couldn’t see.   

Carriage Princess never even lifted a small corner of her blanket for just an itty-bitty reassuring  peak that they were still on the right path like I have done.  Don’t even get me started on the fact that she did not whine or pitch a fit, because she was tired of the journey like I have.  That precious little lady never did any of the things I have done. 

She wasn’t concerned about her safety.  She wasn’t concerned about what others were doing around her.  She wasn’t concerned about her father’s ability to navigate their situation.  She totally, completely, unquestionably trusted her father in the midst of the unknown. 

Let the Massive Dose Of Pondering Begin –

Over the next few months it seemed at every turn God highlighted countless “trust moments” that occurred between parents and their children.  Friends, don’t ever doubt that when our Heavenly Father desires something to be deeply rooted in our heart, He will reaffirm it until we get it.       

Here are a few of the child like trust moments that God showed me during my crash course on total trust.  I could share more, but I know He will highlight examples tailored just for you…

*Watching the wobbly first step of a young child as he begins to walk into outstretched, loving arms.  Falling after a few steps was not a thought in his mind.  Doubting if his chubby feet were wide enough to hold him up was not a thought in his mind.  Doubting if he could actually do it again, because he might be a one-step wonder, never crossed his mind.   

*Watching a training wheel graduate embarking on his maiden voyage into the two-wheeled world, as his Father sprints alongside him prepared to assist if necessary.  The future Tour De France winner never doubted if his father had the stamina to keep up, or if his reaction time would be quick enough to catch him.     

*Finally, I remember watching our son eagerly climb into his father’s arms for the first time so he could sling shot said child into the air without a kiddie parachute.  For five memorable lifetime seconds Airborne Jordan squealed with delight with his arms spread wide. There was not a shred of doubt that his father’s arms weren’t strong enough to catch him no matter how many times he excitedly yelled, “Do it again daddy, do it again!”

Trusting with your whole heart makes you brave enough to trust the very first time. 

Mind Blown –

Without any debate, we know that children are the most vulnerable among us, yet their extreme vulnerability does not equate to the same amount of caution.  It’s actually quite the opposite.  The Lord created each of us with the capacity to “totally trust with all our heart” in the countless “first time moments” that occur during our entire life.  When you think about it, a child is quite literally the original, perfect example of a “first time trustee.”   Naturally, the second step, second bicycle ride sans training wheels, and the second time tossed into the air takes a little less trust, simply because it worked the first time.  Might I delicately suggest that this may be the innocent beginning of “leaning into our own understanding”?  Perhaps when we do so too often, we exchange initial trust in him for initial trust in ourselves.    

However!  But!  Yet!  Although!  Nonetheless, according to Proverbs 3:5-6 we have the capacity to trust in the Lord with all our heart at any age.  

The Wrap Up –

A child totally trusts their earthly father, who loves, comforts, protects, provides, encourages, guides, teaches, and even corrects him, even though their trust experience with him is but a handful of years. 

So what about you, and I? 

Honestly, I must conclude that it should be easy to “totally trust in the Lord with all your heart” because, first of all He loved us enough to send Jesus as a sacrifice for us so we may live forever with him.  Yet, He didn’t stop there.  Every single day He showers us with love, comfort, guidance, protection, compassion, encouragement, provision, knowledge, and even on occasion tender correction. 

The Most Import Thing –

Father, sometimes I woefully struggle to trust you with my whole heart.  As, You know I can vacillate between total trusting, selective trusting, and delayed trusting.  Thank you for your constant, unwavering patience and mercy when I pull out my “need additional information notebook” as a prerequisite to total trust. 

Father, I long to “trust with all my heart”, as you described in Proverbs 3:5-6.  I’m asking You to quickly speak, and if need be yell above ever other voice when I am drifting into partial trust, which I know also means I have entered “lean into my own understanding” territory. 

Father, Help me to live in such a way that encourages others to trust in You with all their heart as Savior, Deliver, Provider, Protector, Healer, and King… 

Father, I am humbly grateful that eight years ago on a rainy summer day You used Stroller Dad, and Adorable Daughter to teach me what complete trust looks like.  Every single breathtaking moment that unfolded before me is forever seared in my heart.        

Until next time,

Wen