To trust in the Lord doesn’t seem like a hard thing to do, and neither is it. But, over time, we might be at the bottom, looking up, thinking we have somehow slipped from our trust in the Lord to trust in ourselves or trust in people.

It’s a slippery slope.

You feel dry, like the desert. Reading a scripture like Proverbs 3:5-6, which says,

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

and think, “Yeah, that’s totally me!” I do trust in the Lord.

But then over time, perhaps weeks or even months, something’s changed. Something has shifted in you, and you feel it… and you know it…

IN THE WILDERNESS

You come to a point where you’re at the end of yourself, crying out to God with earnest prayer. “Help me, Lord. There’s nothing left in me except to offer You me. I can’t do it on my own anymore. I don’t want to please people anymore, I don’t want to put my trust in people anymore, and I don’t want to lean on my strength anymore. I just want You.”

A very real you exists… honest, raw and completely transparent.

In your heart, you know that you’re not the same person.

Everything’s changed.

THE JOURNEY BEGINS

There’s a journey, and a road ahead, which consists of surrender and trusting in the Lord.

At the time you didn’t realize it, but looking back you see that there’s a purging and pruning where all that is not of God in you, is being traded, so that you are able to embrace His promises, His life, His Word to heal all the wounds and hurt.

And one thing you know in your heart is a deep down scripture… “He will never leave you and He will never forsake you.” (Hebrew 13:5).

That’s all you need to carry on, just knowing that He is with you.

THE TRIALS AND THE TESTS

When you come to the end of yourself, that’s the place where God has your attention.

Let’s be honest, this place isn’t comfortable and it’s a process.

While it’s not a place where you’re in it one day and out the next, it is the place where you’re being conformed to the image of Christ. You are being transformed into who you are designed to be by stripping away all that doesn’t speak of God. This place is where you truly learn to trust in the Lord with clean hands and pure heart, because God can do things that you can’t!

SHAPING

Our lives are about the Lord and what He wants accomplished on the earth. If our life is our own, it has nothing to do with the Lord.

The potter and the clay in the Bible, reminds me that the Lord will work in us as it seems good to Him. When you look at the Lord’s character and what He says in His Word, He’s not out to steal from you, kill you or destroy you; that’s the enemy’s plan (John 10:10). But what the enemy means for evil in your life, God means for good (Genesis 50:20).

The Potter and the Clay

The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying: “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.” Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. (Jeremiah 18:1-4)

PRUNING

Just imagine if a plant could talk and feel… how would it look and view the gardener’s pruning process?

The plant probably doesn’t like the feel of each clipping nor how exposed and raw its branches are. But, after the clipping, there’s something that starts to happen. Exposed ends start to heal and over time become healed.  Beautiful new growth starts to appear.

I tend to wonder if after new growth starts to appear, if the plant looks back and is glad and relieved that the pruning process took place. Perhaps it feels thankful that the gardener took the time to prune and care for it, so that those things which aren’t growing are removed making room for what’s needed. Maybe the plant was thinking, “Wow, had I known that all this beautiful growth would take place and now feeling this good, I would have done it much sooner!”

Pruning everything in us that doesn’t speak of God is crucial to our growth, for fruit to appear and to glorify our Father as a witness of His loving kindness.

But, let’s be honest. This process doesn’t feel good. Can you even say it’s welcomed?

The True Vine

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. (John 15:1-8)

TRUST IN THE LORD

I have found that while the Lord is working in me, shaping and pruning me to be conformed more and more to His image, I’m in a quiet space. Saying anything to people feels difficult. It’s really an unexplainable process, but I know that deep down, I’m encouraged.

I’m encouraged by how I’ll come out because diamonds aren’t made without the pressure and the heat that comes around them.

I’m encouraged by what the Lord is bringing me through and what’s on the other side once I can see more. On the other side of a valley is a mountain top, and the Lord is with me and you in the wilderness, in the valley, on the way to the top of the mountain and at the peak.

And lastly, I’m encouraged knowing that I’ll trust in the Lord more than ever before, being more reliant and dependent on Him, instead of myself or others.

30-DAY TRUST CHALLENGE

Strengthen your trust in the Lord by downloading this FREE 30-Day Bible Scripture Trust Challenge Printable below.

There’s power in declaring scriptures over your life, speaking the Word of God over you and your situation.

Let me know how you’re finding this challenge and whether it’s encouraging in your journey.

Let’s do this together, because putting our trust in the Lord makes all things possible to those who believe.

Anchored in Jesus,
Melanie