“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.” Psalm 20:7
During the time this verse was written, King David was leading Israel’s armies in war against their enemies. The confidence of some going to war would be in the chariots and horses used as strength in battle. Our trust should not be in anything besides Him. Trust is a personal matter, where we look to for our strength. God wants us to put our strength in Him, not anything else. What we put our trust in is what has the ability to influence or control our decisions, actions, thought life, emotional investments, our resources, our talents, and anything under our sphere of leadership.
What are some strengths other than God where we might put our trust? One is people. If we trust in people for our sufficiency, then it is people we will work to please. If people come against us, we fear what they might do to us, but the Bible says in Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Could our trust be in our customers, our congregation, our family?
Another is money. The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:10 “the love of money is the root of all evil.” Money isn’t evil, the love of it is, because putting our trust in it is a matter of self-sufficiency, control. Could our trust be in our retirement account, our IRA, our employer?
Another is government. Are we relying on our government to meet our needs, to be our strength, to protect us from harm? God may use people, money or government to care for our needs, but He doesn’t want our trust to be in those things. God wants our trust to be in Him.
Another place we may put our trust is in ourselves – our strength in our abilities, resources and circle of friends and family. God doesn’t want our trust in anyone or anything other than Himself. It is God who made us who we are, given us what we have, and helps us do what we do.
God is our source. When we fall short, God is more than enough. When people fail us, money runs out, politicians disappoint or any other rock we are standing on crumbles beneath us, we find out where our trust is actually grounded. God is our rock, and He will not be moved.
Application: If we feel concern or fear when a person or a thing disappoints, then we know we have put our trust in something or someone other than God. Are you feeling an anxiety today? If so, decide to turn to the Lord and put your trust in Him today.