As the clock ticks toward a new year, we often reflect on what the future holds. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a detailed road map for life? Imagine knowing where you’ll live, whom you’ll marry, or what challenges and triumphs await you in 2025. Yet, much of life remains uncertain, and the unknown can feel daunting. But as believers, we can find peace in the promise that the One who holds our future is also holding us. Jeremiah 29:11 reassures us that God’s thoughts toward us are of peace and not of evil, to give us a future and a hope. How, then, do we discern His plan and walk in it?

Proverbs 3:5-6 provides the key: “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.” This passage invites us to live a life grounded in trust, faith, and a deep relationship with God.

To trust God with all your heart means fully relying on Him, not partially or with reservations. Trust grows from relationship, and relationships require time and commitment. Just as you wouldn’t trust a stranger in a dark alley but would feel safe with a close friend, trusting God begins with knowing Him. Building that relationship involves spending intentional time with Him through prayer and studying His Word. For 2025, make it your resolution to trust God with your whole heart.

Trusting God doesn’t mean the path will always make sense. Like a cake missing critical ingredients or a bank account missing vital funds, partial trust can leave us lacking. Biblical examples abound: Moses faced the Red Sea and a wilderness, David waited 15 years to become king, Joseph endured 22 years of trials, and Abraham waited 25 years for the promised child. These journeys were marked by faith despite challenges, and they serve as reminders that God’s ways often lead through the unexpected to His perfect purpose.

The second part of Proverbs 3:5-6, “Lean not on your own understanding,” challenges us to look beyond what is natural and logical. Walking by faith, not by sight, requires letting go of our limitations. If David had relied on his understanding, he might never have faced Goliath. If Moses had trusted his senses, he would have turned back at the Red Sea. Faith removes barriers, enabling us to move mountains, conquer giants, and walk through the valley of the shadow of death without fear. As Romans 10:17 declares, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” To deepen your faith, immerse yourself in Scripture and allow it to shape your perspective.

The third directive, “In all your ways acknowledge Him,” invites us to align our lives with God’s will. This means seeking His guidance in every decision, big or small. Instead of presenting our plans to God for approval, we should ask, “Lord, what is Your plan?” Whether considering a move, a relationship, or a career change, acknowledging God ensures that His perfect will directs our path. The result of this alignment is a life lived for His glory, marked by purpose and peace.

Finally, the promise of Proverbs 3:6 comes to fruition: “He shall direct your paths.” God’s guidance leads us toward the finish line, even if we sometimes stray or stumble. Like a bowling ball that veers toward the gutter, God’s “bumpers” help redirect us back onto His path. Trusting Him fully is like putting up those bumpers, ensuring we stay within the lanes He has designed for us. Even when we choose our own way and face consequences, God works all things together for good (Romans 8:28).

As you step into 2025, consider making it your goal to know God more deeply, spend more time in His Word, and cultivate a life of prayer. At Calvary Chapel West Jacksonville, Pastor Allen Victor invites you to journey with us as we seek to live life God’s way.

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