Trusting God for Day-to-Day Needs
Proverbs 3:5-6, "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."
Trusting God isn’t always easy, especially when we find ourselves in situations that feel downright impossible. Whether it’s finances, employment, or our daily needs like a home to rent or shoes for the children, we can be tempted to drop hints to those around us or “just vent” about our struggles. But here's the truth: God wants us to trust Him fully, which means keeping our needs between us and Him, no matter how bad things get. This might sound extreme, but that’s the kind of faith God is calling us to—an "all-in" kind of faith.
Regarding finances, we read in Matthew 6:31-33: “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’... For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Jesus calls us not to focus on our material needs but to seek His kingdom, trusting that God will meet every need we have. Matthew 6:8 tells us, “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” If God knows my needs even before I ask, why would I feel compelled to share our financial struggles with others? When we do, we risk diminishing the magnitude of God's blessing. Philippians 4:19 reassures us, “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” God is not limited by human means; His provision is beyond what anyone could offer.
Satan can tempt us with many reasons to confide in a friend or a brother, but when we do, it often stems from fear or doubt. The enemy might present excuses like, “What if they can help me?” or “I’m not asking them for money; I’m simply asking them to pray with me.” These thoughts distract us from the full reliance on God that we are called to. In Psalm 37:25, David declares, “I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging for bread.” God's faithfulness endures, and He will not abandon us, no matter how dire our situation seems.
Employment is another area where we might feel tempted to seek help from others instead of turning fully to God. If you've just worked your last day and don’t know how you’ll provide for your family, it may feel natural to share your concern with others. The devil can tempt us with all kinds of suggestions to justify looking to a friend: “They might know of someone hiring” or “They told me to let them know if I ever need work.” These sound like reasonable thoughts. Yet, Scripture teaches us to trust God alone for provision. We should never resort to ‘human reasoning’ when we have Scripture to rely on. If we keep those backup employers stored in our minds, it becomes an insurance policy on our employment that we ‘cash in’ when times are tough. Psalm 121:1-2 says, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.” Our help does not come from people, job applications, or acquaintances—it comes from God Himself, who holds power over every door of opportunity.
In Matthew 7:7-8, Jesus encourages us to ask, seek, and knock, promising that God will respond: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” But we must ask God, not man. When we make our needs known to people, we rely on human strength rather than divine providence. We must wait on God to open the door; Jesus did not tell us to open it. Our next job isn’t going to come because we nudged the right person; it’s going to come because God is our provider. We diminish our faith in God when we rely on someone else to “come through” for us.
Finding a place to live aligns with the same principles as finances and employment. Maybe you’re in a time crunch, and it seems telling friends or family about your housing situation could help. After all, “What if they know of a place or have a connection?” That’s what we tell ourselves. But here’s the truth: every one of those justifications is rooted in fear, not faith. Proverbs 3:5-6 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.”
It’s easy to lean on our own understanding and think, “Well, if I don’t tell people, I could miss out on a good opportunity.” But that’s not how faith works. Faith means believing that God already knows and He’s already working on it. If we truly believe that God is already at work, why would we want our earthly friends meddling in His affairs? Isaiah 40:31 reminds us, “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Waiting can be hard if our trust is not fully on the God of the universe!
Faith in action means not letting our needs be known. Jesus taught us that our faith should be personal, between us and God. Matthew 6:6 says, “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” There’s something powerful about keeping our needs and prayers between us and God. When we start telling others, we take the situation out of His hands and give it to people. When we share our struggles, we open the door for Satan to keep our minds focused on the person we confided in and how they might help us.
When we start to rely on people, we settle for what they can do, which is small compared to what God can do. Ephesians 3:20 tells us that God is able to do “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.” So why would we want to limit Him by relying on people instead?
In summation, radical faith brings radical provision. It’s hard. Sometimes it feels like God’s timing is slow, and Satan tempts us to panic when we can’t see how things will work out. But Hebrews 13:5 promises, “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” God’s not going to abandon you. He’s got you covered. And when you trust Him completely—keeping your needs just between you and Him—you open the door for blessings that no human could ever give.
Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” It can be easy to experience what the world calls ‘anxiety’ when waiting on God in faith. The world defines anxiety as “fear or nervousness about what might happen.” We know that ‘fear is a liar.’ In contrast to anxiety, God promises peace: Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”
The Bible is laced with verses speaking plainly about full trust in God. Jeremiah 17:7-8 says, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.” When we trust in the Lord, we are rooted in Him, and we will not fear in the heat of the moment. We won’t be anxious in the drought, but will keep yielding fruit—the fruit of the Spirit, demonstrating faith by our actions (or inactions).
There are many solid verses in Scripture pertaining to faith and trust in God. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.” 1 Peter 5:7 and Psalm 55:22 both speak of casting our cares and burdens on Him. Romans 8:28 tells us, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” If we have a need and are trusting in God fully, nothing that takes place in our lives is wasted; nothing is for no reason. All these things are ‘working together for good.’
If we truly want to keep our faith in God, we should go to great lengths to avoid ‘slipping up’ and making offhand comments about our situation. Satan will present plenty of opportunities in conversation to mention our needs and tell us that “if it just comes up in conversation, it must be God’s will.”
If you’re in a bind—whether it’s money, a job, or finding a home—take a risk on God. Keep it between you and Him, and watch what happens. Because when you put your full faith in God, He won’t just meet your need—He’ll exceed it in ways you never thought possible.
-To God be all the glory
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