So many of us are hung up on the question of what it means to trust in God. If I trust in God, does that mean that I’m supposed to leave everything to God without doing anything? Am I faithless when I’m doing things for myself? What does it really mean to trust God?

I’m not a theologian. I don’t pretend to have all the answers. Most of the time, I don’t even have the right questions. All I can offer is my personal experience, and lessons I’ve learned from the Bible.

Biblical examples

I’ve often heard it said that David trusted in God, but he had to pick up the stones and use his sling. God didn’t do his part. He had to act on what he believed. I looked for other instances in the Bible where people acted in faith while trusting God. The book of Nehemiah (4:9) provided such an example: “But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves.” What happened when the Israelites did this? “When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall.” (Nehemiah 4:15)

A part of Nehemiah’s strategy was to call the people to take up the battle, while trusting God to fight for them (Nehemiah 4:20).

The Bible is littered with examples of God’s people acting on their faith. God has a part, and we have a part. One doesn’t operate independently of the other.

The conundrum

I’ve been wrestling with this conundrum between God’s responsibility and mine. When do I cross the line into God’s territory, and when am I expecting God to take my responsibility? Is it sin to trust God to take care of me, yet go to work each day? I think most of us will answer “no” to this question. We know that God blessed us with work and the ability to earn an income. In fact, Paul commanded freeloaders to find employment and earn their keep. He said that if we don’t work we shouldn’t eat.

I know sometimes our circumstances prevent us from being gainfully employed, but it doesn’t prevent us from volunteering our services. I believe work means being active and helpful. It doesn’t always mean earning a salary. When we are faithful God will provide. I can attest to God’s faithfulness. I have been employed, unemployed, self-employed, and volunteering my services. In each of these situations God provided. Sometimes I earned a monthly salary, sometimes I earned money from workshops I presented, and sometimes God blessed me through the generosity of others. God has always come through for me.

My experience

My husband and I have had to navigate stormy waters these last three years. His stroke turned our world upside down. Not only did we have to adjust to his disability, but a loss of his salary too. We can’t afford medical aid, and his medication and care further strained our already diminished income. Yet, we have not gone to bed hungry even one day.

I was looking forward to a bleak Christmas season. Some silly decisions I made exacerbated the situation, such as spending all my grocery money on meal replacements for my husband just because they were on sale. I thought eggs would have to sustain me, as there wasn’t any money left over for niceties. 

God expects me to be a good steward of everything He entrusted to me, and this includes my finances. Going overboard just because something is on special didn’t make me a good steward. Yet, in all of this, God remained faithful.

Fellow Christians blessed us in ways we didn’t expect. Someone presented us with home-baked biscuits. My husband was sure to enjoy such a treat.

Scrounging through my cupboards, I discovered a box of jelly, and I still had custard powder. This meant that I could spoil my husband with dessert on Christmas Day. These may seem like silly examples to some, but to me they mean the world.

I recall a time when I was unemployed. During this time I celebrated my birthday. I had nothing in the house, not even dry bread. One of my friends came to visit. She brought me a tin of jam. This is a strange gift for someone’s birthday. I laughed when I received it as I had no bread. After she left another friend stopped by. What did she bring me? You’ve probably guessed. Yes, she blessed me with a loaf of bread. I have not ever heard of any such birthday presents, yet this was what I received. Clearly, God knew what I needed and He provided.

I despaired at times during these three years. Taking care of my husband, our home, and working full-time took a toll on me. There were days when I felt too tired to breathe. Some months, especially those months with unexpected expenses such as emergency dentist appointments, left me wondering how we would survive. Yet, here we are. God never failed us.

We had to trust God. We had no alternative, and frankly, even if we had alternatives, we would have chosen to trust God. He has proven Himself throughout our lives.

Responsibilities 

What about our responsibilities? What does it mean to trust God, yet accept our responsibilities? We trust God to watch over us and protect us, yet we have insurance. It’s a good thing. When I accidentally scraped another car with mine when pulling into a parking bay at a parking lot, the insurance took care of it. I wouldn’t have been able to cover those costs. I’m saving as much as I can to take care of unexpected expenses, or to build a nest egg for when I can no longer earn a salary. I believe that I’m acting in faith. I’m planning ahead and being a good steward. Ultimately, unless God provides the strength, energy, opportunity, and ability, I wouldn’t be able to do any of these things.

It’s the same situation with our health. I’m trusting God to heal my husband completely, but until He does, I don’t think I’m acting faithless to ensure that my husband receives the medication and treatment he needs. 

Expectations

Often, my greatest battle is with my own expectations. I tend to limit God with my expectations, as I reject His blessings because they look different than expected. God’s blessings are often clothed in challenges, which, if I accept them, build my character and my trust as they force me to step outside of my comfort zones. I’m amazed at how many things I had to learn to do these past three years. I didn’t think I would manage, yet I did. Would I rather not face these challenges? You bet I wouldn’t, but I’m stronger and more resilient for taking them on and persevering. 

Life is tough. I’m not going to pretend otherwise, but God is greater than anything I had to face. He is faithful. He has always been faithful, and He will always remain faithful. 

Has God taken you on a challenging journey? How have you experienced His presence and His faithfulness?