Trust! A Daily Meditation

Over and over again the Scriptures tell us to trust in the Lord; he will take care of us. Perhaps the most familiar passage on trust is found in Psalm 23:

THE Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose. Beside restful waters he leads me. He refreshes my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for you are with me; with your rod and staff you comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the sight of my foes: you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Ps. 23).

Though an army encamp against me, my heart would not fear; Though war be waged against me, even then would I trust (Ps 27:3).

Trust in the Lord and do good, that you may dwell in the land and enjoy security. Take delight in the Lord that he may give you your heart’s desire... Trust in him and he will act. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him... The Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they take refuge in him (Ps 37:3-5, 7, 40).

...in [God] I trust, I do not fear. What can man do to me? (Ps 56:12).

Trust God at all times. Pour out your heart before him, for God is our refuge (Ps 62:9).

O Lord of hosts, blessed are they who trust in you! (Ps 84:13).

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High... will say to the Lord, “My refuge, my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.” ...A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you... For he will give his angels charge over you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they shall bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. (Ps 91:1,2,7,11,12).

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his mercy endures forever... In my distress I called upon the Lord; he answered me and set me free. With the Lord on my side I fear nothing. What can man do to me? (Ps. 118:1, 5, 6).

If the Lord had not been on our side, when they attacked us, they would have swallowed us alive... the flood would have swept us away... Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as a prey to their teeth! We have escaped as a bird from the fowlers’ snare... Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth (Ps. 124:2-8).

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken, but remains for ever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, now and forever (Ps. 125:1, 2).

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not rely on your own insight; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths (Prov. 3:5, 6).

Trust God and he will help you... You who fear the Lord, trust in him, and your reward will not be lost... Study the past generations and see; has anyone hoped in the Lord and been disappointed? Has anyone persevered in the fear of the Lord and been forsaken? (Sir 2:6, 8, 10-12).

Turn to me and be safe... for I am God and there is no other (Is 45:22).

Blessed is he who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends down its roots to the stream: it fears not when the heat comes, for its leaves remain green; it is not anxious in... drought, but does not cease to bear fruit (Jer 17:7, 8).

...you shall have your life as a prize of war, because you have trusted in me, says the Lord (Jer 39:18).

...those who trust in [God] cannot be put to shame (Dan 3:40).

Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you not worth much more than they? Who of you by being anxious can add a single moment to your life-span? ...Do not be anxious and say, What are we to eat; what are we to drink? What are we to wear? The pagans seek all these things. Your heavenly Father knows you need them all. Seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given you as well (Mt. 6:26, 27, 31-33).

We might imagine Jesus adding today, “Do not worry about what college you will attend, what your job is to be, whom you are to marry, where the money will come from. The Father knows what you need...” St. John Vianney said, “The Lord commands you to pray, but forbids you to worry.”

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Have faith in God and have faith in me (Jn 14:1).

Dismiss all anxiety from your minds, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your needs to God. Then God’s own peace, which exceeds all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:6, 7).

Jesus said to St. Maria Faustina, “The graces of my mercy are drawn by means of one vessel only, and that is trust. The more a soul trusts, the more it will receive. Souls that trust boundlessly are a great comfort to me, because I pour all the treasures of my grace into them.” He also told her, “Sins of distrust wound me most painfully.”

(See also Lk 12:22-34; Chr. 20:20; Dn 3:17; Ps 4:3-9; Ps. 9:10,11; Ps. 31:7-9; Ps. 32:10, 11; Ps 33:20-22; Ps 40:5; Ps. 52:8; Ps. 56:4, 5; Ps 85:9; Ps. 118:8-14; Ps. 144:2; Wis. 3:9; Wis. 12:2; Wis. 16:24-26; Sir 8:9, 10; Sir. 2:13, 14; Sir:11:21; Sir. 34:15-17; Is. 8:17; Is. 12:2; Is. 26:4, 5; Is. 50:10; Mic. 7:7, 9; Mal 3:16, 1 Macc. 2:61; Heb 10:22-24.)

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