Have you ever found yourself paralyzed by the unknown? Struggling to take a leap of faith because you couldn't see the whole picture? You're not alone. As we step into a new year, I want to share a powerful truth that could transform your faith journey: trusting God is often more important than knowing all the answers.

The Battle Between Trust and Knowledge

Let's travel back to the very beginning of the Bible, to the story of Adam and Eve. In Genesis 2:15-17, we read:

"The Lord God placed a man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. But the Lord God warned him, 'You may freely eat of the fruit of every tree in the garden, except the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. If you eat of its fruit, you are sure to die.'"

God gave Adam and Eve a simple boundary - one tree they couldn't eat from. It was a test of trust. But as we know, they failed this test. Why? Because the desire to know was stronger than the urge to trust.

Sound familiar? How often do we find ourselves in similar situations, where our need to understand everything hinders our ability to trust God fully?

Modern-Day Trust Challenges

We might not be facing fruit from a forbidden tree, but we certainly face our own trust challenges. Have you ever caught yourself saying things like:

- "But I don't see how it could possibly work out, God."

- "But I don't have the money to do the thing you're asking me to, God."

- "But I don't have the credentials to do that thing, God."

- "But I don't have the time to do the thing you're asking me to do."

- "But I don't have the courage to do the thing that you're asking me to do."

These statements reveal our struggle to trust God when we can't see the full picture. Our inability to trust even when we don't have all the answers keeps us from living spiritual lives that we desire. And even more so, it keeps us from experiencing the life that God has for us.

Growing in Trust

So how do we grow in our ability to trust God? There are two key ways:

1. Know God More

The more we know God, the more our trust grows. This year, we're reading through the gospels chronologically to see who Jesus is and what he does for us. As we get to know God better, our trust naturally increases.

2. Believe God's Promises

The Bible contains over 7,000 promises from God. These aren't empty words - they're assurances we can cling to. For example, Isaiah 41:10 says, "Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."

When we choose to believe these promises, even when we can't see how they'll be fulfilled, our trust grows.

Putting It Into Practice

As we begin this new year, I want to challenge you: What if you committed to trusting God more? What areas of your life do you need to surrender to Him?

- Your finances?

- Your relationships?

- Your health?

- Your job?

- That thing you've been praying for?

- That sin that has a hold on you?

It's tempting to think we can handle these things on our own. But the truth is, we weren't made to live that way. As we learned recently from John 3:30, "He must increase, but I must decrease." This is what trusting God looks like - becoming less focused on our own understanding and more reliant on God's wisdom and guidance.

Remember, to trust God is to claim the promises of God and to know the goodness of God. As you step into this new year, I encourage you to lean into trust. You don't need to have all the answers. You just need to know the One who does.

Let's make this the year where our trust in God grows deeper than ever before. As Psalm 34:4-5 reminds us, "I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces."

May we all experience the joy and freedom that comes from fully trusting in our faithful God.