Can You Trust God’s Character?
I moved from the West Coast to the East Coast about this time last year, and as the anniversary of this move approaches, I’ve been remembering my initial feelings about moving. Something I was particularly nervous about was making friends. I wondered if I would have anyone that I could be honest with. I worried about getting close to people and then being let down. Essentially, I wanted to know that I could trust someone.
It’s scary beginning a relationship with someone when you don’t quite know if you can trust them. But over time, you learn that person’s character, which usually makes it clear whether you should trust them. This is why we might struggle when it comes to trusting God. Unlike the people around us, God is unseen. Because we can’t see God, we may wonder if we can really know Him—if we can really trust Him. But the good news is that God isn’t unknowable. While we can never fully grasp all that God is, God has made Himself known to us. One of the primary ways God makes Himself known is through His Word. The Bible shows us who God is, which encourages our trust in Him.
How Scripture Teaches Us Who God Is
The Bible consistently shows us God’s character from the beginning to the end. And what is even more amazing is that Scripture shows us that God’s character is never changing. The same God in the book of Genesis is the same God in the book of Revelation. As we go from book to book, we see that God is faithful to His people. We see that God is a God of justice, a God who fights for His people and does not let evil go unpunished. And we see that God is loving and merciful, meeting the needs of His people. Scripture teaches us these truths about God in different ways. One, by explicitly telling us who God is. For example, Isaiah 40:28 declares, “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth. He never becomes faint or weary; there is no limit to his understanding.”
Scripture also teaches us about God’s character through His actions. God’s parting of the Red Sea shows us that God is a Deliverer who leads His people to freedom (Exodus 14). And while Scripture tells us that God sent us Jesus out of His love (John 3:16), His choice to willingly give up His own Son boasts of His incredible love.
How Scripture Encourages Our Trust in God
Because Scripture teaches us who God is, Scripture helps us grow in our knowledge of God’s character. Knowing God’s character in turn encourages us to trust God because we know that His character is trustworthy. Unlike us, God is perfectly holy. He cannot lie, go back on His Word, or commit evil (Numbers 23:19). We often fear trusting people because we don’t always know what they will do. We wonder, Could they hurt me? Will they abandon me? Will they show themselves to be someone they are not? We don’t have to ask these questions when it comes to God. Because Scripture shows us God’s good and consistent character, there is no reason to mistrust Him. However, our feelings and circumstances will sometimes cause us to struggle to trust God. When life is hard, when prayers seem to go unanswered, or when we experience disappointment, we might find our trust in the Lord wavering. This is why it’s so important to remain in God’s Word. The more we read of God’s character in Scripture, the more encouraged we are to trust in who He is.
If you aren’t a believer and you’re wondering if you can trust God, open up Scripture. If you are a believer but you are struggling to trust Him, open up Scripture. Let the truth of who God is wash over your fears and doubts. God is worthy of your trust, friend. So take that step and put your faith in the One who will never let you down.
