What Must I Know Before I Can Really Trust God?


The first commandment says that we are to trust wholly in God and in no other. 
  • We must depend completely and only upon Him. 
  • We must expect all good from Him alone.
There are a number of things which we must know before we can really trust God. 

1. God’s omnipotence. 
  • Unless we believe that God has complete power, we cannot have complete trust in him. 
  • We must believe that He is able to do anything that He wants to do. 
  • We must believe that nothing is impossible with Him. 
2. God’s love. 
  • If we have any doubts about God’s love for us, we will not fully trust Him. 
  • For we do not trust one who hates us. 
  • We do not trust our enemies. 
  • We trust our friends who love us. 
  • Now God has revealed His great love for us in His Son.
  • Surely if God has given us such a great gift as His only begotten and well-beloved Son, 
  • He will surely give us all that we need (Romans 8:32).
3. God’s faithfulness. 
  • There are times when we must experience sorrow and pain.
  • That might come through illness, poverty, persecution, or death. 
  • In all these things we must believe that God is still our faithful Father. 
  • He has not forgotten us, neither has He forsaken His promises to us. 
  • In all tribulation we must believe that God is working for our good and our salvation (Romans 8:28).
4. God’s wisdom. 
  • The Bible says we must submit to Him. 
  • In times of difficulties, we must not rebel against God. 
  • We must not fight against Him. 
  • We must not act so proudly as though we understand better than He what is good for us. 
  • For we are very limited in our understanding. 
  • We often wonder what good can come from difficult situations. 
  • But we may be assured that good will come. 
  • In this too, we must not complain, but show patience, waiting for God’s time for good to come. 

Q. What is idolatry? 

  • Idolatry is having or inventing something in which to put our trust instead of, or in addition to, 
  • the only true God who has revealed Himself in His Word.

1 Chronicles 16:26 

  • For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. 
Galatians 4:8-9 

  • But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. 
  • But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?
Ephesians 5:5 

  • For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 
Philippians 3:19 

  • whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame; 
  • who set their mind on earthly things.
Psalm 131 shows beautifully that child‑like trust which we must have:
  • LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty. 
  • Neither do I concern myself with great matters, nor with things too profound for me. 
  • Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother; 
  • like a weaned child is my soul within me. 
  • O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forever.
The Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 34


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