Overcoming Apathy through Trust in God
Trust in God as a Means to Overcome Apathy
The concept of trust in God is deeply rooted in biblical teachings and is often cited as a means to overcome apathy and other spiritual challenges. The Psalmist expresses this trust vividly, saying, "In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" [1]. This confidence is not based on human strength but on the reliability and faithfulness of God.
The biblical basis for trust in God is multifaceted. It involves trusting in God's character, His promises, and His providence. According to Torrey's Topical Textbook, trust is placed in God, in Christ, in God's promises, and in the mercy of God [3]. For instance, the Psalmist declares, "When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you" [2]. This trust is not a passive state but an active choice that involves faith and reliance on God's sovereignty and goodness.
The act of trusting in God is often associated with the act of lifting one's soul to Him, as seen in Psalms 25:1, where David professes, "Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul" [4]. This action signifies a deep-seated desire to connect with God and to depend on Him. Matthew Henry interprets this as David's way of engaging himself to answer his own professions, indicating a personal and introspective aspect of trust.
The New Testament further elucidates the concept of trust in the context of faith in Christ. According to Adam Clarke's commentary on Romans 1:16, being "not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ" is closely related to trusting in Christ, as those who believe in Him shall not be ashamed or disappointed [5]. This trust is rooted in the understanding that faith in Christ provides access to God's favor and grace, rendering additional human efforts unnecessary for salvation [8].
The benefits of trusting in God are numerous. It brings comfort, hope, and assurance. John Gill notes on Psalms 25:2 that trusting in God means not being ashamed or disappointed, as hope in God does not disappoint [6]. Furthermore, trust in God is described as "good," "lively," "sure and steadfast," and "gladdening" [3]. Matthew Henry comments on Psalms 138:6, highlighting that God has respect for the lowly and humble, implying that trust in God is particularly relevant for those who feel weak or marginalized [7].
Practically, trusting in God involves waiting upon Him and reposing confidence in Him, even in times of distress or uncertainty. David exhorts others to trust in God, as recorded in Psalms 62:8 and 115:9, emphasizing that God is a help and a shield to those who trust in Him [9, 10]. This trust is not limited to personal benefits but is also encouraged as a communal practice, with the Psalmist urging "all people" and "Israel" to trust in the Lord [9].
Sources
- Psalms “Psalms 56:11 (BSB) — in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
- Psalms “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. -- Psalms 56:3”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Hope — In God -- Ps 39:7; 1Pe 1:21. In Christ -- 1Co 15:19; 1Ti 1:1. In God's promises -- Ac 26:6,7; Tit 1:2. In the mercy of God -- Ps 33:18. Is the work of the Holy Spirit -- Ro 15:13; Ga 5:5. Obtained through Grace. -- 2Th 2:16. The word. -- Ps 119:81. Patience and comfort of the Scriptures. -- Ro 15:4. The gospel. -- Col 1:5,23. Faith. -- Ro 5:1,2; Ga 5:5. The result of experience -- Ro 5:4. A better hope brought in by Christ -- Heb 7:19. Described as Good. -- 2Th 2:16. Lively. -- 1Pe 1:3. Sure and steadfast. -- Heb 6:19. Gladdening. -- Pr 10:28. Blessed. -- Tit ”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 25:1: Here we have David's professions of desire towards God and dependence on him. He often begins his psalms with such professions, not to move God, but to move himself, and to engage himself to answer those professions. I. He professes his desire towards God: Unto thee, O Lord! do I lift up my soul, Psa 25:1. In the foregoing psalm (Psa 25:4) it was made the character of a good man that he has not lifted up his soul to vanity; and a call was given to the everlasting gates to lift up their heads for the King of glory to come in, Psa 25:1. To this character, to this ca”
- Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 1:16: I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ - This text is best illustrated by Isa 28:16; Isa 49:23, quoted by the apostle, Rom 10:11 : For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him, shall not be ashamed; i.e. they shall neither be confounded, nor disappointed of their hope. The Jews, by not believing on Jesus Christ, by not receiving him as the promised Messiah, but trusting in others, have been disappointed, ashamed, and confounded, from that time to the present day. Their expectation is cut off; and, while rejecting Christ, and expecting another Messiah, they ”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 25:2: O my God, I trust in thee,.... He claims his interest in God, and expresses his faith and confidence in him, in the midst of all his troubles; See Gill on Psa 7:1; let me not be ashamed; meaning of his trust in God, by being disappointed of the help, deliverance, and salvation from him, which he trusted in him for; and the believer, as he has no reason to be ashamed of God, the object of his trust; so neither of the act of his hope or trust in him; nor shall he; for hope makes not ashamed; see Psa 119:116, Rom 5:5; let not mine enemies triumph over me; either his ”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 138:6: David here comforts himself with three things: - I. The favour God bears to his humble people (Psa 138:6): Though the Lord be high, and neither needs any of his creatures nor can be benefited by them, yet has he respect unto the lowly, smiles upon them as well pleased with them, overlooks heaven and earth to cast a gracious look upon them (Isa 57:15; Isa 66:1), and, sooner or later, he will put honour upon them, while he knows the proud afar off, knows them, but disowns them and rejects them, how proudly soever they pretend to his favour. Dr. Hammond makes this ”
- Galatians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Galatians 5:6: 5:6 Faith in Christ Jesus provides access to all of God’s favor and grace, so no further benefit is available through human effort. Faith is expressed by exercising love toward others (cp. Rom 13:10; 14:17-19; 2 Cor 8:8-13).”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 115:9: In these verses, I. We are earnestly exhorted, all of us, to repose our confidence in God, and not suffer our confidence in him to be shaken by the heathens' insulting over us upon the account of our present distresses. It is folly to trust in dead images, but it is wisdom to trust in the living God, for he is a help and a shield to those that do trust in them, a help to furnish them with and forward them in that which is good, and a shield to fortify them against and protect them from every thing that is evil. Therefore, 1. Let Israel trust in the Lord; the body”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 62:8: Here we have David's exhortation to others to trust in God and wait upon him, as he had done. Those that have found the comfort of the ways of God themselves will invite others into those ways; there is enough in God for all the saints to draw from, and we shall have never the less for others sharing with us. I. He counsels all to wait upon God, as he did, Psa 62:8. Observe, 1. To whom he gives this good counsel: You people (that is, all people); all shall be welcome to trust in God, for he is the confidence of all the ends of the earth, Psa 65:5. You people of th”