Trusting God's Plan for Our Lives and Circumstances

Trusting God's plan involves a confident reliance on God's providential care and his promises for salvation and well-being ^{[4, 5]}. This trust is rooted in the belief that God's eternal purpose governs all events ^[6]. The concept of trusting God is frequently linked with hope, which is described as being "in God," "in Christ," and "in God's promises" ^[3].

Biblical texts encourage believers to place their confidence in God. Psalm 90:17 asks for God's favor and for Him to establish the work of human hands ^[1]. Similarly, Psalm 115:9 exhorts Israel to trust in the Lord, describing Him as a "help and a shield" to those who do ^[12]. This trust is not merely a passive waiting but an active hope, as believers "labor and strive" because their hope is set on the "living God, who is the Savior of everyone, and especially of those who believe" (1 Timothy 4:10) ^[2].

The happiness of saints in this life is said to be found in God and derived from trusting Him ^[7]. This trust is closely connected to the "promises of God," which are contained in the Scriptures, made in Christ, and confirmed by an oath ^[5]. God is faithful to these promises, and He remembers them ^{[5, 16]}. John Gill, commenting on Hebrews 10:21, emphasizes God's faithfulness as the basis for holding fast to the profession of faith without wavering, noting that God the Father is "eminently and emphatically the Promiser" ^[10].

Trusting God's plan also implies "waiting upon God," which includes waiting for Him as the God of providence, salvation, and the giver of temporal blessings ^[4]. This waiting is for mercy, pardon, guidance, protection, and the fulfillment of His word and promises ^[4]. The Tyndale House commentary on Lamentations 3:26 suggests that those "confident of God’s plan can wait quietly for him to grant salvation" ^[13].

The heart plays a crucial role in this trust. Proverbs 4:23 states that "issues of life are out of" the heart, and it is the heart that God tries, knows, searches, and influences ^[8]. Believers are encouraged to prepare their hearts for God, give their hearts to Him, and strive for a "perfect" heart with God ^[8]. Proverbs 3:1-12 highlights that the Lord blesses those who trust Him and seek His will, and that His correction benefits those who follow Him ^[14]. Matthew Henry interprets Proverbs 3:1 as a call to "live a life of communion with God" by continually regarding God's precepts and making them an integral part of life ^[15].

The concept of God's plan is also tied to the doctrine of predestination, which refers to God's purpose of salvation ^[6]. Easton's Bible Dictionary notes that the Greek word for "predestinate" appears in passages like Romans 8:29-30 and Ephesians 1:5, 11, teaching that God's "eternal, sovereign, immutable, and unconditional decree or 'determinate purpose' of God governs all events" ^[6]. While acknowledging the difficulties and mysteries surrounding this doctrine, it is presented as part of God's revealed word ^[6].

Trust in God's plan also fosters confidence in prayer. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary on 1 John 5:14 explains that "boldness in prayer" results from knowing that one has eternal life and that prayers are accepted when they align with God's will ^[9]. Adam Clarke, in his commentary on Hebrews 3:14, states that believers become "partakers of Christ" by believing in Him and embracing the Christian system, thereby receiving benefits in this life and becoming "entitled to the fulfillment of all its exceeding great and precious promises" ^[11]. This participation, however, is contingent on perseverance, holding fast to the "beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end" ^[11].

Sources

Psalms “Let the favor of the Lord our God be on us; establish the work of our hands for us; yes, establish the work of our hands. -- Psalms 90:17”
I Timothy “I Timothy 4:10 (BSB) — To this end we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, and especially of those who believe.”
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 ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Waiting Upon God — As the God of providence -- Jer 14:22. As the God of salvation -- Ps 25:5. As the Giver of all temporal blessings -- Ps 104:27,28; Ps 145:15,16. For Mercy. -- Ps 123:2. Pardon. -- Ps 39:7,8. The consolation of Israel. -- Lu 2:25. Salvation. -- Ge 49:18; Ps 62:1,2. Guidance and teaching. -- Ps 25:5. Protection. -- Ps 33:20; 59:9,10. The fulfillment of His word. -- Hab 2:3. The fulfillment of His promises. -- Ac 1:4. Hope of righteous by faith. -- Ga 5:5. Coming of Christ. -- 1Co 1:7; 1Th 1:10. Is good -- Ps 52:9. God calls us to -- Zep 3:8. Exhortat”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Promises of God, The — Contained in the Scriptures -- Ro 1:2. Made in Christ -- Eph 3:6; 2Ti 1:1. Made to Christ. -- Ga 3:16,19. Abraham. -- Ge 12:3,7; Ga 3:16. Isaac. -- Ge 26:3,4. Jacob. -- Ge 28:14. David. -- 2Sa 7:12; Ps 89:3,4,35,36. The Israelites. -- Ro 9:4. The Fathers. -- Ac 13:32; 26:6,7. All who are called of God. -- Ac 2:39. Those who love him. -- Jas 1:12; 2:5. Confirmed by an oath -- Ps 89:3,4; Heb 8:6. Covenant established upon -- Heb 8:6. God is faithful to -- Tit 1:2; Heb 10:23. God remembers -- Ps 105:42; Lu 1:54,55. Are Good. -- 1Ki 8:56. Holy. -- ”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Predestination — This word is properly used only with reference to God's plan or purpose of salvation. The Greek word rendered "predestinate" is found only in these six passages, Acts 4:28; Rom. 8:29, 30; 1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 1:5, 11; and in all of them it has the same meaning. They teach that the eternal, sovereign, immutable, and unconditional decree or "determinate purpose" of God governs all events. This doctrine of predestination or election is beset with many difficulties. It belongs to the "secret things" of God. But if we take the revealed word of God as our guid”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Happiness of Saints In This Life — Is in God -- Ps 73:25,26. Only found in the ways of wisdom -- Pr 3:17,18. Described by Christ in the beatitudes -- Mt 5:3-12. Is derived from Fear of God. -- Ps 128:1,2; Pr 28:14. Trust in God. -- Pr 16:20; Php 4:6,7. The words of Christ. -- Joh 17:13. Obedience to God. -- Ps 40:8; Joh 13:17. Salvation. -- De 33:29; Isa 12:2,3. Hope in the Lord. -- Ps 146:5. Hope of glory. -- Ro 5:2. God being their Lord. -- Ps 144:15. God being their help. -- Ps 146:5. Praising God. -- Ps 135:3. Their mutual love. -- Ps 133:1. Divine chastening. --”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Heart, The — Issues of life are out of -- Pr 4:23. God Tries. -- 1Ch 29:17; Jer 12:3. Knows. -- Ps 44:21; Jer 20:12. Searched. -- 1Ch 28:9; Jer 17:10. Understands the thoughts of. -- 1Ch 28:9; Ps 139:2. Ponders. -- Pr 21:2; 24:12. Influences. -- 1Sa 10:26; Ezr 6:22; 7:27; Pr 21:1; Jer 20:9. Creates a new. -- Ps 51:10; Eze 36:26. Prepares. -- 1Ch 29:18; Pr 16:1. Opens. -- Ac 16:14. Enlightens. -- 2Co 4:6; Eph 1:18. Strengthens. -- Ps 27:14. Establishes. -- Ps 112:8; 1Th 3:13. Should be Prepared to God. -- 1Sa 7:3. Given to God. -- Pr 23:26. Perfect with God. -- 1Ki 8:”
1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 5:14: the confidence--boldness (Jo1 4:17) in prayer, which results from knowing that we have eternal life (Jo1 5:13; Jo1 3:19, Jo1 3:22). according to his will--which is the believer's will, and which is therefore no restraint to his prayers. In so far as God's will is not our will, we are not abiding in faith, and our prayers are not accepted. ALFORD well says, If we knew God's will thoroughly, and submitted to it heartily, it would be impossible for us to ask anything for the spirit or for the body which He should not perform; it is this ideal state whic”
Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 10:21: Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering,.... Either in the grace or doctrine of faith, or in the profession of both; See Gill on Heb 4:14. For he is faithful that promised; that is God; and it is true of Father, Son, and Spirit; but God the Father may be more especially designed: he is a promising God, and is known to be so by his people; he is eminently and emphatically the Promiser; and all other promisers, and the promises made by them, signify little; but the promises of God are exceeding great and precious, very ancient, free, and uncond”
Hebrews (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Hebrews 3:14: For we are made partakers of Christ - Having believed in Christ as the promised Messiah, and embraced the whole Christian system, they were consequently made partakers of all its benefits in this life, and entitled to the fulfillment of all its exceeding great and precious promises relative to the glories of the eternal world. The former they actually possessed, the latter they could have only in case of their perseverance; therefore the apostle says, If we hold fast the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end, i.e. of our life. For our participation of ”
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”
Lamentations (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Lamentations 3:26: 3:26 Those who are confident of God’s plan can wait quietly for him to grant salvation.”
Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 3:1: 3:1-12 The Lord blesses those who trust him and seek his will. His correction benefits those who follow him. 3:1 To store God’s commands in your heart means not just memorizing them but making them an integral part of life and acting on them.”
Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 3:1: We are here taught to live a life of communion with God; and without controversy great is this mystery of godliness, and of great consequence to us, and, as is here shown, will be of unspeakable advantage. I. We must have a continual regard to God's precepts, Pro 3:1, Pro 3:2. 1. We must, (1.) Fix God's law, and his commandments, as our rule, by which we will in every thing be ruled and to which we will yield obedience. (2.) We must acquaint ourselves with them; for we cannot be said to forget that which we never knew. (3.) We must remember them so that they may ”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 115:12: The Lord hath been mindful of us,.... The Targum is, "the Word of the Lord hath remembered us for good.'' And is another reason why his people should trust in him: he has been mindful of his covenant with them and promises to them, and has kept them; he remembered them in their low estate, and sent redemption to them; goodness and mercy have followed them all their days. Past experiences of divine favour should encourage trust in the Lord, as well as promises of future blessings, as follow: he will bless us; with all kind of blessings, temporal and spiritual; ”

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