“Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man [a human being], in whom there is no help. His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; in that very day his plans perish.” Psalm 146:3-4

Trusting in Man

My husband I were once again discussing a particular repair that needs to be made to our home. We know that our house will not pass inspection if we don’t attend to this before we put it on the market, but the job keeps getting passed over for non-essentials. Over the years, I have allowed this to erode my peace of mind. In other words, I was irritated.

Oh—did I mention that we aren’t planning to sell our home any time soon?

The what-ifs got to me—you know, the worst-case scenarios you play out in your head before they happen. These were the possibilities: My husband’s death, leaving me with repairs I can’t manage and a home I can’t care for alone. Retirement, when we won’t have the same income we have now. The manageable repair worsening, becoming impossibly beyond fixing. Illness or disability which will leave undone projects permanently undone.

This morning in my devotions, these things were still on my mind when I read today’s scripture. I want to trust my husband to do what needs to be done when it is beyond my ability—and usually I can trust him for this. But upon closer examination, I see that what I really want is for him to do exactly what I want him to do, when I want it done, to my standards—just in case the worst-case happens. Ugh! Seeing it in print makes me feel small, immature, and petty, but there it is.

Perhaps it is obvious to you that my trust has been placed amiss. I have been trusting in man. Rather than worrying about what could happen, which is an incredible waste of time and requires a great deal of emotional energy and mental gymnastics, I already know the One who handles the issues of my life. He cares for me. He says that He has given me everything pertaining to life and godliness. He has sovereignly planned my future. He sees and knows it all. If HE isn’t worried, why am I?

Humanly speaking, none of us will live long enough or have the ability to get everything done that needs doing in this world. Spiritually speaking, though, we will live exactly long enough to do what He intended for us to do. He already knows what we can and can’t do, what we will and won’t do, what He has and has not asked us to do in our lifetime.

Whenever that ugly worry pops into my head and I am tempted to nag someone to get the work done, I will remember to put my trust in the Lord and not in man!

Lord, with the help of Your Holy Spirit, we turn over to You those things that are eating away at us. Help us to trust You more! Amen.