Proverbs 3:5 (NKJV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
Bible Commentary
Proverbs 3:5 is a famous Bible verse from the Old Testament where we are instructed to trust in the Lord, instead of our own understanding.
This is a very comforting Bible verse because as believers, we sometimes are led by God to do things that don’t make sense to us, or to others.
Proverbs 3:5 confirms to us that God’s ways are not our ways, and we build trust and faith in God by stepping out in faith to do those things that might seem crazy to others, and to us.
The word “trust” in Hebrew means: flee for protection, be confident or sure, be bold. There are times when we feel bold in Christ, particularly during times of worship and when we’re alone with Him, but during the course of the day our insecurities seem to rise up and it is more difficult to trust God.
Fear separates us from Christ. He is always with us, but when we listen to our insecurities, it is then that our fellowship feels more distant and we have difficulty sensing His Presence and hearing His voice.
That’s why He tells us to listen to Him. If we’re focused on Him and listening to His Word—the Bible—the voices of fear and anxiety fade into the background. You obviously can’t keep your nose in the Bible all day, but you can take a piece of it with you in your heart and recite it to yourself every chance you get.
Maybe that’s exactly what Proverbs 3:5 means when it says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart.”
Unlocking the Truth – Rest in Him
The Word of God is supernatural with the Presence of the Lord intertwined through every word. When you listen to it—either silently in your mind or spoken out loud—it has the power to bring healing, peace, confidence and strength.
Proverbs 4:22 says, “For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.”
John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
It’s like carrying a little angel around in your pocket with you all day, except far more powerful!
The last part of Proverbs 3:5 says, “And lean not on your own understanding.” The word “lean” in Hebrew means: to support one’s self: rely.
No wonder we’re tired and worn out so often! We rely on and support ourselves, instead of allowing God to do it. Not only is the Word of God health to our flesh, but to our souls, which is where the Holy Spirit rests.
He’ll do far less resting in you and far more working through you as you trust Him.
Vitality and Strength
When we access the Holy Spirit by relying on Him instead of ourselves, we find vitality and strength. Put Him to work and rest in Him as He does it for you.
Psalm 37:5 says, “Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.”
The Hebrew meaning for the word “understanding” from Proverbs 3:5 is: knowledge, wisdom.
The stronger we are in our spiritual life and/or our education, the more susceptible we are to relying on our own understanding. Be careful. We never fully arrive. There is always something more God wants to teach us.
We can always go deeper in faith, deeper in love and deeper in the wisdom and knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Study the Bible verse of Proverbs 3:5, rest in His power to go deeper into Him.
