I Can’t Trust in God’s Protection
Gena Barnhill @BarnhillGena
Lie: I can’t trust in God’s protection.
Truth: I can trust in God’s protection because He promises to strengthen, help, and uphold me (Psalm 91:4; Isaiah 41:10).
In a world filled with uncertainties, risks of disease, and war, many people develop a mindset of self-protection, instead of trusting in God’s protection. We may feel the need to guard ourselves against potential harm and, as a result, rely on our strength and resources. If our earthly fathers did not protect us, we may find it hard to believe in God’s unfailing love and trust Him to protect us. As a result, this belief leads to anxiety, isolation, and a distorted view of Father God.
Let’s explore the lie we cannot trust God to protect us, which leads us to attempt to protect ourselves. We contradict this lie by examining biblical truths about God’s nature and His promises. We find comfort in placing trust in Him.
I Can't Trust in God's Protection #healing #trustGod Click To TweetLimitations of Our Strength
Many have been taught to rely on their own strengths and abilities. Our country was founded on the principle of independence. For instance, we hear stories of the “self-made person” and are told we can only count on ourselves. Proverbs 3:5–6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Trusting in God’s protection means admitting our efforts alone cannot guarantee our safety or welfare. In other words, we need to rely on His wisdom and guidance to navigate through our journey on earth.
Trusting God’s Protection and Faithfulness
To negate the lie of self-protection, we can look back at our lives and recall examples of God’s faithfulness to protect us. When we reflect on past experiences, we recognize situations where God protected us, provided for us, and led us through difficult circumstances. Psalm 34:7 says, “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.” By trusting in God’s protection, we draw strength from remembering biblical examples and countless personal examples of His faithfulness. By holding onto instances of His faithfulness, we let go of the lie we must depend only on ourselves for protection.
God’s Unfailing Love and Protection
Central to rejecting the lie of self-protection is comprehending the unfailing love of God. He cares for each of His children and promises to protect them. I find comfort by beginning each day reading Psalm 91, which reminds me He is my refuge and defender. Psalm 91:4 declares, “He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.” Above all, God’s love for us is beyond measure. Allow Him to be your shield and protector from harm. The shelter of His protection surpasses anything we can achieve on our own. We can trust in His promises.
Release Our Need to Control
Relinquishing control to God is one of the most challenging aspects of trusting His protection. The lie of self-protection is often rooted in our wish for complete control of our lives. But true peace and security come from submitting to God’s divine plan. Proverbs 16:9 reminds us, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” When we release our need for control and place our trust in God, we let Him protect and guide us according to His wisdom and perfect plan.
At the beginning of each year, I ask the Lord for a word He wants me to focus on for the next twelve months. January 1, 2023, I sensed He gave me the words, “Let go.” It was a reminder I had not completely handed over control to Him and allowed Him to take care of me. Letting go of the false belief of self-protection frees us to enjoy the peace that comes from entrusting ourselves to God’s care and protection.
Yielding to God’s Promises of Protection
Above all, we must lean on promises found in God’s Word to discredit the lie of self-protection. The Bible is filled with assurances of His protection. Isaiah 41:10 says, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” By meditating on these promises and aligning our thoughts with God’s truth, we then dismantle the lie we must protect ourselves and learn to trust in His steadfast love and protection.
How to Trust in God’s Protection
Most importantly, trusting God is a journey of deepening our dependence on Him and staying in His presence. Consider using the acrostic TRUST as a reminder to trust God with your life. To clarify, we learn to trust God by:
Tapping into His strength and power. Trusting God means acknowledging our limitations and relying on His strength to see us through life’s challenges. To clarify, He empowers us to overcome problems, face difficulties, and walk in victory.
Resting in His love and faithfulness. Trusting God requires us to rest in His unconditional love and believe in His promises. Then in times of unrest and uncertainty, we can find peace by resting in His love, knowing He will never leave or forsake us.
Understanding His ways are higher. Trusting God involves recognizing His ways are higher than ours. We may not always know why He allows some things to happen, but we trust He sees the bigger picture and has the perfect plan. We choose to trust Him and let go of our need to understand everything.
Surrendering our fears and worries. Trusting God means giving our fears and worries to Him. We release the anxieties that weigh us down and trust He is in control and will provide for our needs. Consequently, we find peace and comfort dwelling in His presence.
Testifying of His goodness and faithfulness. Trusting God leads us to tell others of His goodness and faithfulness in our lives. For example, we share how He rescued and protected us from harm, answered our prayers, and carried us through challenging times. By sharing our testimonies, we encourage others to trust God and remind ourselves of His faithfulness.
Now it is your turn. How do you trust in God’s protection?
Be sure to leave your thoughts on our Facebook Group Healing Prayer Discussion.
Blessings,
Gena
In case you missed the rest of The Lies We Tell Ourselves Series, here are the links:
Intro to the Lies We Tell Ourselves
Overcoming the Lie “I’m Not Good Enough” and Embracing How God Sees You
Have You Believed I’ll Never Be Loved
You Are a Conqueror, Not a Failure
