One Bible passage I memorized in my younger years is Proverbs 3:5-6, and it’s one I’ve returned to time and again through different seasons of my life.
The NIV says it this way:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.”
Back when I attended a Christian high school, I memorized it in the (New) King James Version:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
and lean not on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he shall direct your paths.”
That last line has always stood out to me—because depending on the translation, we either read that God will make our paths straight or that He will direct our paths.
As I grow older, I’ve come to appreciate an important difference.
How to Trust God’s Guidance
If we’re honest, life—especially midlife—doesn’t always feel straightforward, does it? There are turns we didn’t expect or delays we wouldn’t have chosen. It can often feel uncertain, uncomfortable—or just plain hard.
That’s where these verses can speak to—not by promising an easy road, but by urging us to trust the One guiding us.
Trusting God starts with believing who He is. When we believe in His authority and also His goodness, we begin to understand that He only desires what is best for us.
And when our own understanding falls short (which if often does), Scripture assures us that we don’t have to figure out things all on our own.
Proverb 2:6 tells us that the Lord gives wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. The apostle James adds that when we ask God for wisdom, He gives it generously (James 1:5) That invitation isn’t just for major decisions—it’s also for daily choices, questions in the quiet moments, and help for the things no one else sees.
It’s a continual choice of saying, “Lord, I trust You here too.”
Where to Follow the Right Path
The wallpaper on my laptop is my visual reminder. It’s a photo of a winding, curvy path that disappears into the distance, never revealing what’s coming next.
It’s a picture of how life really looks—not straight, predictable or fully visible. It doesn’t show the whole journey either—but that’s where God works best in our lives. He doesn’t always lay everything out in front of us. Instead, He directs our steps as we walk with Him.
Walking with Him means that we are following His direction so we can life in a way that is upright, pleasing, and aligned with Him—even when the road feels uncertain.
The prophet Jeremiah said: “Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23, NIV)
That’s humbling— to realize we were never meant to go through life trying to figure everything out while relying solely on ourselves.
And that’s actually good news. Jesus told us in John 16:33 that we will have trouble in this world. But He also promised peace—and ultimate victory—through Him.
So, if life isn’t a straight, easy road for us, it can still be the right one.
By trusting God.
By surrendering to His best for us.
By following Him where He leads.
When you trust God, you can know that on a winding road, He is faithfully leading you exactly where you need to go.
Journaling Prompts:
- Where am I currently leaning on my own understanding instead of trusting God?
- What is one decision—big or small—I need to invite God into today?
- How can I remind myself daily that God is directing my path, even when I don’t see the full picture?
