The Character of Christ: Trusting
What does trust look like when everything is falling apart?
It's easy to trust when circumstances are favourable. But what about when you're facing betrayal, rejection, and death? When the path ahead leads through suffering, and the outcome seems like failure? This is where we see Jesus' trust in the Father shine most brilliantly. His wasn't a fair-weather faith. It was unwavering confidence in the Father's character and purposes, even when everything visible suggested God had abandoned Him.
A Declaration of Dependence
In Hebrews, we find a remarkable statement attributed to Jesus: "I will put My trust in Him." Think about that. The eternal Son of God, equal with the Father in power and glory, declares His trust. This wasn't a weakness—it was a deliberate choice. Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus lived by the same principle He calls us to: complete dependence on the Father.
Jesus knew His identity was rooted in the Father, and that knowledge gave Him unshakeable confidence. "I am not alone," He told His disciples, "for my Father is with me." Even when He could see the desertion coming, even when He knew they would scatter and leave Him, Jesus remained certain of the Father's presence. His trust wasn't based on circumstances or people. It was anchored in who God is.
Trust in the Darkness
Jesus' trust was tested in ways we can barely comprehend. In Gethsemane, He prayed with such anguish that His sweat became like drops of blood. He asked for another way. Yet even in that darkness, even in His honest wrestling, Jesus trusted. "Not my will, but Yours be done." That prayer reveals the depth of His confidence—He trusted that the Father's will was good, even when it led through the valley of death.
At the cross, when the weight of sin crushed down and the Father's face was hidden, Jesus still trusted. Mocked by enemies, abandoned by friends, experiencing separation from the Father for the first time in all eternity, He held fast. His trust wasn't shattered by the darkness. It sustained Him through it.
The Final Word
Jesus' last words from the cross are a profound statement of trust: "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit." With His final breath, Jesus placed Himself entirely in the Father's care. He couldn't see past death. He couldn't control what came next. But He trusted. He committed Himself to the Father's faithfulness, confident that death wouldn't have the final word.
This is what trust looks like at its deepest level. Not demanding to see the outcome. Not insisting on understanding the plan. Simply placing yourself in the Father's hands and believing He is good, He is faithful, and He can be trusted—no matter what.
The Call to Trust
Here's what matters: the same trust that marked Jesus' life is meant to mark ours. God calls us to develop unwavering confidence in Him and in Him alone, in all circumstances. Not confidence in our own strength or wisdom. Not trust that everything will turn out the way we want. But deep, settled trust in the Father's character and purposes.
God positions us in situations where trust becomes our only option. Will we believe He is good when circumstances say otherwise? Will we commit ourselves to His hands when we can't see the way forward? Will we trust like Jesus trusted?
Trust isn't the absence of fear. It's choosing to believe God is faithful, even when fear is screaming.
For His Name's Sake
C. L. J. Dryden
Shalom
Next Steps
Reflect: Where in your life is God inviting you to trust Him more deeply? Is there a situation where you're trying to maintain control because you're afraid of what might happen if you let go? What circumstances are currently challenging your confidence in God's goodness? Spend time honestly examining whether your trust is in God or in your ability to manage outcomes.
Pray: Father, Your Son Jesus showed us what perfect trust looks like—unwavering confidence in You even through rejection, suffering, and death. Forgive me for the times I've doubted Your goodness, for the moments I've relied on my own understanding instead of trusting Your character. Help me to put my trust in You like Jesus did, to commit my spirit into Your hands, to believe You are faithful even when I cannot see the outcome. Give me the courage to trust You in all circumstances. Make me trusting like Jesus. For Your glory alone. Amen.
Act: This week, identify one specific area where you're struggling to trust God. It might be a relationship that's uncertain, a financial situation that's worrying you, a health concern that's causing anxiety, or a decision where the outcome is unclear. Practice trust by consciously placing that concern in the Father's hands each day. Instead of rehearsing worst-case scenarios or trying to force solutions, speak this prayer aloud: "Father, into Your hands I commit this situation. I trust You." Notice how choosing trust, even when you don't feel it, begins to shift your perspective.
