Trust & Obey: An Unshakable Foundation
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. (Proverbs 3:7)
In 1887, John Sammis penned the timeless hymn “Trust and Obey.” Its message remains as relevant today as it was when first written.
The hymn’s refrain states:
“Trust and obey, for there is no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”
The meaning is clear: if we desire true happiness in Jesus, trusting and obeying Him is essential. But does the Bible support this? While the phrase “trust and obey” does not appear verbatim in Scripture, the Bible is replete with commands to trust and obey God. This hymn captures a profound truth—being happy in Jesus hinges on our willingness to fully trust and obey Him.
At the heart of this truth lies the single most important action we can take as Christians: surrendering to the Holy Spirit. Yielding to God’s Spirit is paramount. Paradoxically, while this act is simple, it is also one of the hardest things for us to do. Yet, it is what God desires most. When we yield to Him, no challenge—be it the devil, poverty, depression, fear, or sickness—can overcome us.
Trusting and obeying God is central to yielding to Him. It’s not merely about praying more, reading the Bible more, attending church more, or even giving generously. While these are good practices, the ultimate call is to completely surrender to God’s will, letting Him take control of our lives.
Consider Paul’s words:
“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2, KJV)
When the Spirit governs our lives, the things that once held power over us lose their grip. Problems such as addiction, depression, demons or fear become powerless under the Spirit’s control.
The Lord once impressed upon me that if I refuse to yield my life to Him, undesirable things will dominate me. Furthermore, He showed me that if I do not die to myself, good things in my life will die. He said this to me when I got married. God warned me that if I clung to my ego or selfish desires in my relationship, I could harm the beautiful relationship He had blessed me with. I wonder how many of us have lost something precious because we insisted on our own way instead of trusting and obeying God.
Brethren, John Sammis was right: trusting and obeying the Lord truly is the only way to be happy in Jesus.
Meditate
Are you fully yielded to the Holy Spirit? Pause and reflect on this question.
Apply the Word
Picture your life as a car. Only one can be in the driver’s seat—either you (the flesh), the Spirit, or, God forbid, worldly influences. To let the Holy Spirit take the wheel, you must trust and obey Him.
Pray
Lord, until You enable us to trust and obey You fully, we are without hope. Holy Spirit, please make us willing and able to yield our lives to You. Amen.
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- Provision on the Mount of the LORD
- But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested
- Obedience to God is Your Very Life
- View All Deshen Daily Devotionals
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