Is the provision of God not something to be trusted in? Self-reliance is ingrained in our nature and taught from an early age. We are often told to be the “masters of our own fate and the captains of our own souls” (Invictus, Henley). But are we truly in control? As we witness in our lives and those of others, many ships have run aground and become shipwrecked due to our inherent stubbornness and self-reliance (1 Timothy 1:19).

However, we have been given direction; we have a captain who is the master of the seas of life (Proverbs 3:5-9). This is good news! God has provided us with guidance and a captain we can rely on—Captain Christ, who offers salvation and conquers sin and death, which are the jagged rocks of life that lead to destruction.

Christ, the captain and master of life’s seas, reconciles us to a relationship with Himself, redeeming us from the death that comes from our inherited nature (2 Corinthians 5:21). He gives us a new nature, one built on trust in God rather than on self-reliance. This new heart is one of righteousness (Genesis 15:16, Romans 10:10), a righteousness that depends on the very power of God revealed in Christ our Lord, who lived the life we could not live and died the death we deserved, conquering sin and death and saving us from their consequences by charting a new course in life based upon His.

How do we know if we have truly trusted? Through our obedience to God’s guidance rather than our reliance on ourselves.

Father God, cause us to trust in You and in Your provision in Christ Jesus. Allow this trust to expand, saturating every part of our lives as we learn to live a life of faith—one that is rooted in trust in You and Your direction.