Not Leaning on Our Own Understanding
“Our limited understanding can lead us astray.”
~ Beckie Lindsey
My beautiful writing friend, Beckie, passed away recently after a long battle with ovarian cancer. I initially met her at a Christian writers conference and we stayed connected. And we wrote guest posts for each other’s blog sites. Beckie penned this amazing article I’m sharing with you this week.
By Beckie Lindsey
“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.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
This passage in Proverbs tells us if we trust in the Lord, we cannot also depend upon our own ability to understand everything God is doing.
However, most of us have a desperate desire to understand.
And yet in so many areas, we must acknowledge we cannot always understand. It’s often frustrating and sometimes downright infuriating.
"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.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV Share on XThe tension that we feel from our limited understanding is eased by a further look into Scripture. Here are a few reasons we are not to lean on our own understanding but rest in God’s:
Not Leaning: We don’t have a clear picture, but God does.
“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12 ESV
We only see part of the picture God is painting. If we truly trust Him, we have to let go of our pride, our programs, and our plans. Even the best-laid human plans cannot begin to approach the magnificent sagacity of God’s plan. “For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom.” 1 Corinthians 1:25 NIV
God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV
Not Leaning: Our limited understanding can lead us astray.
“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death.” Proverbs 16:25 NIV
When we choose to direct our lives according to what seems right to us, we often reap disaster.
“In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.” Judges 21:25 NIV
“Our limited understanding can lead us astray.” ~ Beckie Lindsey Share on XGod’s standards never change.
Cultures may change their understanding of what is right and wrong, but God’s standards never change.
“God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” Numbers 23:19 NIV
Each of us must decide whether to live our life according to personal preference or according to the unchanging Word of God. Let’s face it, often we will not understand how God is causing “all things to work together for good” (Romans 8:28). But as we spend time with God in His Word and prayer, we learn to trust Him more and more.
Is there something going on in your life now where you have been leaning on your own understanding?
About Beckie
Beckie Lindsey was an award-winning author of the YA series Beauties from Ashes, and Legacy: Living NOW for Future Generations a devotional study journal. She was an inspiration to many, including me, always pointing others to hope in Jesus Christ.
Even in her final days, Beckie was trusting the Lord and not leaning on her own understanding. Now she’s in the presence of Jesus.
Featured images of our granddaughter and pug puppy.
Last week’s post: Unbelievable: Every Spiritual Blessing in Christ.
Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:
Let’s Have Coffee/Embracing the Unexpected (Grace & Truth).
© 2024 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
Thank you so much, Karen, for this lovely tribute to Beckie. I cherished her posts and her God-inspired books, and I know she will be missed by so many whose lives were enriched by her presence and her love for Jesus. May we all hope to leave a legacy like she did when it’s our turn to be called home.
Blessings always!
(Thanks so much for your prayers – Danny is home from his heart ablation and we feel so blessed!)
I was so glad to hear Danny was home. Prayed for you and him. Yes, Beckie was so loved and modeled a great faith for all of us who knew her. God bless!
Heavenly Father, in a world where it often feels like the devil seeks to create discord within Christian families, we come before You seeking Your divine intervention. We pray for the strength and grace to overcome the challenges that threaten to pull our family apart. Please guide us towards a harmonious and peaceful family life. We ask for Your loving presence to surround us and protect us from the forces that aim to disrupt our unity. In Your holy name, we humbly request peace and serenity within our family. Amen!
Amen! Thank you, David and God bless!
Karen, I’m so sorry for the loss of your friend, but what a beautiful tribute. Such foundational truths which never grow old. Our understanding is finite, but God’s is infinite.
Thank you, Donna. Beckie was all about God’s truth and never wavering from it. God bless!
Beckie was a wonderful person. Her love for God and others was evident in her life. Thank you for sharing about sweet Beckie.
She was all that and more, Melissa. She will be missed and left behind a great testimony and legacy of faith. God bless!
Karen, thank you for sharing this heartfelt post by Beckie. I’m so sorry to hear about her passing, but we know she is with Jesus. What an inspiration she must have been. These are powerful words, much needed in these days when many previous Bible-believing churches are following culture over Scripture. Praying for myself, my family, and the body of Christ to cling to God and His Word, even when we don’t understand. His ways are higher and His Word stands forever. Thank you again for sharing.
Melissa, it’s so disheartening what is happening to culture, but even worse, within the church. Beckie stood for truth and was a wonderful example to other Christians. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV God bless!
[…] Not Leaning on Our Own Understanding […]
What an amazing sounding person. Heaven’s gain for sure. I’m so sorry for your loss but glad you had such a wonderful friend.
Yvonne, Beckie was a wonderful person, writer, friend, and Christ-follower. She will be missed but spent her life and even last days telling everyone about Jesus.
I’m so sorry for your loss, Karen! Beckie seemed to point to Jesus, and I cannot imagine a better testimony than this.
Thanks, Jessica. She certainly left a legacy in her writings and in her life that will live on.
I am so sorry for your loss, Karen. This post was a beautiful way to share about Beckie. Judges 21:25 has always been a sobering verse. Only God and His standard will never change and we can trust Him always.
Thank you, Joanne. Beckie was a beautiful soul and Jesus girl through and through. I pray we hold fast to God’s standard in our lives to help point others to Him. God bless!
[…] Last week’s post, Not Leaning on our Own Understanding. […]
What a wonderful example of leaving a legacy of faith for others was Ms. Beckie. I see you doing the same my friend. I pray we’ll never have to say goodbye to another friend, but instead rejoice in His upward call on that Day sweet friend. God’s blessings.
Thanks for your kind words, J.D. Beckie was certainly a godly woman who praised the Lord and trusted in His sovereignty until the end. God bless!