What do I reach for instead of trusting God? Answering this question caused me to dig deeply into my anxieties, fears, and conflicts. Self-examination on this level is uncomfortable. Like many of you reading this, I am a believer; I trust God, but I don’t always respond in ways that maximize the power of that sacred trust. In Genesis (2:7–9), our humanity began in a garden overflowing with everything we could ever possibly need. Even in this plentiful place, free will turned heads toward something bright, shiny, alluring, and seemingly desirable. Here and now, in 2026, we are definitely not in the Garden anymore! Amidst the countless struggles of our lives, what in this crazy world promises wisdom, control, self-sufficiency, and peace?
Is it self-reliance? “I can fix this.” “I’ll be better next time.” (Hmm…how’s that working out?)
Does research and fact-checking bring true peace or self-righteous feelings of control? (The jury is out.)
Escaping into entertainment, including food, alcohol, sex, shopping, and scrolling, can temporarily numb pain but won’t replace the healing that’s truly needed.
Even work can be an escape, diving into career, productivity, money, reaping the status of self-satisfaction, wherein worth becomes more impressive than faith.
Giving up. “There’s nothing I can do.” “This world is so messed up.” “God isn’t helping.” Anger, blame, and even resignation can feel resolute, but they merely mask grief.
According to Romans (5:12, 17–19), our tendencies are not just personal weakness; they are part of the inherited brokenness of sin entering the world. Sin distorts trust and convinces us that life is something we can manage, earn, or protect on our own rather than receive through faithful dependence on God.
Like Adam and Eve, I often reach, not because I doubt but because I think I can do it on my own, forgetting in the moment that God is truly enough and that trusting in Him will lead to life.
In Matthew (4:1–11), Jesus refuses to reach. He does not seize control, prove Himself, or demand comfort. Instead, He anchors Himself in the Word of God and chooses trust over self-reliance. Where humanity failed in the Garden, Jesus remains faithful in the wilderness. Through Christ’s obedience, grace now reigns. We are no longer bound to the instinct to grasp. We are invited to trust.
Come to Him in Prayer
When we feel isolated, we need connection. Coming to God in fervent prayer may seem futile at times, but it is the exact connection that we need. God calls us into a true relationship with Him, one that involves bearing all our frustrations, anxieties, and feelings of helplessness to Him without reservation. God’s power is not an idea to manage when we need it; His loving presence is always there to trust.
God looks forward to hearing from you.
