"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, 'What are we to eat?' or 'What are we to drink?' or 'What are we to wear?' All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil."
- Matthew 6:24-34
There is a story about a man who was trapped in his house by rising flood waters. Eventually, the man was forced to climb in his roof to avoid drowning and turned to God in prayer asking for help. A neighbor comes by in a boat rescue him but the man sends them away telling them that God will save him. Then the Coast Guard comes by in an airboat but again then man sends them away, saying he is relying on God. Then a helicopter flies over but the man sends them away, again telling them that God will save him. Eventually the man dies and is face to face with God in heaven. He asks God why he didn’t answer his prayer. God’s response is that he did, he sent two boats and helicopter but the man refused to use them.
Trusting in God means turning first and foremost to God in all things. Whatever we do, we should first turn to God in prayer with the knowledge that He will give us the support we need. We then proceed with our lives, secure in the knowledge that God will provide the tools and resources needed to carry out His will. However, that does not mean they will just miraculously appear in front of us. God expects us to do our part as well. Rather, he will place the people around us which will lead us to whatever we need.
Trusting in God involves more than just praying. It is not a passive attitude. Yes we turn to God first, but we then we need to actively work toward completing the goals by using our God-given talents and working with the people God has placed in our lives. Whatever we do must be done with a prayerful attitude, but it still must be done. As the old saying goes, “God helps those who help themselves.” God does not want us to just sit idly by and wait for things to happen. He wants us to go forth and reshape the world in His image all the while trusting that God will provide.