The idea of trusting God with your future hinges on the debate between God's sovereignty and mankind's freewill, which is a huge topic. (I have always been a "meet God half way" kind of guy.) Regardless of the specifics of how it works, let's assume that at the very least, God plays a role in that process, and that he intends good things for us.
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)
I usually find it easy to trust God with certain aspects of my future, but not others. Worrying about something could probably be defined as the opposite of trusting God about it. For example I don't worry that I will run out of food or money or a place to live. I am confident that he intends for me it have a fruitful and fulfilling career, and that he will continue to provide me with opportunities in that regard. I have little anxiety about failing to be successful in that regard, and I trust that God will be with me through that process.
On the other hand, something I find it extremely difficult not to worry about, is relationships or the intention to someday get married. I have trouble trusting that God has a plan for that part of my life, and that he is preparing me for future opportunities in that regard. That is something I believe at an intellectual level, but it sure doesn't feel true most of the time. The degree that I spend time focusing on or worrying about those issues would indicate that I am not trusting God with them.
I have been realizing recently, that I may not really be trusting God, even with the issues I don't worry much about. I may just be trusting myself, and my own capabilities in those areas, believing that I am capable of handling those issues on my own. Otherwise, why would I trust God in some areas and not others? It is obviously harder to trust in things we see less evidence of, so recognizing progress in certain areas may explain that trust in those aspects of life.
So I trust that I will have a successful career, but I have trouble trusting that I will someday be happily married. How can I tell if I am trusting God or just myself with those issues? At the end of the day, is there difference? And how do we learn to trust God with those issues we frequently find ourselves worring about?
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