Have you ever wondered, “Did God really say?" I know I have. Waiting on the promises of God can test us in ways nothing else does. In those moments of waiting, the enemy loves to whisper the same lie he spoke in the Garden: “Did God really say…?”
If we are not careful, we begin leaning on our own reasoning—trying to analyze, figure things out, or even make things happen in our own strength. And sometimes I’ve even asked, “Why is this delayed? Did I do something that wasn’t pleasing to the Lord?” Those questions can weigh heavily if I lean on my own understanding instead of His truth. Proverbs 3:5–6 (NASB) reminds us: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
The Hebrew word for understanding is בִּינָה (bināh)—our human reasoning, analysis, or discernment. It’s not that God despises understanding—He created us with minds!—but He warns us not to lean on it as if it were our foundation. When we do, we are propping ourselves up on something too fragile to hold us.
Michael and I have walked this lesson out in real life. Back in 2009, we were renting a place on the Mount of Olives. Our landlord there was a Muslim man who had been good to us, but suddenly violence began to break out among the local clans. The peace and grace we had known in that neighborhood lifted, and we knew it was time to move.
The Lord has often moved us between Jewish and Arab areas, so shifting wasn’t unusual. A realtor showed us a beautifully furnished apartment on the west side of Jerusalem, in Abu Tor. But the landlord there was shouting, aggressive, and clearly not a man of honesty. We both saw the warning signs. Yet, because we urgently needed a place, we leaned on our own bināh—our reasoning—and convinced ourselves this must be the Lord’s provision. Together we signed the lease.
Not long after, we sorely regretted it. Looking back, we realized we had stepped ahead of God. Instead of waiting and trusting Him to open the right door, we had leaned on our own understanding. What looked good on the outside became a difficult situation. It was a hard lesson in trust.
Isaiah 26:3 says, “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You.”
The Hebrew word for trust is בָּטַח (bāṭaḥ)—to feel safe, secure, confident in Him. Trust isn’t passive; it’s an active decision to rest in His character, not our calculations. We are learning to let go of the “how” and “when,” and to rest in the Who. He is faithful. He is good. He is the Rock that never fails.
Beloved, if you’ve ever found yourself asking, “Did God really say?”—know you’re not alone. Satan uses our reasoning to sow doubt, fear, and unbelief. But God is greater. Delay does not mean denial. His promises are yes and amen in Christ. Do not lean on the fragile crutch of your own bināh. Instead, lean fully on the strong arms of your Father. He will make your path straight, and He is working even now in ways you cannot yet see.
Prophetic Declaration:
“Father, I choose to trust You with all my heart. I will not lean on my own bināh—my reasoning, my analysis, or my limited understanding. I acknowledge You in all my ways, and I declare that You are making my paths straight. Every delay is in Your timing, and every promise You have spoken will come to pass. I rest in You, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
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