The Path to Promise:
Trusting, Learning, and Walking with God
Psalm 25:1-10
Introduction
I’m sure you’re familiar with the phrase, “Life is a journey.” And it is. It’s not so much about an event (like birth or death), or event an achievement (like graduating or landing a great job). Life isn’t even about arriving at a destination — like going to heaven (as we all hope to do).
Life is about all the steps along the way. It’s about the experiences and decisions and encounters that shape us into who we are.
If you’re a fan of Rascal Flatts or Lightning McQueen, you might put it this way: “Life is a highway.”
And that’s true—life is a highway, a pathway, and a journey. And every journey requires direction. Whether it’s following a GPS, using a map, or even asking for directions, we rely on guidance to reach our desired destination. But what happens when the path is unclear, the road is uncertain, or we feel lost? That’s when we must trust the One who knows the way.
And that’s true. Life is a highway, a pathway, and a journey. And every journey requires direction. Whether it’s following a GPS, using a map, or even asking for directions, we rely on guidance to reach our desired destination. But what happens when the path is unclear, the road is uncertain, or we feel lost?
That’s when we must trust the One who knows the way!
Psalm 25 is a heartfelt prayer from David as he seeks God’s guidance, mercy, and instruction. It reminds us that if we want to reach the right destination in life, we must trust, learn, and walk in God’s ways.
Psalm 25 does not have a clearly defined historical occasion, but scholars and commentators generally place it in a period of David’s life when he was facing distress and seeking divine guidance. Some possibilities include:
- During Persecution by Saul: Some believe David wrote this psalm during the years he was fleeing from King Saul, a time when he was constantly seeking God’s direction for survival and justice.
- During Absalom’s Rebellion: Others suggest it could have been written when David was fleeing from his son Absalom (2 Samuel 15-18). This was a period of deep personal betrayal and national crisis, making the themes of trust, guidance, and seeking forgiveness particularly relevant.
- A General Reflection Later in Life: Another perspective is that this psalm is a later reflection in David’s life, summarizing the key lessons he had learned about trusting God in times of trouble.
Psalm 25 is both a lament and a wisdom psalm, written as an acrostic, meaning each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. This structure suggests it was intended to be easily memorized and used as a teaching tool for righteous living.
Look at it with me:
1 In you, Lord my God,
I put my trust.
2 I trust in you;
do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
3 No one who hopes in you
will ever be put to shame,
but shame will come on those
who are treacherous without cause.
4 Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
6 Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you, Lord, are good.
8 Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
9 He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way.
10 All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful
toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.
The Hebrew word for “trust” (בָּטַח, batach) appears frequently in wisdom literature, underscoring the idea that confidence in God is the foundation of righteous living.
Throughout Scripture, we see that those who place their trust in God are never abandoned. From Abraham leaving his homeland without knowing his destination, to Peter stepping out of the boat in faith, the journey of following God has always required courage and trust. These biblical figures serve as examples of what it means to rely on God’s plan rather than our own understanding.
Today, I want to encourage you: if you want to experience God’s promises, you must follow His path.
Let’s examine three crucial steps on this journey. And the first is this:
1. TRUST IN HIM: Surrender Your Soul to the Lord (vv. 1-3)
David begins this psalm by lifting up his soul to God and placing his trust in Him. He acknowledges that trusting God means surrendering all fears, failures, and uncertainties into His hands. Many people say they trust God, but true trust means fully surrendering control and relying on Him.
When we trust God, we release our worries and depend on Him to lead us safely.
The Hebrew word for “lift up” (נָשָׂא, nasa’) conveys an image of elevating or placing something in a position of honor. By lifting his soul to God, David expresses an act of surrender and devotion, acknowledging that his life is not his own.
This act of entrusting oneself to God is echoed in Proverbs 3:5-6, where we are instructed to lean not on our own understanding but to acknowledge God in all our ways.
A great example of trust is the story of the tightrope walker who performed daring stunts over Niagara Falls. One day, he asked the watching crowd, “Do you believe I can push a wheelbarrow across the rope?” The crowd cheered, “Yes!” Then he asked, “Who will get in the wheelbarrow?” Silence filled the air.
Trusting God isn’t just about believing He can guide us—it’s about stepping into His plan with full confidence.
The New Testament echoes this theme in James 1:5-8, where believers are encouraged to ask God for wisdom and to do so without doubting. James warns that a double-minded person is unstable in all their ways
Here’s what James has to say on this matter. He writes,
James 1:5-8 (ESV) – “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
Trusting God doesn’t mean we won’t face difficulties. It means that even in the midst of uncertainty, we hold on to the promise that He is faithful.
Think about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who trusted God even when faced with a fiery furnace. They didn’t know if God would deliver them, but they knew He was worthy of their trust. Today, choose to release your anxieties and trust God with your present and your future.
2. LEARN FROM HIM: Seek God’s Guidance Daily (vv. 4-7)
David prays, “Make me to know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths.”
He understands that to navigate life successfully, he must learn from God and follow His divine wisdom. God’s Word is our ultimate GPS. Without it, we make wrong turns, get stuck in dead ends, and waste time on paths we were never meant to take.
The Hebrew word for “ways” (דֶּרֶךְ, derek) refers to a road or journey, but it is also used metaphorically to represent a moral or spiritual course.
David is not merely asking for information; he is seeking transformation. Learning from God is not a passive act—it is an active pursuit of His will.
Think about the frustration of following an outdated GPS. You follow the route, but suddenly, you end up at a dead-end road. Why? Because the GPS wasn’t updated! In the same way, if we try to navigate life with our own limited understanding, we will find ourselves lost. We need to seek God’s direction daily. Developing a habit of reading His Word and praying for His guidance ensures that we stay on the right path.
God’s guidance is not just for emergencies. It is meant to be our daily reliance. Just as an athlete trains regularly to stay in top form, a believer must consistently seek God’s wisdom to remain spiritually strong. Are we seeking His voice only when we are desperate, or are we walking with Him daily? Learning from God requires humility—a willingness to admit that we don’t have all the answers and that His ways are higher than ours.
3. WALK WITH HIM: Follow God’s Path with Humility and Obedience (vv. 8-10)
David declares that God leads and teaches the humble. The key to staying on the right path is not just knowing God’s truth but walking in it with humility and obedience. Walking with God is a daily commitment to follow His ways, even when we stumble. He is patient with us, but we must continue moving forward in faith.
Jesus reinforces this principle in Matthew 7:13-14, where He speaks of the narrow and wide gates:
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
This passage reminds us that following God’s path requires intentionality and effort. The broad road is easy, filled with distractions and temptations, while the narrow road requires trust, obedience, and reliance on God’s wisdom.
The Hebrew word for “humble” (עָנָו, anav) conveys the idea of being lowly or dependent on God. The proud resist correction, but the humble receive instruction.
The New Testament echoes this principle in James 4:6, where we are told that God gives grace to the humble.
A toddler learning to walk stumbles and falls many times, but a loving parent doesn’t scold them for falling. Instead, they encourage the child to get up and try again.
God leads the humble in the same way—He doesn’t expect perfection, but He does expect progress. Taking intentional steps of obedience, aligning our daily choices with God’s Word, ensures that we continue growing in our faith.
Conclusion
Surrender your life fully to God. Seek His wisdom every day. Step forward in faith, walking in His truth. When we trust, learn, and walk with God, we experience His grace, mercy, and faithfulness in every season of life.
Wherever you are in your journey, God has a path prepared for you. Will you follow it?
So again, I call upon you to live you a Godly life. Putting into practice the directives of this psalm.
- Commit today to trusting God completely.
- Make time daily to learn from His Word.
- Take steps of obedience, walking in His ways.
Would you pause with me and bow your heads as we close in prayer?
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, we come before You with hearts that desire to trust, learn, and walk in Your ways. Teach us to surrender completely, to seek Your wisdom daily, and to walk in obedience with humility. When the path is unclear, remind us of Your faithfulness. Strengthen our faith, guide our steps, and let our lives reflect Your truth. We commit ourselves to You today, knowing that Your plans are always good. In Jesus’ name, Amen.