Verified answer

God sees. Sometimes we can be like the blind leading the blind. We all, like sheep, have gone astray. Trusting in the Lord IS the most reliable and best choice. It is more than ok to believe in that verse. It is one of the most intelligent things we can do.

When Naomi returned to Israel, Ruth (her d-i-l, did just that... she trusted in the Lord and by passed her intelligence) that would have told her to remain in the country where she was born. Ruth gave up her culture, homeland, family and friends to journey to Israel with Naomi. That took a lot of faith in God. And when Ruth arrived in Israel, right away she met Boaz and eventually they were married. Boaz and Ruth loved each other and welcomed Naomi into their home as well. It all worked out for the good of all and everyone benefited. It's good that Ruth "trusted in the Lord with all her heart and leaned not to her own understanding."

When God told Noah to build an Ark, (never before done), Noah did so and saved the lives of his family and his self, plus all those animals. Another example of a man of God "trusting the Lord with all his heart, leaned not to his own understanding..."

The Bible is full of examples of people who trusted the Lord; leaned not to their own understanding, and benefited from it. Those like Jonah who rebelled against God and went their own way, faced the consequences. (got his self swallowed up by a big fish). I bet if Samson had it all to do over again, he would have never told Deliah the secret to his strength... but he kept playing with fire and she betrayed him. He got his eyes gouged out and lost his strength temporarily. Well, too bad, he learned his lessons the hard way... from the University of Hard Knocks. But it didn't have to be that way... if only he'd have trusted the Lord with all his heart and leaned not to his own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5- Trust in Jehovah with all your heart and do not lean upon your own understanding.

Those are beautiful, reassuring words. Surely no one in all the universe is more trustworthy than our beloved heavenly Father. Nevertheless, it is easier to read those words in Proverbs than to put them into practice.

Many have mistaken ideas about what it means to trust in Jehovah. Some think of such trust merely as a feeling, a kind of blissful emotion that should well up naturally in the heart. Others seem to believe that trusting in God means that we can expect him to shield us from every difficulty, to solve our every problem, to make every daily challenge turn out just as we hope—and right away! But such notions are unfounded. Trust is much more than a mere feeling, and it is not unrealistic. In adults, trust involves making conscious, reasoned decisions.

Note again what Proverbs 3:5 says. It contrasts trusting in Jehovah with leaning on our own understanding, suggesting that we cannot do both. Does that mean that we are not allowed to use our powers of understanding? No, for Jehovah, who gave us those powers, expects us to use them in serving him. (Romans 12:1) But on what do we lean, or depend? If our thinking fails to harmonize with Jehovah’s, do we accept his wisdom for what it is—infinitely superior to ours? (Isaiah 55:8, 9) To trust in Jehovah means to let his thinking guide our own.

To illustrate: Think of a small child sitting in the backseat of a car, with his parents in front. His father is at the wheel. When difficulties arise during the journey—a question about the proper route or perhaps a problem with the weather or the condition of the road—how does an obedient, trusting child react? Does he shout directions from the backseat, telling his father how to handle the car? Does he question his parents’ decisions or resist when they remind him to stay buckled up in his seat? No, he naturally trusts his parents to handle such matters, imperfect though they are. In Jehovah, we have a perfect Father. Should we not trust in him implicitly, especially when we face challenging situations?—Isaiah 30:21.

A heart that is trusting in Jehovah knows that whatever He asks or directs through his Word is always right. (Isaiah 48:17) Jehovah is certainly worthy of our complete trust. He is able to carry out all that he has purposed. (Isaiah 40:26, 29) Why, his very name literally means “He Causes to Become,” which builds confidence in his ability to fulfill what he has promised! He is “righteous in all his ways and loyal in all his works.” (Psalm 145:17) Of course, to cultivate trust in him, we need to “taste and see that Jehovah is good” by applying what we learn from the Bible in our personal life and by reflecting upon the good that this produces.—Psalm 34:8.

I don't, it's just a book written by a bunch of people thousands of years ago which makes it utterly irrelevant in this day and age!

No, as is the case with most paraphrases, the statement is inconsistent with the original Hebrew and so should be rejected!

I want a T-shirt that says this. I'm going to wear it to church.

You quote the words of ancient and superstitious men. I would rather relay on my own intelligence.

Think about it!