If – Then
Proverbs 3:5, 6 (6)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
This “if-then†statement has provides a promise that has been an instruction and an encouragement to many Christians.
If – you trust God completely and always
If – you don’t rely on your own ingenuity or abilities at all, and
If – you recognize that without God you are an absolute Zero,
Then – He will be your guide through life.
The Eads Bridge in St. Louis was designed by James B. Eads and was completed in 1874. At that time it was the longest arch bridge in the world. It was 6,442 feet long and was constructed with the use of ribbed steel arch spans. This was the first time this method had ever been used on major bridge project. The people did not trust the structure to be safe.
Therefore on June 14, 1874, John Robinson led an elephant across the new bridge.  It was believed that elephants would instinctively refuse to walk on unsafe structures. Two weeks later, James Eads sent 14 trains across the bridge at the same time.
The bridge that had not been trusted became a common means of passage from Missouri to Illinois across the Mississippi river. Believers in like manner may have difficulty trusting in God. We may cling to our old methods of trusting in our faulty intelligence and our weak efforts. Until we can instinctively learn to trust in Him, and lean on Him for guidance in life naturally, we will continue to stumble from one failure to another.
Dr. Gayle Woods
