January 2026

TRUSTING GOD 

FOR 

THE JOURNEY AHEAD

His Life Ministries 2026 Sermon Series

Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

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 shall direct your paths.

SERIES OVERVIEW: 

A new year brings both hope and uncertainty. 

We move forward with fresh plans 

and good intentions, but we cannot control what lies ahead. While last year gave us memories and lessons, the future remains open and uncertain. With this, at the beginning of a new year, many people ask, "What should I change? What should 

I do? Which direction is my life heading?" 

These thoughts remind us of one simple truth: 

we don’t know what’s ahead.

And that is the essence of our January 2026 series, TRUSTING GOD FOR THE 

JOURNEY AHEAD. 

While the challenges and opportunities of this year are unknown, Proverbs 3:5-6 offers comfort and guidance in every uncertainty.

God does not give us a detailed schedule for the new year. Instead, He invites us to trust Him: 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart.” 

Proverbs 3:5-6 

shows that the most important decision this year is not what we plan, but whom we trust.

While setting goals and making plans matter, direction is more important. This month’s verse reminds us that clarity in the new year comes not from better vision or planning, but deeper trust in God.

As we stand at the beginning of a new year, God is not asking us to have everything figured out. He is asking us to trust Him. Proverbs 3:5–6 reminds us 

that direction flows from dependence. When we stop leaning on our own understanding and begin acknowledging God in all our ways, He promises to guide our steps.

We may not know what this year holds, but we know who holds this year. As we enter this year, Proverbs 3:5-6 calls us to move forward not with fear or self-confidence, but with total trust in God to lead us.

WEEKLY 

SYNOPSIS & EMPHASIS

January 04, 2026 | Week One

Birthday Sunday

Sermon Title: 

Step Out: Trusting God for the Journey Ahead

Verse: 

Proverbs 3:5a 

Trust the Lord with all your heart

Every journey starts with a single step, just as each new part of life begins. Yet, not every step feels steady. As we look ahead to a new year or an uncertain future, we often feel both hope and fear, excitement and worry mixed together.

God knows these questions live in the human heart - that is why Proverbs 3:5-6 is not just good advice, but a Divine invitation: TRUST ME ON THE JOURNEY AHEAD.

THREE IMPORTANT THINGS TO CONSIDER ABOUT TRUSTING THE LORD:

[1] Trust is a choice, not a feeling.

[2] Trust demands surrender of control.

[3] Trust unlocks God’s guidance.

The journey ahead will test our trust. 

There will be times when having faith feels 

bold, and following God is hard, but these are the times when God works the most. 

Taking a step of faith may feel risky, but we are never alone. We are told to trust the Lord with all our hearts and to keep going even when we do not know what will happen next. With every step, He will be there.

The journey ahead is unknown, but God is faithful. Trust Him, step out, and watch 

Him guide your every move.

January 10, 2026 | Week Two

Communion Sunday

Sermon Title: 

Let Go: Releasing What Hinders Your Journey

Verse: 

Proverbs 3:5b And lean not on your own understanding

Trusting God is one step; letting go is another leap entirely. We long for God’s guidance, blessing, and peace, yet often cling to what feels safe and familiar despite our stated trust. If trusting God is stepping forward, then letting go is releasing the anchors that keep us stuck. Sometimes our journey stalls, not because of a lack of God’s leading, but because we hesitate to surrender control, 

even when praying for direction. This tension—praying for change while holding onto what is familiar—shows up again and again. We plead for God to move, yet still clutch the known for comfort.

THREE IMPORTANT THINGS TO CONSIDER ABOUT LETTING GO

[1] Letting Go Is Not Ignoring Wisdom—It’s Trusting God’s Wisdom

[2] What You Refuse to Release Will Restrict Your Movement

[3] Letting Go Makes the Journey Lighter

Ultimately, we must recognize that often our grip is rooted not in a lack of trust in God but in fear of vulnerability. Without releasing control, God’s guidance remains distant. Today, He invites us to let go of self-reliance and embrace full trust—not 

by abandoning wisdom, but by surrendering our need for control.

January 18, 2026

Week Three

LifeGroup & Divinity Sunday

Sermon Title: 

Stay Close: 

Walking Step by Step with God 

Verse: 

Proverbs 3:6a 

In all your ways acknowledge Him

Many of us want God to show us the whole plan—every turn, every outcome, every answer. 

But God usually invites us into a walk, not a sprint, and not a jump. A walk requires closeness, trust, and attention to who is beside us. Also, many want God’s direction, but not everyone wants God’s discipline. 

We want clarity without closeness, answers without obedience, blessing without surrender. 

But Proverbs 

3:6a reminds us that the journey of faith is lived one step at a time, with God acknowledged at every turn.

THREE THINGS 

TO CONSIDER ABOUT WALKING 

CLOSELY WITH GOD

[1] 

Walking with God Begins with Relationship, 

Not Direction

[2] 

God Leads Step by Step, 

Not All at Once

[3] 

Staying in Step Keeps Us from 

Losing Our Way

God is not asking for a perfect walk—He is asking for a dependent walk.

Every step becomes meaningful when it is taken with Him. And so, we need to stay close, acknowledge Him in our ways, walk with Him step by step, and trust that God will lead us to exactly where we need to be. 

January 25, 2026

Week Four 

Sermon Title: 

Move Forward: 

Experiencing God’s Direction and Blessing

Verse: 

Proverbs 3:6b 

And He shall direct your paths.

Many people feel stuck. 

They are caught between regrets from the past and 

worries about the future. Others wait for God to show them what to do next. 

But sometimes what we call waiting is really just fear. It is wanting to stay comfortable 

or to stay in control. Still, God does not want us to stay stuck and unsure.

He calls us to move forward with trust, even when it feels difficult. 

With this encouragement in mind, Proverbs 3:6b becomes a promise for anyone 

who is willing to trust God with their life. And this means that when we trust Him, 

He takes responsibility for leading us.

THREE IMPORTANT THINGS 

TO CONSIDER ABOUT MOVING FORWARD

[1] Moving Forward Activates God’s Guidance

[2] Forward Movement Reveals What Standing Still Hides

[3] God Is Personally Involved in Your Journey

As we think about these steps, remember that life is full of choices. Every decision, 

big or small, shapes where our lives go. When we feel unsure, God does not just give us advice, but a promise: He shall direct your paths. This is not wishful thinking. This is a divine assurance to those who place their lives in God’s hands. 

The question is not, “Will God direct my path?” The deeper question is, “Am I willing to move forward under His direction?”

NOTES ON PROVERBS 3:5-6

1. Literary Context

• Book: Proverbs – Wisdom Literature, part of the Hebrew Bible’s “Ketuvim.”

• Chapter Context: Chapter 3 is a father’s instruction emphasizing wisdom, 

obedience, and trust in God (3:1–12).

• Structure:

o vv. 3–4: Internal character (steadfast love, faithfulness) → relational 

results (favor, success)

o vv. 5–6: Relational trust (dependence on God) → practical guidance 

(God-directed paths)

Observation: Verses 5–6 form a unit that transitions from internal virtue to trust 

in God and divine guidance.

2. Historical and Cultural Background

• Trust (bāṭaḥ): A Hebrew term conveying confidence, reliance, and security 

in God’s covenant faithfulness.

• Heart (lēv): The center of thought, emotion, and will in Hebrew thought—not 

just feelings.

• Understanding (biynah): Human reasoning or insight, often contrasted with 

divine wisdom.

• Acknowledgment (yādaʿ): To know deeply, recognize, and submit; implies 

active integration of God in decisions.

• Paths (mesarim / derek): Life direction, journey, or conduct; God’s 

“straightening” implies guidance, alignment, and purposeful direction.

Cultural Insight:

• Ancient Israelites understood life as a journey guided by covenantal 

relationship with God. Trust and acknowledgment were expressed in daily 

obedience and moral integrity. 

3. Syntactical Notes

• Verse 5: Imperative verb “Trust” commands active reliance; parallel 

negative “do not lean” warns against self-reliance.

• Verse 6: Imperative “acknowledge Him” (qal imperative) governs all 

actions (“in all your ways”), followed by the future indicative promise: “He 

will make straight your paths.”

Hermeneutical Principle: Obedience (trust + acknowledgment) precedes the 

fulfillment of God’s promise (direction).

4. Semantic/Theological Notes

• Trust vs. Human Understanding:

o Trust in God is total, relational, and covenantal.

o Human understanding is limited and fallible.

• Acknowledgment of God in All Ways:

o Faith is not compartmentalized; God is to be recognized in every 

decision and life area.

• Divine Guidance:

o God “making straight” paths is metaphorical for divinely directed and 

aligned life, not necessarily the removal of obstacles.

o Implies both protection and alignment with God’s purposes.

Theological Emphasis:

• Sovereignty and Guidance: 

God actively leads those who trust and submit.

• Responsibility and Obedience: 

Human action (trust and acknowledgment) 

is required to experience God’s guidance.

5

Hermeneutical Implications

1. Trust is holistic: Reliance on God must encompass the whole heart—

emotion, intellect, and will.

2. Human wisdom is insufficient: Scripture calls for dependence on divine 

insight above self-reliance. 

3. Integration of faith into daily life: Acknowledgment of God is not limited to 

spiritual activities—it applies to every life decision.

4. Conditional promise: God’s guidance flows in response to human 

obedience; divine blessing and direction are connected to covenant 

faithfulness.

5. Practical life application: Step-by-step faith is essential; clarity often 

comes through obedience rather than before it.

6. Cross-References

• Psalm 37:5: “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.”

• Jeremiah 29:11: God’s plans to prosper, guide, and not harm His people.

• Matthew 6:33: Seek God’s kingdom first, and all things are added.

• John 14:6: Jesus as the ultimate guide, the Way, Truth, and Life.

7. Summary Hermeneutical Insight

Proverbs 3:5–6 teaches that a life wholly trusting and acknowledging God 

results in divine guidance and alignment with His purposes. It 

combines ethical instruction (trust, acknowledgment) with promised 

outcomes (directed paths), emphasizing that faith is active, relational, and 

integrative, not passive or compartmentalized.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

[1] NLT LIFE APPLICATION BIBLE

[2] NASB MACARTHUR STUDY BIBLE

[3] NASB CHARLES F. STANLEY LIFE PRINCIPLES STUDY BIBLE

[4] THE SWINDOLL STUDY BIBLE

[5] www.sermonwriter.com

[6] www.bibleref.com

[7] https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/

TRUSTING GOD FOR THE JOURNEY AHEAD, HLM JANUARY 2026 SERIES