For most of us, the reason we don’t trust God fully with our lives is because we really don’t know him. We usually don’t trust people we don’t know.

The same is true with God. That’s why God wants you to know the real him, not a fake version you’ve learned from popular culture. There are many popular myths about who God is that simply aren’t true.

For example, some believe he’s like:

The force: Like in the popular science-fiction series Star Wars, God is an impersonal force that we can bend to our own will.

A celestial Santa Claus: He’s just there to give gifts. He smiles, nods, and never really pays attention to the “naughty list.”

An old man: He’s the grandfatherly-type god who isn’t that different from you. He has his own failures and faults. But he doesn’t have any of the answers.

If I thought God was like any of those popular misconceptions, I wouldn’t trust him either. But he’s not! The Bible paints an entirely different picture of the character of God.

The truth is, God is infinitely worthy of your trust, because no being in the universe is as capable to influence the world around you as he is. The Bible says, “Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me” (Psalm 54:4 NIV).

God has the power (and the desire) to sustain and help you through whatever you’re going through. He wants to give you his best for your life—and he is uniquely able to help you get there. He is the Creator of the universe. He can mobilize all the resources in the universe on your behalf as you seek to follow him.

But the key is, you must trust him.

The Bible says, “Trust the LORD with all your heart, and don’t depend on your own understanding. Remember the LORD in all you do, and he will give you success” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NCV).

If you trust him, God will help you succeed in whatever he has called you to do and be.