How to Trust God in Difficult Times
Life is not predictable, and there are ups and downs along the path. Many of us want to trust God. When times are good, it can feel easier. But when times feel difficult, it is even more important to trust God. God’s unchanging character, the fact that He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8), can help us stand steady when things feel unsteady and uncertain.
Have you noticed the seasons of life? Your job is satisfying. Your friends and family are enjoyable. Your goals, finances, health, and future seem bright. Then, suddenly, life throws a curveball. Someone you know gets sick. You lose your job. A friend or family member betrays you. The things you felt secure in suddenly feel doubtful.
How do we trust God in these circumstances? How do we trust Him when we do not understand what is happening?
To trust means to believe in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of something or someone.
Trusting God means believing in His reliability, His Word, His ability, and His strength. The Bible says that God cannot lie, and he always keeps His promises. He loves us. Trusting in Him means believing what He says about Himself, the world, and us is true.
Trusting God is more than a feeling; it’s a choice to have faith in Him. Our feelings and circumstances matter. God cares about them both. But they alone are not reliable enough to base our life on. They can change. God, on the other hand, does not change. Trusting God is not about ignoring your feelings or reality. It is not pretending that everything is OK when it isn’t. Trusting God is living a life of belief in and obedience to God even when it’s difficult.
Wait, trust, and remember that God loves you. You can trust Him to sustain you, provide for you and be with you even during your hardship. Jesus guaranteed His followers that they would face hard times (John 16:33), but He promised that He would always be with them (Matthew 28:20).
1 Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
Psalm 56:8, “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in Your book.”
Mark 14:34-36, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death, He said to them. Stay here and keep watch. Going a little farther, He fell to the ground and prayed that, if possible, the hour might pass from Him. Abba, Father, He said, everything is possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.”
God is trustworthy even when you don’t see your prayers answered or problems solved right away. Life is unpredictable and difficult at times, and that difficulty may persist for longer than you had hoped, and it may even bring you to the end of your strength.
God is completely trustworthy, but He does not ask us to trust Him blindly. He wants us to learn to trust Him as we know Him. We can get to know God through personal time with Him and His Word. Spend time exploring aspects of His trustworthiness in verses of Scripture.
Next week, we will look at seven practical scriptural ways to trust God.
Trusting Together,
Pastor Steve