If we’re honest, we all struggle with trusting God to some degree.
Having faith is having trust. You must trust with your entire being that God has your back that He will help you and take care of you. He knows what is best, but to truly embrace what He has planned for you, you must fully trust. Our trust is not foolish, for our God is both faithful and good.
We sometimes think things will be easier if we take it into our own hands. You don’t have to confess it, but I will – I am totally into taking things into my own hands. I have a lifelong history of controlling things. In fact, as the eldest of three, I was raised up to be responsible for looking after my sister and brother and being the “upright example” before them. It was impressed upon me to become the responsible and trustworthy one in the family. Later, in the midst of 16+ years serving at a church serving in ministry, all I did was take things into my hands and work miracles. It is safe to say I was the only person on whom to rely on when it came to working things out.
My friends and family relied on my steadiness and loyalty. To this day, my loyalty has been a blessing and a curse. So, when things are not going well with my family, if I am in a jam with a bill or a situation at the workplace, chances are I am in my headspace agonizing over what I will have to do to resolve it. Even as a Believer in Christ, my first impulse is to consider what I can do first before I dare stand or kneel before God in prayer to get His take on the situation.
The truth is at the first hint of struggle, God is who I must turn to for the guidance and comfort I need. The beautiful thing about my relationship with God, is that He knows how much I yearn to trust Him, yet I fight against my yearning to trust Him. Clearly, I am not alone. The Apostle Paul says in Scripture (Romans 7:1, “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.”.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
There are a few reasons why we can doubt. One reason that we may struggle is that we are looking and focusing on our current situation and not on God’s promises. Another reason that we struggle to trust the Lord is that we still remember going through difficult times. Lastly, we struggle because we want the quick fix and we want that fix to happen now at the time we want it.
Too often when things happen to work out following a difficult time, we call it coincidence. The enemy of this world would categorize this “coincidence” as something the “universe” allowed to happen.
How can we better trust in the Lord? Remember His faithfulness in the past. Remember His goodness. We’ve all been through hard times before and you’re still here. Have you ever wondered why you’ve never given up? It’s because God is upholding you. He is always by your side. He was there then, and He is still there now.
I’ve noticed that it’s hard for us to trust in the Lord because we doubt His love for us. We must get to the place where we realize that we are so deeply loved by God. He loves us and knows exactly what He is doing to bring us to the place that we need to be. During difficult seasons, we must learn to be still. Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” There is a saying, “the quieter you become, the more you will be able to hear.” Sometimes there is just so much noise in our lives that not only is it hard to hear God but it’s hard to see Him and experience His presence. That is why it is imperative that we get alone and be still. Realize in the silence that He is greater than what you are facing. Being still and focusing on God gives us tremendous peace.
Here are just a few tips on how you and I can grow together in trusting God more:
- He knows better than we do. God knows everything we are going through at this very moment and everything we will go through in the future.
- All things are possible with God. He knows the desires of your heart. If you trust in him with the things that you want most, he will take care of it.
- He is worthy of our trust. Having faith is having trust. You must trust with your entire being that God has your back that he will help you and take care of you.
- He knows what He is doing. God knows exactly what he wants for your life. He has a purpose for you and has everything planned out. He knows who you are going to marry, how many kids you are going to have, what job you will have and every other detail of your life, both big and small. He knows what you are going to do tomorrow, next month and years down the road. Do not doubt his plan, because he knows all, and he has a perfect plan.
You’re not alone in your struggle to trust God. I encourage you to be honest with Him. He already knows. Don’t be afraid to go before Him and be vulnerable with Him about your struggles. Give your burdens to Him and watch what He can do. The next step is yours.
….now what, Linda
now what, Linda? 