When Trusting God is Hard …
I know God is good and has good things in store for me. The Bible tells us over and over that he has good plans for us.
He’s definitely given me great blessings and commissioned me to do good things. He called me to be his own. To be a wife. And a mom. He called me into the workforce and then into full-time ministry as a speaker and author.
Such wonderful plans.
I have embraced those callings with alacrity and joy. But sometimes God’s goodness and plans for me don’t always look the way I think they should.
Instead of a wide-open road toward success, sometimes it seems more like I’m running into road blocks and detours.
Have you had that experience?
You know God has good plans for your life and is calling you to do something special for him. But . . . you’re finding more obstacles than open roads?
That’s when we have to remind ourselves of God’s faithfulness. He asks us to trust him and to be faithful with his call on our lives.
Even when we don’t understand what he’s up to. When we want to know more of the details. If the outcome looks bleak.
In those moments when we question his goodness, his faithfulness, his trustworthiness, we can find courage to persevere in God’s Word.
God called Noah to build an ark to escape the coming flood. But Noah had to wait and work and trust God for 120 years.
Abraham was promised an heir, and got old waiting. But he trusted God for twenty-five years before he got his son Isaac.
God gave Joseph a dream that he would one day be great, but then he was kidnapped, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and imprisoned! Even so, he trusted God for thirteen years before God raised him up to second in command of Egypt and saved his family from starvation.
David was called to be king. And he trusted God through battles and persecution for twenty-five years before taking the throne.
Mary was called to birth our Savior, Jesus. She trusted God through the gossip and the fear of being stoned.
Men and women in the center of God’s will and calling were met with opposition, ridicule, torment, and anguish. But they didn’t stop proclaiming God’s goodness and they didn’t stop trusting him.
And neither should we.
Trust him or fail him: those are the choices.
We can trust him for the timing, the provision, and the protection until we see the fullness of his faithfulness.
Or we can quit on his calling. Circumvent his plan. Foil our future. Miss out on experiencing his pleasure.
David said, “I trust in you, Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’”
I choose to trust him. Even if it means repeating, “I trust you, God. I trust you, God. I trust you, God . . .” until the anxiety, worry, fear, or sorrow subsides.
A thousand times a day if necessary. You may need to do that, too.
Engage Your Trust.
When your baby goes off to kindergarten or college, you can say, “I trust you, God.”
Whether it’s a promotion or a pink slip . . . “I trust you, God.”
If the diagnosis is benign or malignant . . . . . . “I trust you, God.”
When all is well or the well is dry . . . “I trust you, God.”
Though we may not always know what God is up to, we can always trust His goodness and faithfulness toward us.
What are you trusting God for in this season? Leave me a comment. I read every one and will pray in agreement for a good outcome for you.
Verse for today. I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” —Psalm 31:14
Prayer: Though I am afraid and may falter, God, be with me and assure me of your goodness so that I may trust you all my days and in all my ways. Amen.
I have a transgender daughter. Which means I gave birth to a gender affirmative by genitalia boy and that boy doesn’t feel like a boy but a girl. My story starts as an almost forty years old who trusted in God to bless my husband and I with a child and if we didn’t by the time I was forty I figured it wasn’t going to happen. I had turned 40 in May and by the beginning of August I would be pregnant. It was a good pregnancy although I developed a fibroid early in my pregnancy that would later be the result of a C-section. Nate was a difficult baby, but so very alert and smart. I named him Nathaniel because it means”gift from God”. Anyway he had some real issues in Middle school of depression and anxiety and talk of suicide so therapy came and went, but issues continued until he told me me one day alittle over 2years ago that he’s transgender. Well knock me over with a feather what does this mean. Blamed myself for my late pregnancy and previous abortions (2) blah, blah, blah. God has a plan. I am supporting my child and want them to be happy and content with themself. They’re not ready to announce it publicly and I still have to refer to them as my son, but know it’s basically a lie, but I trust God to get us through. By the way, my son says he’s an atheist even though I took him to church and Sunday School up until about the time he came out to me. Anyway I look at it this way, he chose the name Krystal which means “follower of Jesus” so I am hopeful that it will all work out and if he continues with the transition, which I think he will, I will have not only an only child, but a boy and a girl ultimately. Many will not understand that this is God’s will, but I believe that God loves everyone and no matter who you love, marry or choose to be, if I can someday be a spokesperson for LBGTQ people in the eyes of Christians I will trust God. I pray for him every night and for the strength to get through this, but it’s tough. Until he makes the decision to come out to everyone and live as a girl I live this lie which is a burden. I just keep trusting him.
Blessings to you,
Jean Schneider
Jean
I truly know how you feel I have 2 sons both are gay I have wondered and questioned myself and blamed myself and I have talked to god many times and I have come to believe that my sons are who they are and God says he doesn’t make mistakes so I know my sons are not mistakes and I plead the blood of Jesus over them daily and pray daily for them and I’m believing that when they leave this world they will go to Heaven. I would also be a Christian spokesperson for the LGBTQ. I’m also asking God what he wants me to do for him at my age I really don’t know but I love God with all my Heart and Soul and want to do everything to please him
Kim, What a testimony of God’s love to the world! Bless you for loving your boys where they are as they are even though their life style conflicts with the way they were brought up. You’re a good mama to love them and pray for them.
Jean, Thank you for your vulnerable post. I ask the Lord to be your strength and courage. To love your child in the midst of this. Know that this is not your fault. This is between your child and God and God is big enough to bring peace and truth and comfort and understanding.
I admire you for not rejecting this child and for loving him and praying continuously for him.
I pray for God to be revealed to your child through your love and truth and acceptance. I pray for you to have peace and continue to put relationships ahead of rules. Jesus, we trust you. amen.
God bless you, Sweet Mama.
I struggle to trust that God will wrap his loving arms around my precious Grandson Logan. Logan has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy which is a muscle wasting disease with no treatment and no cure . Logan is 8 years old and we have known for 5 years. Logan has a very rare form and is losing strength quickly. He already spends much of his time in a wheelchair but his mind is brilliant. He will probably not live past 30 years old . I need to have the ability to trust that God will give him peace and comfort as he grows up fully aware of his difficult future ?
Marlene, I agree with you in prayer for trust in the midst of our questions and concerns. Father, may your love bring the peace and guidance Marlene and her family need to love and care for Logan. May his life be a joy and a light to all. Father, reveal glimpses of your purpose and plan in this hard situation. In Jesus name, amen
I’m trusting God to deliver a very messy coworker, I trusting God for our marriage to find a refreshing. I trusting God on where to go from here!!!Amen!
Celeste, Trust is easier to say than to do, but we both know it’s the only way to God’s best and his perfect peace.
I’m agreeing with you in prayer for your messy co-worker to be delivered from her mess and for your marriage to flourish.amen!
I do trust God and its so encouraging to have a woman of Faith like you send messages to my e-mail that affirm the trust I put in God. People around me may not understand the big Faith I’m leaning on, but you and I Know its a wonderful way to live. I live Loved. Thank you friend.
Thank you Kari! It is a delight to write these devotionals to plant seeds of inspiration every week. Press on, Friend! You are in the center of God’s spotlight.