How should we trust God in difficult times and thus keep our faith in God? Our role in all of this is to find a way to delight in the Lord, but obviously, when the world is crumbling around us that isn’t always easy. Many times I play praise and worship music when I am going through a difficult time. We asked a few members of our staff at Deep Spirituality for their favorite biblical characters who trusted God in the midst of difficulty and came up with 7 examples in the Bible of trusting God in difficult times to inspire you. If they’re not happening on their own, I’ll do what I need to do to make things happen. See, you and I don’t need to worry about the wicked. Well, the pain is easier to discover, especially when we overcrowd our hectic lives with activity. We know you’re passionate about justice, so as we put our faith in You and are covered in the righteousness of Jesus, we’re counting on You to keep Your promise to never abandon us. Thank you for reminding me of that. I like to see results… and quickly! The first step is simply making an intentional decision to trust God. Sometimes it feels like God doesn’t understand how urgent my situation feels to me. It’s hard to figure out who my enemies are, and who I can trust. Trusting can be hard at the best of times, but trusting God in difficult times is considerably harder. … You have to take action. Not because they are good, but, honestly, because sometimes it feels good to feel sorry for ourselves. I was chasing my tail and going in pointless circles. We can simply trust in the Lord and focus on living in obedience to Him. is possible for any of us. Read this article to find the answers. But you need to trust God for what is unreasonable. I’m a take charge kinda girl. I am so glad that you and I are His dearly loved daughters. Being still before Him is one way to truly “delight” in Him, and it is a wonderful way to align our desires with His, and to deepen our trust in Him! The Lord delights in every detail of our lives! Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. Thanks Heather! We wander in the future without God (a place we were never intended to go) because it's really difficult to trust God through a trial! As He waited patiently for the Lord to act, He had to suffer the greatest agony any person has ever suffered. You have to bring these truths into your life. Whenever I'm tempted to let my thoughts wander into the dark places, I confess my fears again to God and meditate on these truths: What can you choose to “fix your thoughts” on during a trial so that you can maintain a spirit of joy? Everything doesn’t have to be perfect and you don’t have to have all the answers, but you are trusting God to take care of you. He is the same great God in the valley that He was on the mountaintop. If we focus on the ways He is working within us and enabling us to endure affliction, our trust in Him will grow even if our circumstances stay the same. Check out the admonition in the subsequent verses (Philippians 4:8-9): “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Recently, my family was struggling financially since my husband lost his job. Because, truly, God does have a wonderful purpose for these challenging situations. You have to make a commitment to stay close to Him. Jesus Christ is our Shepherd. And maybe we somehow feel that meditating on the “what ifs” brings a bit more control to the chaos. Help us to never grow complacent when things settle down and the “crisis” has passed, but keep our progress steady so that we will win the race! Then the God of peace will be with you.”, we're learning what it really means to count it all joy, GO HERE TO GET STARTED IN THE “I AM LOVED” BIBLE STUDY. I write them down (usually in a pretty journal like this one) and savor the lovely little treasures of goodness that are present: I choose to savor these moments, like I’d savor a fine piece of cheese or an exquisitely-flavored chocolate truffle. But I am glad that you know a God who can manage it all! Ep 87: 5 Soul Care Gifts to Give Yourself This Year, Pt 4: Manage Negative Thoughts, Ep 86: 5 Soul Care Gifts to Give Yourself This Year, Pt 3: Practice Self-Compassion, Ep 85: 5 Soul Care Gifts to Give Yourself This Year, Pt 2: Choose Honest Reflection, Ep 84: 5 Soul Care Gifts to Give Yourself This Year, Pt 1: Cultivate Margin + Solitude, Ep 83: ADD: 3 Steps to Manage Your Emotions for More Calm + Better Decision Making. Bottom line, it doesn’t matter if we are going through hard times or easy times, God wants us to trust Him no matter what. What would your list look like? All rights reserved. You'll walk away with a tangible list of ways that God’s love can change your life, right now! Your posts are always encouraging. -  Designed by Thrive Themes Lord, our Hope is in You! We’re tempted to believe that when life is hard it’s somehow an indication that God has abandoned us, or that He is untrustworthy. He has promised never to leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). When your work-load is overwhelming, worship more to proclaim that God is strong and loving enough to sustain you. Lord, I … Thanks Kate! You don’t need to worry. Lamentations 3:21-23 says, “But this I call to mind, and therefore I … Who is good, and who is wicked? Just remember…that is the key word…THROUGH! Step 1: Don’t Fret. I've developed an easy Bible study method that teaches you a simple process for reading, understanding and applying Bible verses to your life. It was a hard time. The very nature of what has happened IS an attack on the things we hold most dear. Although I don't know the unique situation you're in, I know for a fact that God is MORE THAN ABLE to help you through this. As we make Your law our own, give us the wisdom to offer good counsel to those who come behind us so that we can help to teach them right from wrong, especially when it comes to our children! Let’s look at this next section of Psalm 37 and then offer a prayer inspired by its words. This life is sure is confusing, and even when I think I’ve finally learned a lesson, something else will happen to throw it all into confusion again. Trusting God in difficult times forces us to seek His guidance, and to trust in Him. All I can do is fall on my knees and ask Him to help me. Good! You've got nothing to lose! Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. That’s scary. They are rich milestones stockpiled in my mind of all the times God came through for us. It can be so hard to sort through everything is and isn’t happening in those times. Hannah complained loudly about her childlessness. What joy there is in that truth! I haven’t experienced betrayal to the level you have, but I have definitely felt very hurt and discouraged at times with some of my closest relationships. He's given me an honorable husband who cherishes me and longs to provide for our family. WE don’t need to figure it out. It hasn't been easy (and what we learned a long time ago when we paid off 100K in debt is really coming in handy). In Jesus’s Name we pray, amen.”. I could either keep looking inside at what wasn’t right with my circumstance or look up and trust God knowing He would bring me through. This is a beautiful verse, but I believe many miss the true power of this verse because they stop at verse 7. (I'm guessing that you could use a hefty dose of God's love right now?) Sharing today. But we're being blessed with many priceless spiritual treasures as we're learning about trusting God during difficult times. What a beautiful post about trusting God during our difficult times. This amazing Bible study is exactly what you need right now to stay strong through this difficult trial. Far more precious than a pain-free life! Solomon says: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5). . Discovering Jehovah Rapha – The God Who Heals, Affair Recovery for the Betrayed and the Betrayer. I especially appreciate the prayers! I worship Him through the trial. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. How could we not feel as if we’re under attack? Stop being angry!Turn from your rage!Do not lose your temper—it only leads to harm.For the wicked will be destroyed,but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.. Betrayal has a way of making us feel like we need to defend ourselves, doesn’t it? After the realities of my husband's sexual addiction and infidelities finally came to a head, I began blogging about our journey to healing. The Lord sends adversity to help us, not to hurt us. 100 percent. Focus Verse: "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you … You need to lean fully on Him so that He can give you the strength to endure. You want change. Our role in all of this is to find a way to delight in the Lord, but obviously, when the world is crumbling around us that isn’t always easy. Pin one of these Images to Pinterest so you can find it any time you want! In times like these, passages like Psalm 37 offer encouragement, hope, and a wonderful model around which we can build prayers to calm our anxious hearts. In this inspiring video, AWR's Cami Oetman shares an inspiring story from 9/11. The best advice I can give is that if you are going through difficult times “keep going” and trust the Lord. Great job! But part of trusting God is learning to let go of those impulses to defend ourselves. I don’t know about you, but for me one of the biggest road-blocks between me and trusting God in difficult times is confusion. He will not leave you or forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)” Let this Bible study on love transform this difficult time into a season of beautiful spiritual growth! How Do You Praise God In Difficult Times? There's a well-known Bible verse that many Christians quote during a trial: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. And the answer was clear: I’ve stopped too many times to savor the wrong things. Did you see it? I can’t imagine trying to get through everything this crazy life throws at us without God’s help! Nothing – truly trusting God in difficult times brings such peace. Entering God’s Rest. All rights reserved. So let’s get right to these 4 practical steps to trust God completely. Would you like to join our secret Facebook support group? As I sat there savoring the last glimmers of sunlight, I asked myself: What have I been stopping to savor in place of moments like these? This one is especially encouraging. Learning to trust God in difficult times includes being patient with His timing and His will. 4 Practical Steps to Trust God Completely 1. Won't you take that step today? Repeatedly He guides us, teaches us, and purifies us until one day we are a reflection of Him. God loves you. And yet, the sun does it every day. If you're questioning God's love (or wonder if He's abandoned you during this awful time), this Bible study is exactly what you need! I want to share with you what we've learned about having faith in God through difficult times. Surrender it to God. The weight of it consumed me. We’re told to be still in the presence of the Lord and wait patiently for Him to act. Even though that is a POWERFUL truth, it still isn’t easy for me to be still in the presence of the Lord. Yes, seventeen very long months of no income. The Lord directs the steps of the godly.He delights in every detail of their lives.Though they stumble, they will never fall,for the Lord holds them by the hand. He hears your prayers even in the dark times when He seems absent and silent. @craiggroeschel . He has provided and will continue to provide for us (and for you as you trust God in your difficult time). I know because my husband and I have had to trust God through hard times on several occasions: And today, I want to teach you the practical insights I've learned so that you can stay strong during this trial and trust God despite the difficulties! The intimacy of this passage gives me chills. A year ago, my first reaction would have been to panic or to become anxious and overwhelmed. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or … In fact, we’re far better off if we don’t. Like the fears of the future. Help us. Thankfully, God doesn’t change when our circumstances change. Practically speaking, what does that look like? “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. First, we must acknowledge and release our fears. Not just someone, the God of the universe delights in the details of my life! Make A Choice. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7). “Heavenly Father, we need Your help as we seek to honor You. But the only way to truly trust God is that you have to decide to trust God. When we allow these thoughts to dominate we create a stagnant, spiritual “soil” in our minds that make it difficult to really have faith in God during hard times. But it is a lie. Share it to help others find this content! It is so hard to trust God in difficult times. It means reading God's word and applying it to your life. I praise God for His unchanging Word, which makes order in my chaos every single time! To explain this principle, I want to share a simple scene from my life. He will take care of the wicked. It is better to be godly and have littlethan to be evil and rich.For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the Lord takes care of the godly.Day by day the Lord takes care of the innocent, and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever.They will not be disgraced in hard times;even in famine they will have more than enough…. Thankfully, God doesn’t change when our circumstances change. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. How to Let Go of Control in a Relationship. Another thing I do is pray. Teach us how to trust God in difficult times. However the ads you see are not chosen by HDLD Ministries, but by Google based on your cookies and are not endorsed by this ministry. There is nothing I want more than to represent Him well in this dark world, but it’s an impossible task without His Spirit leading me in it! Required fields are marked *. Once I was young, and now I am old.Yet I have never seen the godly abandonedor their children begging for bread.The godly always give generous loans to others,and their children are a blessing. **How about you? We can use the words of this amazing Psalm to guide us as we seek to delight ourselves in the Lord. His innocence does indeed radiate like the dawn and, as promised, the wicked will be destroyed because of His obedience. That’s why it is in the quiet and stillness that we can see them appear—like rabbits that suddenly materialize on a grassy field at twilight. Let us know in the comments below! I have seen wicked and ruthless peopleflourishing like a tree in its native soil.But when I looked again, they were gone!Though I searched for them, I could not find them! They make such a difference! If you’re hurting, the Lord doesn’t expect you to cover it up with a plastic smile. Trusting God through these uncharted waters takes faith and courage, but is worth every effort. * This site uses cookies, affiliate links, and ads by Google. I've bolded those sections because I believe they are the final missing piece to how we discover joy in trials. When we come to make the Word of God the basis and foundation for our lives, our everyday go-to for direction and comfort, then we sustain the strength to trust God in our difficult times. But over time, I have learned that there is no point in worrying when God always shows up. This is so much easier said than done. 5 Steps for Trusting in God’s Plan During Difficult Times Accept where you are.. All of these Bible verses are great to have marked off in your Bible. In this video episode Cami will share three keys she has learned to help us trust God in difficult times. We see them when we slow down enough to notice their presence. I love to think of the difficult times in life as a sort of stumble, and to picture His hand lifting me in the air like a toddler holding onto her daddy’s hand. Thank you for opening your heart to share an honest and beautiful reflection on God’s word. What good things can you savor instead of the bad? God does understand, and He is acting. It's called the Spiritual Growth Rhythm, and you can learn more about it here in this video. It's true that God is working out all these difficulties into a beautiful future for me. **Find our full privacy policy and disclosure statement here. When finances are tight, worship more to proclaim that God is strong and loving enough to provide for you. 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