How to Trust God in Hard Times

For the monthly Bible challenge for February, we have been studying on the topic of Trusting God. In this blog post, I want to touch on trusting God in tough or difficult times because they are guaranteed to us all! Times of uncertainty, testing and transition can shake even the "strongest", yet, what God's Word reveals to us is that we can persevere, stand firm, and even grow in ways we couldn't without them.

Foundation is Everything.

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

When it comes to "weathering storms" well, a major key is ensuring that you are standing on a firm foundation and in a protective structure. This is an easy scripture to picture naturally when thinking about it. The foundation of any structure is the most important part. When a foundation is unstable, laid incorrectly, or faulty, it creates problems for the rest of the infrastructure built on top of it. Overtime, a poor foundation can show cracks in the walls, uneven flooring, and eventual destabilization. The worse thing that can happen in this condition is a natural disaster come to test its durability.

So, what is your foundation like? If a major test came, is your mind fortitude with the Word to be able to endure?

We develop a firm foundation by believing in Jesus; He is our Rock. We build up the walls by learning, trusting and applying the solid Word of God. Our roofing is protected by making God our refuge - setting Him first in all things and praying diligently. In this, we can dwell in safety, peace, and without concern because we know that even in the toughest situation, we won't collapse!

Focus on What it's Developing in You.

Looking over my life, I see that it was not when I was on the mountain top of everything being perfect and working together did I grow the most. It was my valley experiences; the times when I was being refined by test and trials. It was in those seasons when I had to completely surrender because there was nothing I could do in my own strength; a time when it made me focus on God's might to carry me and not my own efforts.

Romans 5:3-5 says, "Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."

I will tell you honestly that test and trials have brought A LOT of other things out of me - like worry, complaining, discomfort, frustration - before they produce the ability to rejoice through them and while in them. Yet, as time has gone on and I have continued my walk by faith, I see evidence of where I learn how to navigate differently. I see where I run to God quicker when they come, and not to the "sunken place", or to alcohol, or to escapism, or friends for advice, or to vent on social media.

What this scripture encourages is that when we are confronted with difficulties, aim to get to a place of maturity where we understand that it's purpose is not to crush us, but it is working something within us.

Perhaps, you are in a trial and you are being bombarded with multiple different things that need your attention. Bills need to be paid, kids need your attention, stress is mounting, and you feel like you need a lifeboat. You can't quit and check out, therefore, the situation is forcing you to adjust. Either to step up and manage your time, resources, and energy better by asking God for the 'how to', or by listening for wisdom on what to surrender.

If you allow yourself to go through it and don't abort the process, what it will produce is a spirit of perseverance and tenacity in you, which you may need for the bigger assignment that God has for you in the future!

So, this is how we are able to rejoice knowing that all things are working out for our good!

Focus on Who is With You.

Even when I walk

through the darkest valley,

I will not be afraid,

for you are close beside me.

Your rod and your staff

protect and comfort me.

Psalm 23:4

Trials especially suck when we feel like we are all alone. Experiencing loss, a sickness to someone you love, going through a stressful time at work, or battling against depression or anxiety can be especially hard if you feel that there is no one in your corner. Even if there is, in those scenarios, sometimes our perspective gets hazy and we can't see clearly. Or, we can be in a place where even well-meaning people aren't capable of give the comfort that we need. In these times, it is vital that you anchor in on the Psalm 23:4 scripture and focus on the truth that God is with you, even in your lowest!

Two stories that stick out to me about how focusing on Who is in the storm with you and why you should fixing your trust is found in Matthew 8:23-27 and Matthew 14:22-33.

In Matthew 8:23-27, Jesus was in the boat with his disciples when a storm stirred up. He got into the boat with them and was as calm as a cucumber. To me, that shows that Jesus is in the very situation with us. (*Much more I could write on this, but it would be a novel.)

In Matthew 14:22-33, Jesus called Peter to do something miraculous which was to walk on water. That had to require faith and trust! I imagine Peter cautiously placing one foot in front of another. He was moving forward. He was making intentional steps towards His "next destination". He didn't even notice the wind raging around him! However, as soon as Peter took his eyes off of Jesus, he noticed the winds around him and began to sank. His response, due to shifting his focus off of Who was with him, was one of anxiety, fear, dread of possibly drowning.

It's so important that we remember Who is with us in the midst of storms and keep our focus fixed on Who can see us through them.

Be Determine to Trust God, No Matter What.

Another one of my absolute favorite stories in the Bible is the one about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego being thrown into a fiery furnace (Daniel 3:8-25).

Please go read it! It's great stuff!

What I love about reading this story (and the whole book of Daniel) is how resolved these guys were that no matter what they were going to trust God. Can you imagine? They are literally being confronted with death, because they would not bow down and worship a golden image [false idol worship]. They could have easily coward back and fallen suite with everyone else. No! They determined that God was powerful to deliver them, if it was His will, and they were willing to trust God no matter what.

If you read the first three chapters of Daniel, you will see that even before they were confronted with this situation, they had predetermined to be set apart from those around them. They weren't men who were just going with the flow. They were living a set apart life unto God already, and that made standing firm in the face of consequences and death that much natural.

You may be in a really great and wonderful season in your life right now. You may have even started to get relaxed on spending time with God. You may not be praying about protection, provision, and staying anchored now because everything is peaches and roses. I'm here to encourage you to enjoy the heck out of that season, but also to prompt you to pray preemptively for when trials do come. I'm not being negative here, but to believe and think that they wont, is a lie. Even Jesus promised it would.

Reflect on these areas. Meditate on God's Word. Begin to pray to stay rooted, anchored, set on the firm foundation, and that you will trust in God even when the trials come. We don't have to wait for the fight to show up. We can stay ready and focused so we don't have to try to get ready!

Until next time,