Bible passage: Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
There was a time when I believed that my life would be free from challenges if I had enough faith in God – a notion that now makes me chuckle at my old self. Back then, if things didn’t go as I hoped, my immediate assumption was that I hadn’t trusted God enough. But recent experiences have shifted my perspective. I’ve realised that sometimes, God permits us to face challenging situations to test the resilience of our faith. A life with Christ isn’t a constant fairy tale; trials and difficulties are an inevitable part of the journey. The game-changer is that, as believers, we no longer confront these challenges alone; we have the Holy Spirit as our ever-present guide.
So, what happens when your prayers seem unanswered and your hopes are dashed? Recently, after an exhausting workday, I made a costly mistake, and disappointment engulfed me. At that moment, I found myself at a crossroads. Would I choose to lean on God’s promise that all things work together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28) and that His plans for me are filled with hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11)? Or question why God allowed this misstep despite entrusting my day to Him.
Regrettably, I initially chose the latter option because I struggled to understand how God could turn this situation to my benefit. My emotions took over, and doubts about God’s goodness and kindness crept in. It was only through my husband’s encouragement and the Holy Spirit’s gentle nudges that I realised my error. I repented for letting the situation erode my trust in God and decided to trust Him regardless of my feelings. In the subsequent days, without delving into specifics, the Lord provided opportunities for redemption.
This experience taught me three valuable lessons:
- Trusting God is far easier when everything is going well; the real challenge arises when circumstances deviate from our expectations.
- Understanding God’s ways is not a prerequisite for trusting Him. We should trust God’s word even when it doesn’t make sense because His ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9).
- Choosing not to trust God through difficult times is hurtful to Him. Imagine how you would feel if your child couldn’t trust you to guide them through challenging situations.
So, I encourage you to remember that God permits every difficulty we encounter in our journey with Christ. In light of this, we should trust Him beyond our understanding, confident that everything will ultimately work out for good. As James 1:2-4 beautifully puts it: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
For more on trusting God through hardships check out this post.
