3 Steps for Trusting God in Hard Times

Whenever tough times come our way, trusting God can be difficult. We can find ourselves falling into the trap of thinking that God made a mistake … that He wasn’t there when we needed Him. The Bible, however, describes a God who is perfect in His wisdom, His ways, and His timing. He is with us always. So what can you do to be more sensitive to God’s presence and trusting of Him during your tough times?

Step 1: List the negatives in your life. By negatives I mean the things you don’t like about yourself or your life situation. Your list may include your background, parents (or lack of them), siblings. Also, your appearance, abilities, personality, marital status, children (or lack of them), finances. Whatever challenges you may currently face.

Step 2: Acknowledge God in the “negatives.” God knew, God allowed, and God permitted. And, as Romans 8:28 states, God overrules and causes all things—including what you perceive to be “negatives”—to work together for your good.

Step 3: Thank God for each “negative.” And thank Him for His promise to work for your good and for your spiritual growth in everything in your life. Thank Him even in what you don’t like or don’t have. Remember that God has designed your life (Psalm 139:13-16). He has a plan for your life (2 Timothy 1:9). You can trust that He is actively working out His will through the people, events, and circumstances of your life—past, present, and future, positive and negative.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
{Romans 8:28}

Finding God’s Path Through Your Trials reminds you that God won’t give you trials without a way of escape. By turning to and trusting in Jesus, you will find hope, joy, and meaning in your journey, no matter how bumpy it seems.

Read 3 Steps for Trusting God in Hard Times on Elizabeth & Jim George.