Recently, some significant things happened in our family’s lives . . . things that challenge me to consider how well I live when trusting God is hard. I’ll just say this: the water heater breaking on a Sunday morning was the easiest of those situations. We’ve had issues arise with one of the boys and health concerns in our immediate family, as well as in extended family.
I don’t share this to gain pity. I suspect each of us has walked (or limped) through seasons when the hard keeps piling onto our stooped shoulders. Heartache, scary situations, physical issues (hello, water heater).
Walking through my current difficult season has revealed some heart-trends. When the water begins to boil in our hearts, whatever’s inside bubbles to the surface.
Trust: 5 Heart Changes for When Trusting God is Hard—When the water begins to boil in our hearts, whatever’s inside bubbles to the surface #tellhisstory #trustinggod Click To TweetAs our present circumstances have upped the heat on my heart, some of what has surfaced is UG-LY. Two of my biggest “uglies” have been a lack of prayer and a lack of trusting God. At times, I become discouraged in my prayer life because I don’t see God answering.
I have trouble trusting God because, if He allows things to go differently than I hope, every aspect of my life will be impacted. Maybe this is what leads to the fear and lack of trust: I assume the impact will be negative.
Trust: 5 Heart Changes for When Trusting God is Hard—Maybe this is what leads to the fear and lack of trust: I assume the impact will be negative. #tellhisstory #trustinggod Click To TweetDo you see the pattern here? When I hold onto things in my heart, especially inaccurate beliefs or expectations, it’s difficult to trust God.
Things We Must Do When Trusting God is Hard
- Confront wrong beliefs we’re holding to. Like my excuses for not praying and my disappointment in God for not showing up in ways I expected, you may be clinging to some misconceptions. Inaccurate thoughts make it hard to trust God when painful times come. We must confess these things to our Father before we’ll be able to truly trust Him.
- Remember God’s character. Even when trusting God is hard, He still loves us. He is faithful. He is always present. What are you struggling with about God’s character? Search the Bible for passages and verses that remind you of truths about His character. Write them down so you remember them when doubt creeps into your thoughts.
- Find Bible verses that comfort and remind you God is always present. With some of the health concerns we’re facing, verses like Isaiah 41:10 and Psalm 84:5-7 offer comfort. They refresh and strengthen me to continue forward.
- Fend off fear. Especially when we’re afraid of losing something or someone we love, fear can grip us and distort our perspective. We must fight fear with God’s truth and by remembering who He is.
- Bring concerns to the Lord and hold them with an open hand. The Lord may not address these heart concerns in the way you want. But when you trust God to be faithful to see you through whatever the future holds there’s a place to rest.
What Happens When We Deal With Our Hearts
When God revealed my hardened heart, I knew I had to take steps to come back into deeper relationship with Him. I spent a morning journaling, confessing my unbelief and my hard heart, and praying.
And something happened. As I came clean before Him,
. . . and I asked Him to renew my heart and my spirit,
. . . as I poured out my hurt and disappointments over all the uncertainties that fill my days right now,
I began to feel His peace.
Somewhere in recent months, I’ve struggled to remember why it’s important. Prayer is talking with God. So, I’m starting there, and I’m rediscovering the simplicity of this. I’ve been journaling my prayers. I am studying prayer to better understand its importance in my relationship with the Lord.
The issues my family is walking through right now are far from over. I need to be walking tightly with Jesus if I’m going to thrive through it.
And, I need to trust that God will bring me—and my family—through whatever the future holds.
What about you? What do you do when trusting God is hard? Do you have thoughts to add to my list?
If you’re interested, I’m sharing a couple of visual memes to download with Isaiah 41:10 and Psalm 84:5-7 to encourage you.
Most weeks, I link up with Grace and Truth, Anita Ojeda, #Instaencouragements, and sometimes Let’s Have Coffee. Come join and read more encouraging posts!
Hallelujah And Amen Sister in Jesus-Yeshua Christ-Messiah Jeanne!!
May our ONE TRUE GOD THE HEAVENLY FATHER who art in Heaven Above Bless all my Sisters and Brothers in Christ Jesus-Yeshua and my Messianic Jewish Sisters and Brothers in Christ Jesus-Yeshua and Your Families and Friends!!
Our ONE True GOD’S LOVE 💕💜 is ETERNAL THROUGH HIS SON Christ-MESSIAH Jesus-Yeshua for Today and Everyday Forevermore!!
I Love 💜💕 you all Everyone through Christ Jesus-Yeshua, because HE LOVED 💕💜 EVERYONE FIRST!!
Love ❤ Always and Shalom ( Peace ) Everyone, YSIC \o/
Kristi Ann
Jeanne, you’ve given us so many good thoughts about what we need to do when trusting God is hard. No matter what’s going on, we’re not floating around out here on our own. Our unchanging God is always with us, and what a comfort that is! Hugs, friend.
Awww, thanks, friend. I’m SO grateful we’re not floating out on our own. Our loving Father IS always with us. I couldn’t imagine trying to do this life without Him. Thank you so much for your visit. 🙂
Finding verses that remind me of God’s love and presence are what most help me in difficult times. In fact I have many of those marked in my Bible and some memorized! I’m praying for you and your family, Jeanne!
Kathy, finding verses that remind us of God’s love and presence, especially in difficult times. I love when God shows me a verse that fits for a situation I’m going through. Thank you for the prayers, Kathy. They are much appreciated!
Thank you for your encouraging suggestions on how to handle the hard times that catch us off guard at times.
Thank you so much for stopping by Janice. I’m glad you found these words encouraging.
Thank you for being so honest, Jeanne. I’m so sorry for all you’re going through. I really identify with your struggle in trusting God. I, too, often hold inaccurate beliefs and expectations in my heart. And it’s so hard to trust when the answers don’t come as soon as we want them to or in the way we want them to. So I try to remind myself to look to His faithful character instead of the sad circumstances that surround us. And to His promises that He’s with us no matter what. Thank you for encouraging us to examine our hearts and our need for heart changes. Love and blessings for strength and peace for each moment, my friend!
Trudy, thank you for always being such an encourager! I’m learning that I need to be honest before the Lord when I’m struggling with expectations or inaccurate beliefs. Thank goodness, when we bring those before the Lord, He helps us work through them. Yes, when life isn’t going the way I want/expect/know how to deal with, we can always remember God’s character and find peace in knowing He never changes. Sending you a hug, friend.
This sentence was so powerful: “Bring concerns to the Lord and hold them with an open hand.” He WILL provide. He cares for us!
Jessica, our Father is always faithful, isn’t He? I’m so glad he cares for us!
You’ve summarized the ongoing struggle abs challenge of faith so incredibly well. This paragraph is also challenging to me, especially with all the tragedies are family faced this year, some still ongoing. It’s been so difficult!
This! “Bring concerns to the Lord and hold them with an open hand. The Lord may not address these heart concerns in the way you want. But when you trust God to be faithful to see you through whatever the future holds there’s a place to rest.”
That’s what it is, going on and on and on and on. And that’s the remedy. Well written, sister!
Melinda, I’m sorry your family has faced so many tragedies this year. It is difficult, and I wonder if we sometimes grow weary from all of it. I guess when we get weary, that’s when we most need to choose to trust God to see us through in His way, huh? Thank you so much for your encouraging words and your visit!
Well, you are talking straight to me since my word for this year is trust! Thanks for allowing God to use you to be part of my teaching on this.
Lauren, it sounds like, perhaps, we deal with the same struggles. Trust is a stretching word to focus on. Thank you for your words here!
I confess, “bringing concerns to the Lord” is way easier than “holding them with an open hand”!
Agreed, Ava. It’s an intentional choice to hold our cares up to the Lord with an open hand.
Loved your heartfelt honesty in this post. I think sometimes, we forget to share our struggles because we want to appear better than we are in life. But, we all face these kind of problems personally and when we share, we encourage others. Thanks Jeanne
Thank you for your kind words, Yvonne. You nailed something I’ve struggled with. I’m getting better about not worrying about appearances, but man, it’s tough sometimes to be real rather than to let everyone see a veneer. I appreciate your encouragement, Yvonne.
Taking every thought captive. WE MUST. ♥
Yes and Amen, my friend! Sound like Yoda, you do. 😉
God does want to change our hearts from fear to faith! My devotion yesterday led me to Psalm 70:5. The Lord is never late. It sure can feel that way! I’ve been praying for deeper faith to overcome fearful situations currently. You are in my prayers too, Jeanne!
Agreed, Lynn. I love that . . . the Lord is never late. I’m learning (slowly) that when I’m feeling that He’s late, perhaps it’s me who needs a change in perspective. And God is faithful to help us grow in faith when we ask for deeper faith. Thank you so, so much for your prayers, Lynn. I truly appreciate them!
Jeanne, I am sorry to hear about your recent tough times. Thank you for sharing your honesty, transparency and vulnerability. God’s got this. God’s Got You my sweet friend. Blessings ❤
Paula, you’re right. God holds us in the palm of His hands. Thank you so much for your kind words. I appreciate you!
These are great tips, and I love the photos you share in this post too. I’m sorry it’s been such a hard time. Praying for you and your family.
Thanks so much, Lesley. We will get through the tough times. Because God won’t leave us or forsake us, we have hope when we walk through them, right? Thank you so, so much for your prayers.
Sometimes the greatest place to be is in the middle of difficulties. For we are more dependent on God and from this place, intimacy with him grows. I say this as I lay here in pain waiting for a kidney stone to pass. I understand how hard it is to trust God when the hard keeps piling. Ultimately though, as Peter said, who else can we turn to? Jesus is the only One with words of truth and comfort. Praying for you, Jeanne!
Marcie, as difficult as it can be, you’re right. Being in those difficult places is often what causes us to see God the most clearly. I’m so sorry you’re in pain. I know waiting for kidney stones to pass HURTS. I love that sentence by Peter. “Who else can we turn to?” Jesus is the only one with truth and comfort. Thanks for stopping by!
Jeanne, Dear Friend, so sorry to hear of your trials, indeed things can feel so overwhelming at times. Thank you for your transparency about your heart-God is so gentle and kind, He always has our good in mind and looks like He is drawing into more intimacy with Him. I know how hard it is to trust in the midst of suffering, and to keep trusting when it doesn’t end or end the way I hoped. But I also know the God who allows suffering is a good God, a trustworthy God and a faithful God. May you know His gentle heart and fell His comfort more than ever.
Donna, thank you for your sweet words. You’re so right. God does always have our good in mind. It’s rarely easy, but He is always good. And yes, I think it’s these times that do draw us into deeper intimacy with Him. Remembering God’s character is crucial in hard seasons, isn’t it?
Jeanne, you do not shy away from writing about the tough stuff!I think that sometimes in our prayer life, when we don’t hear God’s answer it’s because there is too much background noise (and heat) for us to hear what He is saying. Some of the verses I ponder when I need God’s strength are Psalms 51 10 – 17. I ask God for a clean heart, contrition, and a humble spirit.
Laurie, you’re right. There are times when the noise in our lives and the struggles of our hearts drown out God’s still, small voice. Thank you for sharing those verses. I’m going to look them up now.
Limping ‘through seasons when the hard keeps piling on…’ I know that feeling well. Thank you for sharing these tips – I find that reminding myself that I’m not alone and God is still with me no matter how things may look and feel really helps me hold on and trust Him. Praying for God’s strength for you as you continue to trust Him Jeanne.
I’m sorry you have had seasons where you limp through them, Wemi. I love your addition to the list. It is really helpful to remember that God is always with us, isn’t it? Thank you for your prayers. I appreciate them!
Jeanne, fending off fear stood out to me. I love what the Psalmist said, “When I am afraid I’ll trust in God.” Fear can cripple us or drive us to God. Thanks for demonstrating how to do the latter.
Debbie, I am so thankful our Father is trustworthy. God has definitely given me some verses that focus on trusting Him in this season. And you’re so right. Fear can cripple us or lead us to the Lord. It’s all in what we decide to do with it, isn’t it?
Praying for you and yours, Jeanne.
When the storm comes from the north
and there is no-where to hide,
what I do, for what it’s worth,
is saddle up and ride
with my hat-brim pulled right down
to shield some of my face,
but what I will not do is frown,
for sun or snow, I love this place
beneath the arcing vault of sky,
sometimes blue, right now it’s grey,
and I for sure don’t want to die,
not this or any other day
’cause there’s still much that lies ahead
until the earth becomes my bed.
Andrew, thank you for your prayers. They are truly appreciated! I so appreciate your poem as well. I definitely don’t want to be the one who simply gives up but rather saddles up with Jesus and rides, trusting Him. Thank you for adding your perspective to this conversation. Your thoughts are enriching.
I’m so sorry you’re going through rough times, my friend. I would add one thing to your list—reach out to prayer warrior friends 😊. I’m lifting you and your family up in prayer today!
Thank you for your kind words, Anita. And thank you for adding that to the list. It’s crucial! I am blessed to have friends praying for us through this season, and there’s is such comfort in that. Thank you so, so much for adding your prayers. They are much appreciated.
Remembering who God is has helped me through so many things. It is like when He called the people to cross the river and then go back and get stones to set up an altar. He knew they would need to remember. (Michele Cushatt explains this brilliantly in Relentless)
Praying for you to see the altar stones of His faithfulness as you walk through hard things.
This is a great addition to the list, Rebecca. Remembering who God is and that He is unchanging can definitely shore us up in difficult times. I like the reminder of the way God called people to build an altar when they crossed over the Jordan. A place of remembrance. I’ll have to look up that book. Thanks for mentioning it! And thanks for the prayers.
Trusting God in each moment. In good times and bad times, God will provide comfort.
This is a foundational truth, Melissa. I’m thankful for God’s comfort that is always available to us.
Any one of these things is hard, but so many piled up together can bow us down with their weight. These are good strategies for turning our focus and dependence on Him.
Barbara, thank you for your words. Now to live out those heart changes on a consistent basis, right? 🙂 We are truly depending on God always, but especially in times like these.
“When you trust God to be faithful to see you through whatever the future holds there’s a place to rest.” It is at those very times the rest is so precious and it gives us the strength to continue going – one step at a time. Praying for you and your family this morning.
Abide is my word for 2021. This post is screaming “ABIDE”, line after line. ❤
ABIDE is such a good word, and yes, abiding in Christ does help us come through difficult seasons. Thank you so much for stopping by!
Joanne, you are right. It is in the difficult times when rest is precious. When we rest in His truths and the fact that God loves us, we can find the strength to keep going a step at a time. Thanks for your prayers. They’re much appreciated.
Love you, dearest friend. Thank you for sharing your precious story. Hugs and prayers.
Aww, thanks, friend. Sending love back your way.
💟💞🌼