Trusting God In Life Challenges

Trusting God in Life Challenges

Study Text: Proverbs 3: 5 - 8

Introduction:

- Life is unpredictable, but full of ups and downs along the way. These challenges come at different stages of life, and in varying degrees and durations.

- Many people can look up unto God and trust Him when times are good. But when challenging and difficult times come, only few people can keep holding on unto God.

- God’s unchanging character and faithfulness can give us a firm foundation and a hope when things feel unsteady, challenging and uncertain.

- Our Study Text reveals to us three distinct ways that God can help us, not in preventing the challenging times, but in making us to remain steadfast and immovable during the challenges, and subsequently overcome them.

- We shall consider these three ways systematically, and trust God to give us understanding and grace to apply them for our blessings during the challenges of life.

1. God Demands Our Faith

2. God Defines Our Focus

3. God Determines Our Future

1. God Demands Our Faith

- The first instruction to us during the challenges of life is to trust God with all our hearts. That is God demands our faith in Him.

- To trust is to believe in the reliability, truth, ability or strength of someone or something. So, when it comes to trusting God, that means believing in His reliability, His Word, His ability, and His strength.

- The Bible says that God cannot lie. That He always keeps His promises. That He loves you and has good in store for you. Trusting in Him means believing that what He says about Himself, about the world and about you is true.

- Trusting God is more than a feeling; it is a choice to have faith in what He says even when your feelings or circumstances would have you believe something different.

- Trusting God is not about ignoring your feelings or reality. It is not pretending that everything is alright when it is not. Trusting God is living a life of absolute faith in and obedience to God even when it is difficult.

- After establishing the need to trust God, how exactly can you do that in your everyday life?

1. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

- Because God loves you, you can build your trust in Him by talking about all your feelings and circumstances with Him, the good and hard, through prayer. Philippians 4: 6 - 7

- Do not let your emotions rule your life; bring them to God so He can help you address them. He is not disappointed or frustrated by your struggles, doubts or pain. He cares about you, and you can trust Him with those things.

2. Delight in His Words and meditate upon it day and night. Psalm 1: 2

- When you trust God, you will go to Him in His word when life is hard. You will also act in obedience to His Word, and have the confidence that He will ultimately take care of the rest.

- The Bible records ways God has responded in difficult times in the past. It reminds you that He is trustworthy whatever your circumstances. Many people in Scripture even reference other parts of Scripture to encourage themselves and those around them.

3. Expect His help and intervention as the only hope

- In trust, you do not look for security in other things; you look to God as the only hope to hold you securely in difficult circumstances. 2 Chronicles 20: 1 - 12

- Knowing that God is for you, and that He will do something for you, will strengthen your trust in Him during times of hardship and the unknown.

- Faithfully continue to seek the Lord, but wait on His timing. Wait on Him to act on your behalf. Wait on Him to do what you cannot do yourself.

- Waiting on the Lord reminds you that you are not in control. He is bigger than any of your circumstances. He will sustain you and grow your faith in the waiting.

- God is never neglecting your life. If He seems to be silent, remember His promise that He is always hearing your prayers and responding. Psalm 34:17

4. Confront your fears and confess your unbelief

- You can tell God how you feel and in what areas of your life you are struggling to trust Him.

First, it is good to acknowledge that His character is good and trustworthy. You can agree with Him that all He says is true. You can also tell Him when it is difficult for you to believe. Mark 9:24

- Confession helps you to humble yourself and allows you to grow in trust. He hears your requests and answers them and He wants to help you grow your faith.