I Have a Hard Time Trusting God

A reader asks: Bad things happened to me recently and now I struggle to trust God. Any advice?

Of course, it’s hard to trust your Heavenly Father when you’re hurting. It’s so very human to pull away from God in these times. But it doesn’t serve you. So, let’s find a way for you to return to his loving arms, trusting Him again.

The secret is to focus on Him and who He is. There are especially three of his most important aspects you can concentrate your mind on. Read Isaiah 40 again.

Firstly, think about his power. Remind yourself He is almighty and has the power and the ability to give you what you need. As Paul puts it in 1 Corinthians 2:5, “so that your faith might not be based on human wisdom but on God’s power.”

Secondly, think of his wisdom. As Isaiah writes in chapter 40: “Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or who gave him counsel? Who did he consult? Who gave him understanding and taught him the paths of justice? Who taught him knowledge and showed him the way of understanding?”

The answer to all those questions Isaiah asks, is no-one.

Think of it in this way. If you know one percent of all there is to know in this world, imagine the world from God’s perspective. He can see 100% of everything. Because He knows all and understands everything, He can perfectly use his wisdom for your good. Rest safely in the insight that He knows what’s ultimately the best for you.

Thirdly, think of his love. He knows exactly what you’re going through, because He willingly chose to dwell among us and experience and then overcome all our pain and suffering. He is not a distant God, He is Immanuel, God with us. And He did all of that because He loves you so much.

Remember these verses from Hebrews 4:15, 16. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.  Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.”

Now bring your thoughts back to your own life.

Think of a time when you clearly experienced the power of the Lord in your life.

Then remind yourself of a time when you realized his wonderful wisdom, because you were able to see why He did what He did months or even years later.

Lastly bring to mind a time when your life was especially difficult, and you experienced how it feels to be completely engulfed by his love.

When you look at Him now, does this exercise shift your perspective of Him and his care for you? If you start doubting again, repeat the steps as often as you need to.

Risa Haasbroek is a life coach. Follow her on Instagram at @risa4coaching