Trusting God
Trusting God
“But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible,
but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26 ESV).
Losses can shake our faith. When our needs – physical, financial, or otherwise – don’t get resolved, doubt creeps in. We start to wonder if God even hears us at all, thinking, How do we trust God when our deepest disappointments get realized?
A wise man once said, "Those who love the most hurt the most.” We have the opportunity to love God with all of our hearts. While it might seem safe to close off and guard our hearts from disappointment, cynicism is not healthy. Jesus said:
“Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up
and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart,
but believes that what he says will come to pass,
it will be done for him” (Mark 11:23 ESV).
Believers are called to intercede for the impossible. Jesus is the King of the impossible. When faced with hardships, disease, or temptation to sin, we are reminded that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Philippians 4:13 (NKJV).
We must pray for the miraculous and believe in the Lord's goodness no matter what. This is called faith. Pastor Bill said after Beni’s passing, “God is always good. I don’t have a right to accuse Him otherwise.” If you're struggling with the pain of loss in this season, here are some promises from God to bring you comfort:
1. God works all things for good.
Even if you lose something dear: a friend, a dream, or a family member, God promises to turn all things for good. This means that even the most painful situations can be turned around for your benefit. It's a huge promise, and a beautiful one at that. Even in your darkest moments, God is crafting a plan of redemption:
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 ESV).
2. God has a plan for your life.
Jeremiah saw more destruction than any other prophet during his life. Even in the midst of suffering, God promised that He had a plan for Israel, and it was good. Like Jeremiah, we can take comfort in the fact that God has a destiny for our lives:
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare
and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11 ESV).
3. God promises to comfort you.
The Bible promises us that we will be comforted, especially in our hardest moments. Grieving is a natural part of human life. Allow yourself to process your pain. Jesus will comfort you:
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4 ESV).
4. God is present in your situation.
The Names of God are a wonderful tool to rely on in seasons of discouragement. Ask God which part of His nature He wants to reveal to you -- the Healer, the Provider, or the Protector -- then lean into that aspect. There are so many Names in Scripture, and I cover some in my book, Warring with Wisdom. Check it out if you want to learn more about this powerful tool.
And that's it!
These are just a few promises we can rely on when we’re feeling discouraged. It can feel difficult to stay the course and not give in to doubt, but the Lord says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways" (Isaiah 55:8 ESV). We must not let disappointment steal our ability to stand firm knowing that God is in control.
If you need help processing any loss, Ray Leight has a wonderful book called Finding a New Normal. It has really helped me through this season of suffering.
Here's a quick prayer you can release over yourself this week:
"Jesus, thank You that You are our comforter. I release any pain from my life and ask You to step in and give me words of hope and encouragement. I ask this all in Jesus's Name, amen."
