Trusting God isn’t always an easy thing to do. Sure, when things are going well for us and life is peachy, trusting God with everything is a piece of cake. But what about when we are facing trials or life is more of a drag than normal? How can we go about trusting God in difficult times? Learning to trust God is simple with these 3 things you can do today, plus 13 Bible verses on trusting God to help you focus on His faithfulness.

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How to Trust God

The power of trusting the Lord is that when we trust Him, His will is more likely to unfold in our lives. When this happens, we become powerful and effective Kingdom builders and He gets more glory! So it’s worth it to spend time regularly refocusing on the fact that God is trustworthy.

3 ways we can do this are…

Remember God’s faithfulness in the past
Reflect on his promises for the future
Redirect our trust to Him in the present

Trusting God by Remembering His Faithfulness in the Past

Image of woman looking into rearview mirror to represent looking back at God's faithfulness in the past.

Remember that time you tithed even though you didn’t know where the next paycheck was coming from or when, and yet the money you had left afterward lasted longer than it looked like it would on paper? Or that time a health issue should’ve taken you out, but it somehow didn’t? Maybe there was an accident that was narrowly avoided that could’ve been catastrophic? Or a time a plan was changed at the last minute, then something bad happened right where you would’ve been had the plan not been changed?

Have you considered that maybe God intervened in that situation to keep you from harm, whether physical, mental, or spiritual?

It’s important that we not take for granted the many times God comes through for us. By taking time to recall these instances, we are reminded that God is faithful, even when earthly circumstances seem dire.

I’m having to do this a lot right now. COVID derailed most of our plans, and we are having to let God take the wheel in our finances, our family, and our new business endeavors. It’s not easy, but I can look back and see how God was faithful yesterday, which is strengthening my trust in him today.

“Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled;
everything He had spoken came true.”
JOSHUA 21:45

Action Step #1

Think of a time God clearly intervened in a tough situation or prevented something bad from happening. Got it? Now thank Him for His faithfulness and loving care in your life, past, present, and future. Make it a habit to recognize these instances. Thank Him in the moment, and then remember them frequently to remind yourself that He is faithful!

Trusting God by Reflecting on His Promises for the Future

Woman lying on carpet reflecting on God's promises for the future by reading her Bible.

Reading and reflecting on God’s Word is a powerful weapon against fear and doubt in general. However, focusing on specific scriptures promising God’s faithfulness, provision, and protection and praying them over your life and the lives of others make the power of the Word even stronger. Furthermore, according to Hebrews 6:18, “it is impossible for God to lie,” so His promises can be trusted! Here are some promises of God for the future that I have found in scripture. Do you have a favorite? Or do you love one that isn’t listed here? Share in the comments!

God’s Promises for Your Future

“‘Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…'” Isaiah 43:1-3

“He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.” Psalms 91:4

“But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not grow faint.” Isaiah 40:31

“‘For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,’ says the Lord, who has mercy on you.” Isaiah 54:10

“The Lord says, ‘I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with long life and give them my salvation.'”
PSALMS 91:14-16

“The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:9-10

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord. ‘Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a future and a hope.'” Jeremiah 29:11

“‘Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.'” Isaiah 41:10

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28

Action Step #2

Take a few moments to reflect on these promises. Choose one that gives you hope and share it with a friend. Pray for God to lead you to the person who needs to hear it the most. Or, if you know of a friend who is in a tough spot, choose the promise that will speak God’s hope to his or her heart most plainly and share it with them.

{Related – 19 Promises of God for the Modern Parent}

For a more in-depth look at how you can grow in faith by responding to God’s promises, read 2 Peter 1:3-11.

Trusting God by Redirecting Your Trust to Him in the Present

By putting our faith in things other than God, we are weakening and undermining our trust in Him. For instance, if we put faith of provision into the hands of a person or a job, we are choosing to trust a person or circumstance for provision instead of God. It’s easy to see that if this person or job is doing a good job at providing everything we need, we have no reason to trust God. But what happens when the person lets you down or the job you relied on somehow goes away? We haven’t learned to trust God for our provision, and we find ourselves feeling panicked, stressed, hopeless, and depressed. This can be seen in the following Bible verse about trusting in men instead of God:

“Thus says the Lord: ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.” Jeremiah 17:5-6

On the other hand, when we see the person or job as God’s way of providing instead of as the source of provision, we have learned to trust that God will find a way to provide no matter what. Even if the person lets us down. Even if we somehow lose the job. We have built-in faith that God will find another way to provide for us. And we feel at peace, hopeful, and even joyful despite our earthly troubles.

“But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is in the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.'” Jeremiah 17:5-8

Guys, I know it can be so much easier to put our trust in things we can see and hear and touch. In fact, this can easily become our default. And the more we trust in material things or earthly people, the less we trust God. And the less we trust God, the less concrete He seems. And the less concrete He seems, the less we are able to trust Him. See how the cycle works?

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5

“Nothing tests our trust like fear. But fear fades when we trust the strength and sovereignty of our God.”
LYSA TERKEURST

We must constantly take stock of what we are putting our trust in. In doing so, we can make sure that our trust never gets too far away from God and make adjustments when necessary. And, according to scripture, our unwavering trust in God’s promises brings glory to God (Romans 4:20), which is what He put us on this earth to do – glorify Him!

“If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!” Psalms 91:9-13

Action Step #3

Can you think of a specific area or circumstance in your life in which you see that your trust is misplaced? Maybe you’re trusting your job or your spouse or your own wisdom over God. If you can’t think of anything, pray that God will show you. Take a sticky note and write on it, “God’s in control, not [person or circumstance], and I can trust that He will take care of me.” Then hang the sticky note somewhere you’ll see it often and be reminded to redirect your trust towards Him, the only One who will never let us down.

Trusting in God Summary

In this world that is so full of distractions and bad news, it’s so important to continually refocus on God’s faithfulness. Doing so not only teaches us to recognize that He’s working in our lives today, but helps us with trusting God in all circumstances. So remember, reflect, redirect, then repeat. Do it enough, and it becomes second nature. When you put your trust in God, you’re on your way to all the blessings trusting God brings – things like peace, joy, and hope – no matter what the world throws at you!