Trusting God in Hard Times

by Jackie Stubblefield

Trusting God seems easier when there is not any pressure to put it to the test. Under stress, trust can easily crumble if we are not hanging on to the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Some would say we were tough, but the truth is we would have been basket cases if we had not trusted in God in this hard time. 

Jackie Stubblefield

Anna, my granddaughter, was only 21 when she was in a 4-wheeler accident. The driver was going too fast and missed a curve. The Razor landed on top of Anna. She stopped breathing.

The medics worked on her for 9 minutes, and we were not sure how long she had been without oxygen before help arrived.

She was resuscitated and taken to the hospital. The news was grim. She would probably be in a vegetative state if she survived.

For about 6 months, we took care of Anna. Even though the prognosis was not good, we did not give up. We were determined to take care of her and help her become the best she could be.

It was a long and heart-wrenching road. Anna cried most of the time and was hard to console. She had opened her eyes but was not responsive. Her arms and legs began to draw inward, and she cried in pain as they tried to pry her limbs into a normal position.

We became alarmed when she began to have episodes of sweating, fast pulse, and shortness of breath. They admitted her to the hospital for treatment. The doctor on call decided to do a brain scan.

The results were devastating. Anna had no cognition above the brain stem. The doctors said the episodes were her body trying to regulate her temperature unsuccessfully.

The doctor of infectious diseases said her immune system would continue to deteriorate and that she would probably not make it to the end of the year.

Kristy, my daughter, placed her in hospice, and she passed away about a month later.

What Does It Mean to Trust in the Lord?

According to the KJV Dictionary, trust is: “Confidence; a reliance or resting of the mind on the integrity, veracity, justice, friendship, or other sound principle of another person.”

To trust in the Lord is to have complete confidence in all that He does without any wavering.

Trusting Jesus means not only do we trust Him in all areas of our life, but we go to Him first, leaving it in His hands without trying to figure it out ourselves.

Bible Verses About Trusting God in Difficult Times

There are lots of scriptures on trusting God in hard times. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, as Jesus Himself made it clear that we would face trials here on earth. Once again, God has provided wisdom and comfort in His word for us when those times come.

Psalm 28:7 (NIV)

“The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
    and with my song I praise him.”

Our trust brings God’s strength and protection. This brings joy to our hearts, which always should include our praise for who He is.

Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

One of the benefits of trusting God is overcoming fear and discouragement. We talk of wanting His presence, but the truth is, He is always there.

The Lord will provide for those who trust in Him. They have no fear of lack or failing to produce fruit in their lives. It’s amazing what God will do for us if we will let go and trust His wisdom.

Psalm 32:10 (NIV)

“Many are the woes of the wicked,
    but the Lord’s unfailing love
    surrounds the one who trusts in him.”

Often we think unbelievers are thriving when they actually are suffering in their day-to-day lives. We are blessed to have the comfort of God’s love in our trials.

Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)

“You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you.”

The Lord will sustain us in His perfect peace like the world has never known. When we trust in Him, our minds are strong and at peace.

{Related – “5 Questions about Trusting God in a Difficult Situation” by Jackie Stubblefield}

Bible Stories About Faith in Hard Times

Daniel – Faith in God in a Difficult Trial

The story of Daniel is an excellent story about putting trust in God during a difficult trial. From his story we can see that faith is trusting God even when you don’t know what the outcome of a situation might be.

Daniel 6:1-5 (NIV)

“It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. 

Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.  

At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.  

Finally, these men said, ‘We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.’”

So the other satraps devised a plan to catch David. They convinced the King to issue a decree that if anyone worshiped anyone or anything besides the king in the next 30 days, they would be thrown into the lion’s den. 

When Daniel heard about the decree he went straight to his upstairs room with the window open to Jerusalem and prayed as usual. The men saw Daniel and reported him to the king.

The king tried his best to find a reason to override the decree but without success. Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den. 

The king did not rest that night and early the next morning he checked on Daniel. He called out to him asking if his God had saved him.

Daniel 6:21-22 (NIV)

 “Daniel answered, ‘May the king live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.’” 

If you’re still asking, “How do I trust God in difficult times?” Looking at Daniel we see:

• David chose to continue to worship God as he always had even though his life was endangered.
• He had a relationship with God and knew He would take care of him as He always had.
• He gained his strength from God in prayer.

Want to develop a deeper trust in the Lord? See all our posts about trusting God here!

How to Trust in the Lord When Life Gets Tough

Psalm 112:6-7 (NIV)

“Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered forever.
They will have no fear of bad news;
their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.”

As we walk daily with the Lord in His Word and in prayer, trials will be covered by His strength and love. It doesn’t mean we will not be sad or unhappy with the circumstances, but we will be able to face it in His peace.

As we see in Proverbs 3:5-6, 

• Trust in the Lord wholeheartedly and unwavering.
• Don’t try to figure it out yourself; go to Him first.
• Acknowledge God in everything you do.
• He will direct your path (make the way smooth).

Trusting God in All Circumstances

When Anna was hurt, Kristy and I had to depend on the Lord to get us through day by day. It was a tragic time that could have only been handled with God’s strength.

It would have been much more difficult if we hadn’t already depended on Him. We had to go back and remember what we knew about God and not rely on our feelings.

Don’t misunderstand, we failed at times. When we relied on ourselves, we were overcome with grief and sadness. The reason we made it through was God Himself.

I hope you can see that how to trust God in difficult times hinges on trusting Him in all circumstances. Stay in His word daily and in constant communication with Him. Learn to know Him. He will be with you in both good and bad times.

Are you going through a difficult time? Comment below and let us know how we can pray for you! And check out Jackie’s other resources at “From Loss to Hope by God’s Word.”

{Related – “Why Should We Trust in God When Our Heart Hurts?” by Jackie Stubblefield}

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