Have you ever had a situation in your life that was going badly and left you stressed and worried? Have you ever felt afraid about what the future holds, whether about a specific situation or about the unknown future generally? Every believer faces trials and challenges at different points in their life that tempt them to be anxious or worried. In those situations, fixing our minds on the Lord provides comfort and assurance; recognizing His faithfulness and sovereignty helps keep the waves of doubt and fear from overwhelming us. Through the stories of Scripture, we can see how God was faithful to His children, even in situations that seemed dark, impossible, and hopeless. God’s Word sometimes records their prayers and thoughts, allowing us to get a glimpse at the truths that sustained them through difficult times. We may not know what tomorrow holds, but we know the One who holds tomorrow. When we have nothing else to hold on to, we can still cling to the Lord, and He is more than enough, no matter what we’re going through.
Our trust in God is not blind or baseless; we trust Him because we know His goodness, His faithfulness, and His sovereignty.
- God is eternal and omniscient: I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last… Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: (Revelation 22:13, Isaiah 46:9-10)
- God is abundantly good to His children: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:..To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;… He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Ephesians 1:3, 6-7, Romans 8:32)
- God is faithful regardless of our failings and unfaithfulness: God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord… Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it… If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. (1 Corinthians 1:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:24, 2 Timothy 2:13)
- God loves us more than we can ever comprehend: That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God… Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins… But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Ephesians 3:17-19, 1 John 4:10, Romans 5:8)
- God is sovereignly working all things for our good: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose… But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good… (Romans 8:28, Genesis 50:20a)
Knowing the goodness and sovereignty of our Lord gives us the confidence and comfort to live with courage, hope, and joy, even in times of suffering or fear.
We won’t always know why God is doing what He is doing: O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? (Romans 11:33-34)
But we do know that He has promised:
- His works will be good and beautiful in the end: He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
- He will lead us and guide us: I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye… Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. (Psalm 32:8, Isaiah 48:17)
- Our sorrows are temporary: They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him… For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. (Psalm 126:5-6, Revelation 7:17)
- He will not leave us desolate or forsake us: The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate… be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Psalm 34:22, Hebrews 13:5b)
- He uses hardships for our good by forming our character: And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us… My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing… Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. (Romans 5:3-5, James 1:2-4, Hebrews 12:11)
- He uses hardships for our good by giving us eternal rewards through them: Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him… For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (James 1:12, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
- He understands and has compassion on our pain: Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?… But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. (Psalm 56:8, Psalm 86:15)
- He will comfort us in all our trials: Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God… I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, John 14:18)
- We can approach Him boldly: Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
- We can have joy in Him: But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. (Psalm 5:11)
- He will keep and defend us: So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me… He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah. (Hebrews 13:6, Psalm 62:6-8)
- He will give us peace: Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus… Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (Philippians 4:6-7, John 14:27)
Written by NBB Alumna: Janese Hurst
