Trusting God in Hard Times: 15 Insights

The maples were speckled with tangerine hues when the long season began. I didn’t know what the months ahead might hold.  I was in the middle of a rugged stretch of roadway, and the tunnel ahead looked long.  Where do you turn when the going gets tough and trusting God in hard times feels impossible?

Today, we’ll look at 15 truths about trusting God in hard times.

We’ll also look at Jesus’ example of trusting God in uncertainty.

Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you trust God when life is difficult.

Let’s begin by turning to God’s Word.

Trusting God in Hard Times

Here are 15 truths about trusting God in hard times.

15 Truths About Trusting God in Hard Times

1. You are not facing this time alone.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  Isaiah 41:10, ESV

God is with you, and he will uphold you and give you strength.

You can endure this difficult time because you are not walking alone.  Find comfort in the presence of God.

2. God is protecting you; nothing will reach you without passing through him first.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

This verse reminds us that even in the darkest valleys, God is with us.

He comforts us and protects us.  Nothing reaches us without passing through him first.

3. God wants you to pray to him, and his peace will guard your heart and mind.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Rather than embracing anxious thoughts, God calls us to pray.  When we do, his peace guards our hearts and minds.

Worrying creates the illusion of controlling life’s challenging situations; prayer actually makes an impact.

4. Jesus promised trouble in this life, but he also promised his peace.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27

Before he ascended into heaven, Jesus promised peace to his followers.  When our hearts are troubled, we can cling to this promise of peace.

5. When you cast your cares on God, he lifts them from you.

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

In difficult times, God calls us to cast our anxieties and fears on him.  Too often, I ruminate over fears and worries.  Imagine how different our lives would be if we learned to cast our cares on him immediately!

6. God is calling you to focus on today and leave tomorrow in his hands.

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34

Much of what we worry about never ends up happening.  May we remember this as we aim to live present to our daily moments, not worrying about the future.

More Truths on Trusting God in Hard Times

7. As you wait on God, he will give you strength to endure.

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Do you feel weary as you endure this difficult time?

Keep looking to God.

Wait on the Lord, and he will give you strength.

8. God will lead you out of this situation when the time is right.

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Psalm 27:14

God’s timing is always perfect.  His ways are not our ways, but he will never abandon his children.  He also promises to finish what he starts (see Phil. 4:6).

Ask God to give you courage as you wait for him to lead you out of this difficult situation.

In the meantime, he will show you how to be strong and keep working while you wait.

9. Even when God seems silent, he is still working in your life.

Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. Isaiah 30:18

Remind yourself that God is looking for ways to show kindness and mercy to you.  He might seem silent, but this does not mean he isn’t working in your life.

Trust that he is arranging the circumstances around you so that you will see his glory when your wait is over.  He is never idle.

10. God’s timing is perfect, and this season will pass.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

We can trust that when we seek God with our whole hearts, aiming to walk in his ways, he will deliver us at the right time.

11. Remain faithful in the work God has placed before you, and he will reward you.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

Years ago, an older woman encouraged me by telling me that she often experienced the greatest breakthroughs in her life just after renewing her commitment not to give up.  She said that when she felt most tempted to give up, she turned to God and asked for direction.  If she sensed him asking her to press forward, she obeyed.

She often experienced great breakthroughs shortly after obeying.

This reminds me that when I’m most tempted to walk away from an endeavor, I should seek God.  If I sense him leading me to stay the course, I, too, often experience fruit on the other side of obedience.

12. God is beyond time, and he is never in a hurry.

13. God blesses those who wait for his deliverance.

The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Lamentations 3:25-26

When we faithfully seek God, he rewards us with blessings.  God is good to those who respond to his pursuit and seek his face.

If you feel weary from waiting on God, commit to continuing to turn toward him.  Keep reading your Bible, gathering with others to worship, praying, and pursuing him.  This is how we wait quietly for his deliverance.

14. This situation is not too hard for God.

But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Luke 18:27

Never forget that what feels impossible to us is possible with God.  No situation is too far beyond his ability to intervene.  No dream is too great.  We cannot make requests that are beyond his capability.

Our role is to align our hearts with his heart.  The more we seek him, the more our desires also begin to align with his desires.  When this happens, God moves mountains because our prayers align with his will for us.

15. Rest in God, and he will sustain you.

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Matthew 6:25

This verse reminds us that God cares for us.  He wants to meet our needs.  Instead of worrying about his provision, he invites us to lift our eyes to him and wait for him to provide for us.

Applications of These Verses About Trusting God in Hard Times

I was trudging forward on an autumn day, and I stumbled into the following words:

“He (Jesus) learned obedience from what he suffered . . .” (Hebrews 5:8 NIV).

I stopped in my tracks.  I’d never noticed these words, and maybe you haven’t either.

Jesus, the King of kings, learned obedience through his suffering.  He also taught us how to endure suffering when the going gets tough.  Let’s take a closer look at Jesus’ example of how to trust God in hard times.

Trusting God in Hard Times and Trials

1. Pray through your suffering.

I tend to forget all about praying when life becomes physically difficult. Particularly during times of deep physical anguish (think, hunched over the toilet with the stomach bug kind of anguish), I have a hard time seeing out of the fog of my circumstances.

Jesus prayed while he suffered.  Hebrews 5:7 reads: “During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death.”

Dear friend, keep praying.  Keep asking God for help.

God has not deserted you.  Psalm 34:18 tells us that God is close to the brokenhearted.  He saves those who are crushed in spirit.   Don’t stop praying.

2. Tell God how you feel.

Jesus talked to God with fervent cries and tears. He didn’t mask his suffering, pretend it was easy, or put on a facade for God.  We can do the same.  We are called to do the same.

Are you heartbroken?  Tell God.

If you don’t know how to go on, voice your concerns to God.

Is your burden too heavy and your assignment insurmountable?  Be honest with God about your emotions.

Is your burden too heavy and your assignment insurmountable? Be honest with God about your emotions. #suffering #prayer #trials #burdens Share on X

God already knows how you’re feeling.  Tell him for your sake, not for his.

He is listening.  He wants to carry your burdens for you.  But you must be willing to admit to them and release them. (For a post on the lie you might believe about your greatest struggle, read here.)

3. Submit to God in your suffering.

Just before he went to the cross, Jesus asked God to make another way for the salvation of humanity.  He concluded his prayer with these words: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42 NIV).

After voicing what he felt in his heart, Jesus submitted to God in his darkest hour.  We would be wise to pray this precise prayer, offering our humble submission in our pain.

4. Ask God to help you trust that he will use your pain for good.

God used Jesus’ suffering to make him the source of eternal salvation for all who believe. It was the ultimate demonstration of God’s love and goodness.

When I walk through the darkest valleys, I hold fast to the words of Romans 8:29: “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”

God works all things for the good of his children. God’s idea of “good” is different than ours.  He makes us look more like Jesus when we suffer: His ultimate idea of “good.”   We can thank God in our suffering because God is using it to shape us into the image of Christ.

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Let’s thank God for his promise to one day wipe away every tear and make all things new. Suffering will cease forever.  We will walk in the redeeming light of his love forever.

If these truths about trusting God in hard times encouraged you, I invite you to explore our family devotionals and library of free devotionals and eBooks below.  May your trust continue to grow deeper!

Calling All Parents and Grandparents!

As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God.  Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 15, share this vision.  They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love.  You can find all three books here or read more below.

Attention All Boy Moms (and Dads)!

God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom.  Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world.  I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven!  You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord.  Find this life-changing devotional book here.

Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter

Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion.  I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven.  Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.

Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20.  It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing.  This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start.  Bekah and I will help you right here.

Find Our Family Devotionals Here

Find all three books right here.  They are also free on the Kindle Unlimited plan, which you can enjoy with a free three-month trial!  These books make great gifts, and you don’t need to be the parent of young children to read them.  Share them with your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or the young ones you love.

Learn Why Willpower Doesn’t Work and Experience God’s Deliverance and Healing

God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone.  Lean Into Grace: Let God’s Grace Heal Your Heart, Refresh Your Soul, and Set You Free shares practical ways to experience God’s freedom, healing, power, and presence in your life.  Find this life-changing book as a free eBook on Kindle Unlimited or for 12.99 in print right here.  (If you do not have Kindle Unlimited, you can try it out with a free three-month trial!) This book will transform your life and revitalize your relationship with the Lord!

A Free Devotional to Help You With Trusting God in Hard Times.

Are you in the middle of a difficult season?  I have a gift for you today. Glimpses of Hope for When Life Lets You Down is my free online devotional to help lift your head.  You will find daily readings to help you heal in God’s presence.  Click here and I’ll send it to your email inbox today! I also offer a library of free online devotional eBooks for free.  I invite you to explore the collection right here!