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A good friend of mine is right at the beginning of a trial of trust that hit her with full strength yesterday.  She’s facing a situation in her life where something she believed was rock solid and a basis for planning for the immediate future of her suddenly is going away.  She knows God is there and that He has a plan but it’s really hard for her to simply trust that everything will be done for her good because God is in control.

Let me channel my inner Mister Rogers for a minute…”Can you relate to that feeling?  I knew that you could.”

We all face those times when God is asking us to simply trust Him.  Of course, it’s not a simple thing to do when there are really trying circumstances facing you in life like the loss of a job, the betrayal of a spouse or close friend, an unexpected death or a serious injury.  It’s also very hard when we’re looking toward our future both as a single person or married couple.  It’s hard not to set up our own plans about where we want to go in the future and still allow for God to do whatever God wants to do with us.  It’s hard to get to the place where you say “we’re planning to do this but if God changes it then we’ll happily follow the Lord.”

I know many Pastors and other Christians are quick to quote the well known Proverbs 3:5 (ESV) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”  There’s nothing wrong with that except that the verse itself really provides little comfort to someone facing a trial.  It’s mostly instructional in nature telling us what to do and not what will happen if we do it.  It’s also something that most Christians know already so what’s the point of telling someone who’s trying to trust in the Lord during a trial to just trust in the Lord?  That’s like telling someone who’s in the middle of baking a cake to make sure to bake a cake.

There are many other verses that come along Proverbs 3:5 that provide more strength and encouragement to people facing a trial within their lives.  I want to point some out for those people facing trials and tribulations because I think many times those in most need of encouragement from the Scriptures are the last to receive it because these verses aren’t always right on someone’s lips!

Psalm 37:5 (ESV) says “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.”  So when you’re facing this trial and trust in the Lord he is going to act on your behalf and because along with the fairly well known  Romans 8:28 (ESV) that says “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” we know those actions of God will be for your good.  It doesn’t say it will happen quickly or in the way we would like them to happen but as long as you trust God they will happen and they will work out for your good.

Also, take heart in Isaiah 26:4 (ESV) that says “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”  Ultimately God will be there no matter how dire the situation may seem to you.  The world may be crashing down around you and your trust in God may seem foolish to those around you but take heart in knowing he is an everlasting rock upon which you can stand in good times and bad times.

Isn’t it great to know that when you’re wearing, feeling small, when tears are in your eyes, there will be someone there who will dry them all and never leave you?  Someone you can always lean on because they’re like a rock that has always been there and will always be there?

I know it’s hard to trust in the Lord when you don’t know what’s going to happen.  I’ve been there, I am there and I know in the future I’ll have more times this happens and it’s not an easy thing to just say “I don’t know what’s going to happen but I trust God that it will all work out and I have no need to worry about anything.”  Still, take heart and know that His word is not invalid, His word does not change and He promises that He will act for us, He will guide us and He will be there for us if we just trust in Him.