Trusting God is never easy. Stepping out and following God when we are unsure of what the future holds is what genuine faith looks like. Living by faith sounds doable in the short run. God doesn’t expect us to walk on water, but he does expect us to trust. Submit your whole self to God and trust him (Prov 3:5-6).
When unsure, we are inundated with voices.
Is there a looming situation in your life? Are you asking God for answers? We are inundated with voices that claim to have answers. And we’re left empty and longing for something better. God’s Word has the answers. The Bible is God’s voice.
Is 26:3-4 says, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”
When unsure, we trust God’s voice provides superior, fulfilling answers.
The words faith, believe, and trust are seen repeatedly throughout Scripture. Trust is one of the Bible’s primary themes. God’s voice provides superior, fulfilling answers. Still, when we face the realities of life as a Christ follower, we wonder whether it would have been easier to seek answers more creatively.
Let us not be tempted. Ps 56:3-4 says, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?”
When unsure, we can trust God gives us exactly what we need.
Don’t rely on laying out a fleece or going with a “gut” feeling regarding where and how to follow obediently. Not that you would be seeking an audible answer, but God gives us exactly what we need. He guides us through prayer, Bible reading, scripture meditation, and counsel from God’s people. Ps 40:4 says, “Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!”
When unsure of the future, we trust by following Him in the present.
God will never lead us into the future until we follow Him in the present, and no step is insignificant. Pray and spend time with God (Rom 12:2). We shouldn’t neglect the small steps God puts in front of us daily. Read, listen, and obey ( John 10:14-15; 27). Ps 37:5 says, “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.”
When unsure, we trust that God’s promises recorded in the scriptures are trustworthy.
God’s promises recorded in the scriptures are trustworthy. He is capable of completing what he has promised. Even when you don’t see how God could come through and have no idea how your question would be answered, He can be trusted.
When unsure, we trust the fulfillment of God’s promises.
The good news is that the fulfillment of his promises does not rest with the one promised but rather the faithfulness and strength of the One who promises. Not even our sinfulness and failures can thwart God’s promises. God is best honored when you focus on obedience in the here and now before any decisions regarding the future.
When unsure, we trust as we patiently wait on God.
Gen 12:1
When we are unsure, we patiently wait on God. The Bible tells us that God often asks people to follow him without providing the next steps (Gen 12:1). He asked Abram to follow him “to the land that I will show you.” He directed Paul to venture to the ends of the world to proclaim the gospel.
These were a step-by-step process in which God revealed the next step only after the person completed each particular stage of obedience. These faithful men followed God, trusted God, and waited on God.
Are you trusting God for answers? Implement these steps:
- Stop following your heart, your emotions
- Live by faith
- Know God’s Word
- Walk in step with the Word
- Think long-term
Having a relationship with Christ means he wants us to trust Him. Lean in and rely on Him for everything. The belief that God is sovereign means that no matter your future, you can trust that God goes before you (Deut 3:18).
Debbie Swindell 