It’s easy to say, “give your cares to the Lord and trust Him” when everything in life seems to be going well. It’s easy to say, “I trust you Lord with everything I own” when bills are paid on time and when you just got a promotion at work.
However, if God striped you of everything you own; If God told you to leave the very job that’s paying your bills, will you trust the Lord enough to do it? Will you trust God even when you don’t understand; even when life hurts? If God told you to leave the familiar and enter the unfamiliar, will you trust Him?
For many of you, God has done just that. He has taken you from what’s “oh so familiar” and redirected your paths into the unfamiliar. You don’t understand what’s happening in your life; what to do or where to go. The only thing you know is that the Lord gave you a word (instruction, a promise, vision, etc) and the only thing you have to hold on to is that word.
I understand the feeling; you’re not alone. There is encouragement for you today. Here are 4 things to remember whenever you feel as though you don’t understand what God is doing and/or allowing in your life.
Consider the Source
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last (Revelation 22:13).
Who else can say that but God? No one, only God can say such a thing. God knows everything: the past, current and future and our knowledge and understanding doesn’t even compare to the knowledge and understanding of God – even when it applies to our own life.
Furthermore, when you don’t understand what God is doing in your life, consider the source – Who is it that you’re trusting; God or yourself?
Here is something to remember. Man is fallible; we fall short and at times we’re unable to keep our promises. Man can give you instructions that are misleading and imperfect. With God, none of these things are possible. God keeps His promises, God gives you right instructions according to His perfect will and He won’t mislead you.
No matter how much you don’t understand life as it is right now; no matter how uncomfortable it may seem or how hard it gets, don’t give up. If God is with you - the same God who spoke life into you, the same God who IS and knows the beginning and the end, the same God who knew you before the foundation of this world -is with you, then ask yourself who or WHAT can stand against you.
Consider the source and seek to be obedient to the Lord, even when you don t understand what God is doing in your life; don’t worry about “this or that” because God has provisions for you.
Trust the Lord
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).
When you learn to trust the Lord, you will begin to have a sense of rest in the Lord knowing that He has everything under control even when life seems to be out of control. Trusting God will get you to the point where you make a decision to trust in Him and NOT in your own logic and understanding.
As Christians, we must make a decision to trust Him regardless of how scary the situation may seem. Trusting God doesn’t prevent you from being in uncomfortable situations but it does allow you to be placed in a position where you seek the Lord’s presence, provisions, guidance and promises.
I encourage you to stop stressing yourself out- losing sleep, being weary, anxious, worried, depressed and sad. Don’t try to understand the ways of God because it is impossible for you to understand His decisions and ways! (Romans 11:33). The natural man cannot understand the things of God. For God’s ways are higher than mans, they are past finding out and this is why we must make a decision to trust our all knowing God.
Be Obedient
The bible states that “obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22)” which should tell you a lot about our God. God places significance on obedience. He’ll much rather you be obedient to His instruction than for you to give Him sacrificial praise, money offerings, fasting and etc.
Why do I bring obedience up? Because when God gives you instruction and you’re in a situation where you don’t understand what’s going on in your life, you need to be reminded to be obedient and to trust in the one who does understand – Christ. There are blessings that follow a person who is obedient just as there are curses that follows a person who is disobedient.
God Will Lead You
The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you” (Genesis 12:1).
God told Abraham to leave everything he knew; everything he was familiar with and to enter into the unfamiliar. God told him to go into a land which he will show him which meant Abraham didn’t know where he was going; He only had the instruction of the Lord to depend on. Abraham could have easily said, “God, where will I go; what will I eat and drink”, but he didn’t. He chose to trust God and be obedient and as Christians we must learn to do the same.
“It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8).
As much as we would like God to give us “what where when and how” upfront all the time (all in one shot), God does not operate like that. Sometimes, God will place you in a satiation where you have to trust Him and He’ll give you piece by piece as you obey and trust Him.
As a person who’s been in this situation, I will tell you that this only increases your faith as you learn to walk by faith and not by sight.
Trusting God When You Don’t Understand: Finial Words
I don’t know what your story is (your more than welcome to share it below), but I encourage you to trust God even when you don t understand what’s happening in your life.
You may not understand life and all that’s happening; but God will give you a piece to the puzzle as you learn to step out on faith, trust and obey him.
Don’t let the devil fool you into believing that you’re taking a step backwards in life or that you’ll never make it out of this situation; because you will. What you’re going through is temporary.
Encourage yourself in the Lord daily; read His word; pray without ceasing and seek His face. The next time you find yourself in a position where you are stressed and worried about what God is doing in your life remember to:
- Consider the Source
- Trust the Lord
- Be Obedient
- Trust God to Lead You
Prayer for Trusting God’s When You Don’t Understand Life
Heavenly Father,
I ask that you place within me your obedient spirit so that I may be obedient to your instruction. Help me Lord to walk by faith and not by sight. I don’t understand what you’re doing in my life, but I make a decision to trust you God.
In this season, I ask that you place within me your spirit of joy, peace and rest. Give me joy; peace and rest to endure all that comes my way. Right now, I make a decision to trust you Lord because I know that you’re in control of my life even when my life seems to be out of control.
Lord, I thank you for clarity, guidance, provision and strength. I pray and ask for these things in Jesus name; Amen.
Pray and stay in the word of God. There is strength for you in the word of God. Trust the Lord and be obedient even when you don’t understand life and what God is doing. Be blessed and encouraged in Jesus name.
Receive spiritual words of encouragement and daily devotions for Christian everyday living by RSS feed or via email. Thanks for visiting and God bless you :)
Related posts:
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Your words were very encouraging to me.
[Reply]
Dorothy N Echols Reply:
April 11th, 2010 at 11:06 am
Keep doing what you’re doing, this will help a lot of people. Thanks
[Reply]
Hi Dorothy,
To God be all the glory. It encourages my spirit to know that you’re being encouraged. Thanks for the words of encouragement. It’s my prayer that you and many others are encouraged by the articles written here.
God bless you and keep strong in your Christian walk with God. I pray that God blesses you and your household in Jesus name; Amen.
[Reply]
This sheds light on what I was seeking and encouraging. Thanks and continue to be bless and blessing others.
[Reply]
Praise God! \0/
I am blessed that you were encouraged. To God be all the glory. Continue to do what God has placed in your heart and called you to do. God bless you Kim and thanks for your inspiring words of encouragement.
[Reply]
Thank you so much for a nourishing word. “Trusting God When You Don’t Understand” is vitial to our spiritual growth. My life just recently has reminded me of the popular old song, “The Answer Is Blowin in the Wind”, however, we cannot see or catch the wind we can only feel it or choose to yeild to it. If you take away the t from the word trust you end up with rust. In times like these, I will stand and allow the Word of God to polish me as I continue to taste of His goodness no matter what. May you continue to be strengthened to stand complete in the will of God for your life.
[Reply]
Hi Charlene,
Trusting God when you don’t understand is indeed essential in your Christian walk with God. The last thing we need to be is “rusty” when it comes to trusting God, His plans and His timing.
I appreciate your encouraging words. I pray that the spirit of the Lord rest upon you. May He give you clarity and direction in this season in Jesus name.
God bless you Charlene
[Reply]
Trusting God when we don’t understand is one of the most difficult things to do and yet probably the only thing to do.
Jesus said “My Yoke is easy and my Burden is light”
When we trust God to intervene in our situation and or circumstances we are showing respect to Him and obedience. He says I will never leave you nor forsake you. So even when it looks and feels light the end has come, you have failed, that is ok. This is when He will shine even brighter. The greater the situation , the greater the glory. When we stand and testify of His goodness, how He brought through it, how all human power failed but God came through. That is when He gets the glory and crowns us with His loving kindness and tender mercies. Trust Him, yes you do not understand, but He does , Jesus understands and He knows and sees the end from the beginning. Trust in Him , rest in Him.
God promises to keep us in perfect peace if our minds are stayed on Him. Because we trust in Him. Isaiah 26 vs 3
[Reply]
“Trusting God when we don’t understand is one of the most difficult things to do and yet probably the only thing to do.” – Amen! It is the only thing to do. Who else can we run to? Who else can do what God himself can do?
You make a very valid point my friend. God does promise to keep us in perfect peace if our mind is on Him…and each day I strive to be in the peace of God.
[Reply]
OH MAN!!! THIS ARTICLE REALLY SPOKE VOLUMES TO ME!!! I stumbled across it looking for some confirmation. It spoke right to my situation!!
I recently left the church i grew up in and went to an unfamiliar land… Sense, God has opened doors for me to sing and travel to different places. I’m GRATEFUL!!
Keep up the great ministry!! This REALLY ministered to me!!! WOW!!! I need a praise break now!!!
[Reply]
Hi Orah,
To God be ALL the glory. It blesses my spirit to know that this article (through the power of the Holy Spirit) ministered to you. I pray that God continues to bless you as He takes you to new levels in Him in Jesus name. Continue to trust Him and His leading.
Thanks for the words of encouragement.
[Reply]
God asked me to leave my job a year ago. I had no job to go to but God said he would provide for me and make sure everything was taken care of. Since then he has done miraculous things in my life and spirit. He has delivered me and helped me to grow in him. But I am still out of work and feel guilty for it. God keeps telling me to trust him and not worry about finding a job.
I know I need to have a job to pay my bills but God keeps telling me to just trust him. Everyone around me thinks I am being lazy but I am not, I want to work and I am willing to work but I have to obey God first. He promised me that if I obey him he will make sure I am able to repay anyone that helped me during this time. He has been giving me prophetic dreams and needs me to be able to get them in a moment’s notice so I have to be able to get alone with God when I feel led by the spirit.
As soon as I know his work is done in me I will get a job and pay everyone back who has been helping me double what I owe. Satan uses my guilt to make me feel lazy and useless and gets other people to attack me for it. If I am wrong in what I am doing I pray that God will show me. I don’t want to hurt anyone or cause hardship on anyone else.
[Reply]
Hi Kim,
As I was reading your message, I want to let you know that God will provide and make a way for you. God has instructed my mother to leave her job 2 years ago…and because of her obedience, I have witness God open a door each and every time.
Because of God, my family and I still have food to eat, we have a roof over our heads and we’re not lacking anything. I’m not going to lie and say everything has been peaches n cream…because it hasn’t…but God was there with us every step of the way.
I want to let you know that if God told you to leave your job….then continue to trust Him. Trust God to do just as He said he would do in your life. Trust God for financial blessings, provisions and to order your footsteps in Him.
Remember that God owns EVERYTHING on this planet. God doesn’t need money to pay bills. God is able to pay bills without money (I have witness him do it).
When you begin to feel guilty, bind that spirit in Jesus name! It’s a tactic satan uses to condemn you. Trust God Kim…you serve a God who CAN NOT lie. God has you in the palm of His hand…trust Him.
I can attest as my mother is living proof that God will take care of you if you’re obedient. As you continue to do just as God has instructed you to do…encourage yourself in the Lord daily and pray for those who attack you. ( I have witness God change the hearts of people ).
God bless you Kim. May God continue to have His way in your life. I pray in Jesus name that your strength is increased in the Lord Jesus Christ. I speak to fear, doubt and guiltiness right now and COMMAND IT TO FLEE IN JESUS NAME because it has no place in you.
I pray God continues to guide your footsteps as you trust Him and that He sends you an abundance of financial blesses – providing you with more than enough to pay bills, tithe etc and give….In Jesus name; Amen!
God bless you Kim. Remember, God is not a man who shall lie. As you walk by faith and not by sight….expect God to open doors and make provisions for you. God indeed has a plan for you. Continue to trust in Him.
[Reply]
Good day team
My name is Mduduzi, i live in Johannesburgh, SA. The Lord spoke to me in April this year to offer my car in the church. It was so painful and confusing, but i knew God has spoken to me clearly.Our means a lot to us and we don’t have any other means of transport. But i have taken a decision to obey God, regardless of my present circumstances for He knows better.
Thank you so much for these words of encouragement.
God bless you all
[Reply]
I have had so much going on in my life. The loss of my brother due to a heart attack and then the loss of a good friend due to a misunderstanding. I have asked and asked God what he is doing in my life and why. Every morning I pray, I read his word and I ask for guidance and answers. I try so hard to trust and then everytime try to take the situation into my own hands.. Thank you for your words of encouragement.
[Reply]
Hello Mduduzi,
To God be ALL the glory. Indeed, God does know better so I encourage you to be encourage and to continue to trust and obey God. God is a rewarder of obedience.
Be encouraged in the Lord. Though the natural realm may suggest otherwise, you stand blessed. God bless you.
[Reply]
Hi Cindy,
God bless you. At times, God will ALLOW things to happen in our lives, but it’s not to hurt us but to teach us and mold us. I encourage you to TRUST IN THE LORD with ALL your heart and to NOT lean to your own understanding. I know it’s not easy. But God is showing you how to do so; even now.
I encourage you to hand over the situation into the hands of God. God is walking with you every step of the way. Trust and believe God. God has not forsaken you.
God bless you in Jesus name.
[Reply]
Thank you for these encouraging words. We are wrestling with a potential job loss and have been praying that God will lead us to a different position within the same company, out of state. We’ve been praying without ceasing and holding on to the promises of God, but it is difficult. Its a daily struggle to walk by faith and not by sight. I know God specializes in the impossible and right now this whole situation seems impossible. HELP THOU MY UNBELIEF! I’ve committed this situation entirely to God and am praying to see Him move in a mighty way and open doors that only He can.
[Reply]
Hi Betty,
“Help thou my unbelief”.
Amen, it is a challenge each day to walk by faith and not by sight but I encourage you to read the Word of God as faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God.
Don’t be afraid to decree God’s word over your life and situation. You SHALL be the lender and not the borrower. Speak what God says about your situation and continue to trust God. I know it’s not easy, but God does promise be with us always and to hear our prayer.
I pray in Jesus name that every financial blessing be released unto you. God bless you women of God. Be encouraged.
[Reply]
Thank you for the words of encouragement and to be strong in faith and to lean on the understanding of God to provide guidance and financial and other blessings in your life. We are going through a difficult situation right now, following a serious car accident, fallen tree on our home that caused much damage, and bills to make a serious dent in paying down. We have prayed for God’s guidance and wisdom in how to proceed from here after several difficult weeks as we pray for health and recovery from the accident and to piece our home back together after suffering tree damage. We are grateful for God’s blessings in my husband’s medical recovery and are leaning on God’s understanding as to whether we should take this opportunity from the fallen tree to repair our home as before or to undertake further improvement now that the damage has been done. No matter what happens, we know we are truly blessed and are lifted up by serving our precious and wonderful lord God and savior. We gratefully praise God in every circumstance and know that we have received grace and mercy beyond our human understanding in every aspect of our lives, especially during the most difficult of times. Praise God in all things.
[Reply]
Hi Viki,
I thank God for your comment. I stand in agreement for your husbands healing and instruction on what to do with the house. I pray that you receive clear instruction and rapid healing in Jesus name.
I am encouraged by your story as I am reminded to Praise God in all things – the good and the bad. I pray your story encourages others. God bless you in Jesus name
[Reply]