“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight.” — Proverbs 3:5
Trust is one of the most powerful expressions of faith there is. And it’s easy to trust when life is smooth, when prayers are answered quickly, and when the path ahead is clear. But what about the moments when we feel uncertain…when life gets chaotic…when it feels like your prayers are going straight to voicemail…when the road ahead is foggy? In those seasons, trust becomes more than a word…it becomes a lifeline.
But trust is hard, isn’t it? Trusting God means letting go of our need to be in control. It means saying, “Lord, I don’t understand, but I believe you do.” It’s in surrender that we find peace…not because we have all the answers, but because we know the One who does.
Just like we trust a close friend because we know their character, we learn to trust God by knowing the character of the divine. Scripture reminds us again and again that God is merciful and compassionate, faithful, loving, and good. We were never promised a life full of puppies and unicorns…a life without worry and anxiety. But we are promised that through it all, the ground of our being is there.
We’re not meant to journey through life alone. The author of Ecclesiastes knew this when he wrote: “Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other, but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help” (Ecc. 4.9-10).
When we share our struggles and stories with others, we build each other up. One of the many things I love about FPC Marion is it’s a safe space to be who you are…to bring your doubts and questions and know you won’t be told your faith isn’t strong enough. Instead, our promise is that we’ll walk with you through them because that’s how we grow in faith…together. The church is a place where trust can be nurtured…both in God and in one another.
So, whatever season you’re in, whether it’s one of joy, or waiting, or uncertainty, or fear, the promise we have is that God is trustworthy no matter what. You don’t have to be “good enough” for God to see you. You don’t have to “have it all together” for God to know you. Change may not happen overnight, but I believe it will come. My faith tells me that God works all things together for good, and God is faithful even when we aren’t, because the nature of God is grace, mercy, compassion, and love.
If you’re struggling right now, know that you’re being prayed for, and if you need a prayer, here’s the one I use when life gets hard:
“Lord, help me to trust you more. In the moments when I doubt, remind me of your faithfulness. Teach me to lean not on my own understanding, but on the promise that even in the darkest valley, you are there and your love never fails. Amen.”