Trusting God Even When It's Hard

Published on 2 October 2025 at 12:13

Trusting God Even When It's Hard

Trusting God Even When It’s Hard

God’s promises – sometimes they feel easier said than done, don’t they? We can nod our heads when life is good and everything feels steady, but when storms come, that’s when those promises are tested. And if I’m being real, there have been times in my own life where I wanted to throw my hands up and say, “What’s the point?”

Yet the truth of Scripture whispers back to me every time:

Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

That verse is beautiful when printed on a mug or posted on social media, but what about when your heart feels crushed? When your circumstances take the very breath out of your lungs? That’s when this promise becomes more than a verse – it becomes an anchor.

The Bible is full of people who faced impossible odds, betrayals, and devastating setbacks. Some made poor choices, and others suffered because of things completely out of their control. And yet, through it all, God was faithful. He stayed near. He redeemed. He turned ashes into beauty.

I’ve found myself searching for those stories in Scripture during my own battles, because I need to be reminded that I’m not alone, and neither are you.

When Life Is Unfair, Keep Doing Good

When I think of a life that was unfair, I think of Joseph. His story in Genesis reads like one heartbreak after another – betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, wrongly accused, forgotten in prison. If anyone had a reason to give up, it was Joseph. But he kept using the gifts God had given him. He stayed faithful. In the end, he could look back and say:

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” Genesis 50:20 (NLT)

Even when life feels unfair, God can use it for good. Don’t give up. Keep serving, keep loving, and keep trusting.

When the Pressure Is On, Choose God’s Way

Then there’s Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3. They were told to bow down to an idol or be thrown into a fiery furnace (see Daniel 3:4-6). Talk about pressure! Their response?

Daniel 3:17–18 (NLT)
“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. … But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear… that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

That phrase ‘But even if He doesn’t’, gets me every time. Their faith wasn’t in the outcome, it was in their God. And He showed up right in the middle of the fire.

When life is tough, choosing God’s way may cost us something, but it will never cost us His presence.

When the Weight Is Heavy, Pray Honestly

Even Jesus had moments of anguish. In Gethsemane, the night before His crucifixion, He prayed.

Matthew 26:39 (NLT)
“My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

What a powerful reminder that we can bring our raw, unfiltered emotions to God. Jesus Himself prayed honestly, poured out His heart, and still surrendered to the Father’s will.

When life feels unbearable, prayer doesn’t always change the situation, but it changes us. It aligns our hearts with God’s strength and peace.

When Darkness Closes In, Worship Anyway

And then there’s Paul and Silas in Acts 16. They were beaten, chained, and locked in prison, but still they chose to worship instead of complaining. At midnight, they prayed and sang hymns, and the prison shook. Doors flew open. Chains fell off.

Acts 16:25–26 (NLT)
“Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!”

When we worship in the dark, it shifts our perspective, lifts our hearts, and sets us free. More importantly, it opens the door for God’s power to move.

A Personal Challenge for Us All

Some days life can feel too heavLife will hand us days that feel too heavy. I’ve had them, and maybe you’re in one of those days right now. But the same God who walked with Joseph, the Hebrew boys, Jesus in Gethsemane, and Paul and Silas……He walks with you too.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT) says,
“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”

When life is tough, God’s grace is enough.

Three Practical Steps for You This Week

Keep Doing Good → Even if it feels unnoticed, serve or encourage someone this week.
Choose God’s Way → Make a decision that honors Him, even when it’s hard.
Pray & Worship → When discouragement hits, stop and pray honestly, then turn on worship and sing through the struggle.