How do I learn to trust God when trust is hard

How do I learn to trust God? This question regularly pops into my mind, especially when God asks me to trust him more. Synonymous with trusting God comes the necessity to let go (Read this post for more on trust and rest). Both of these are challenging to do yet vital in deepening our walk with God.

I love what my pastor says:

We spend our whole childhood learning to become independent. Our walk with God teaches us to become dependent on him. Grant Flaum

The closer we get in our walk with God, the more we trust him. Why? Because we see how good and great he is. Our walk with God becomes a lifestyle of trust and faith.

Trust is taking God at his word; it’s the application of faith. This has been my growing reality. I don’t know where my children will attend primary school because of my current work situation so I am trusting God for his perfect plan to unfold. What about my husband, finances, my children becoming world shakers for Jesus?  All of these need me to trust God.

If I don’t trust God and allow his Shalom peace to fill me, I  can easily be overwhelmed with anxiety, fear, and stress. (Read this post on trusting God when life hurts) None of these are from God nor do they reflect his heart for us:

For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

So,

How do I learn to trust God?

A lot of us, including myself, love points or how-to lists. Here are my five tips on growing trust in your walk with God:

#1 Practice trust

In order for us to learn trust, we have to trust. This is really hard (especially if your trust has been broken). We may need to start practicing trust in the small things. As God proves himself faithful, our courage begins to rise along with the faith to trust him a little more.

#2 Get to know God’s heart

Knowing God’s heart is more than going through the Christian motions of reading our Bibles and listening to worship songs or even going to church. While all of those are good and important, if they don’t bring you into an encounter with God, then you might as well read a good novel or watch cable.

When we encounter God, we experience him and his truth. This experience becomes our reality and truth which cannot be taken away from us. They form part of our foundation for trust.

Knowing God’s heart means to experience his love, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, etc. God show me your heart in my situation. God, what do you think of Joe Soap? God, what do I do in this situation?

#3 Examine your heart

I find this one hard. Examining our hearts means pulling out the weeds and confronting our pain. It, in itself, takes trust and vulnerability with God.

I always thought I trusted God; until, someone gave me a prophetic word about learning to trust God. I remember the pain I felt in the truth that I  didn’t really trust God completely. So, I began a journey of trusting God with my most precious treasures (my marriage, children, and dreams).

Along the way, I’ve had to examine my heart for those lies and misconceptions keeping me from trusting him. All this while feeling his arms wrap around me in a reassuring embrace.

Combine this with worship, prayer and reading the Bible and a beautiful transformation takes place.

#4 Journal all the times God has been trustworthy

I never reread my journals ha ha ha ha. I do find that writing the moments God has been kind and faithful and good have helped me to remember the history of trust over the years. Often, I use pictures to capture this memory of how God is faithful. These pictures have often become my phone wallpaper or desktop background.

Get creative in documenting the times in your life God showed you that you can trust him.

 

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