Trusting God

Trusting God

Intro

Trusting God is one of the most important aspects of our faith.

It's easy to say that we trust God, but when we're faced with challenges and difficulties in life, our trust can waver.

However, when we truly trust in God, we can find peace, strength, and hope in the midst of any circumstance. Today, I want to share with you 3 things on how we can trust God more fully in our lives.

Trusting God's Character

The first point is to trust in God's character.

God is faithful, loving, and just. He is always good, and He has a plan for our lives.

When we trust in God's character, we can have confidence that He will always be with us, and that He will guide us in the right direction.

We can look to His Word for reassurance, and we can pray and ask Him for wisdom and discernment.

When we have a firm foundation in the character of God, we can trust Him more fully in every aspect of our lives.

Illustration 1: Imagine a boat floating in the ocean. The waves are high and the winds are strong. The boat is being tossed around, but it's still afloat. The boat represents our lives, and the waves and winds represent the challenges and difficulties that we face. When we trust in God's character, it's like we have an anchor that keeps us steady in the midst of the storm. We may be tossed around, but we won't sink because we're anchored in God's love and faithfulness.

Trusting in God's character is crucial to building a strong foundation of faith.

Here are some Bible verses that speak to the character of God:

Psalm 145:8–9 (NIV)

8 The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.

9 The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.

James 1:17 (NIV)

17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

One example of someone who trusted in God's character in the Bible is Job.

Job was a man who faced immense suffering and loss, yet he never lost his faith in God.

Despite his difficult circumstances, Job declared,

Job 1:21 (NIV)

21 and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”

Job trusted in God's character, even when he didn't understand why he was experiencing so much pain.

Another example is King David. In Psalm 23, David wrote,

Psalm 23:1–3 (NIV)

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

David trusted in God's provision and care, even in the midst of difficult circumstances.

When we trust in God's character, we can have confidence in His love, faithfulness, and goodness, even when our circumstances are challenging.

We can look to the examples of Job, David, and many others in the Bible who trusted in God's character, and find strength and encouragement in our own journey of faith.

Trusting God's Timing

The second point is to trust in God's timing.

God's timing is perfect, even if it doesn't always seem that way to us.

"God is always on time, but we are often in a hurry." - Rick Warren

Sometimes, we want things to happen right away, but God knows what's best for us, and He knows when the time is right.

When we trust in God's timing, we can have patience and perseverance in the midst of waiting.

We can have faith that God is working behind the scenes, and that He will bring about the best possible outcome.

"God is never late, but He also is rarely early. He works in His timing, and we must learn to trust Him in that." - Charles Stanley

Illustration 2: Imagine a caterpillar in a cocoon. The caterpillar represents us, and the cocoon represents a difficult season in our lives. It may seem like nothing is happening, but in reality, the caterpillar is being transformed into a beautiful butterfly. When we trust in God's timing, we can have faith that He is working in us and through us, even if we can't see it right away. We can trust that He will bring about a beautiful transformation in our lives.

Trusting in God's timing can be difficult, especially when we are facing challenging situations or waiting for answers to our prayers. However, the Bible assures us that God's timing is perfect, and that He works all things for our good Here are some Bible verses that speak to God's timing:

Romans 8:28 (NIV)

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV)

1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

One example of someone who experienced God's timing in the Bible is Joseph.

Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, and later falsely accused and imprisoned.

However, God had a plan for Joseph's life, and eventually he was elevated to a position of great authority in Egypt. When Joseph's brothers came to him seeking help during a famine, Joseph declared,

Genesis 50:20

20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

Joseph trusted in God's timing and plan, even when he couldn't see how his difficult circumstances would work out for good.

Another example is Mary and Martha, who were sisters of Lazarus.

When Lazarus became ill, Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus, hoping that He would come and heal him.

However, Jesus waited two days before going to see Lazarus.

When Jesus arrived, Lazarus had already been dead for four days.

Martha questioned Jesus, saying...

John 11:21 (NIV)

21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.

However, Jesus used this opportunity to demonstrate His power and glory, and raised Lazarus from the dead.

Mary and Martha had to trust in God's timing, even when it didn't make sense to them.

In our own lives, we may not always understand why God's timing is different from our own.

However, we can trust that He has a plan for our lives, and that He is working all things together for our good.

We can look to the examples of Joseph, Mary and Martha, and others in the Bible who experienced God's timing, and find hope and encouragement in our own journey of faith.

Trusting God's Plan

The third point is to trust in God's plan.

God has a plan for our lives, and it's a good plan.

Even if we don't always understand it, we can trust that His plan is for our ultimate good and His glory.

When we trust in God's plan, we can have peace and contentment, even when things don't go the way we want them to.

We can trust that He is leading us in the right direction, and that He will never leave us or forsake us.

Illustration 3: Imagine a GPS system in a car. The GPS represents God's plan for our lives. It knows the best route to take, even if we don't. Sometimes, we may take a wrong turn, but the GPS will always recalculate and get us back on track. When we trust in God's plan, we can have confidence that He is leading us in the right direction, and that even if we take a wrong turn, He will always guide us back to where we need to be.

God has a plan for each of our lives, and it is up to us to seek His will and follow His leading.

Here are some Bible verses that speak to God's plan for us:

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV)

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Romans 8:28 (NIV)

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

One example of someone who experienced God's plan in the Bible is Esther.

Esther was a Jewish woman who was chosen to be the queen of Persia.

When the wicked Haman plotted to destroy all the Jews in Persia, Esther's cousin Mordecai urged her to use her position to intercede with the king.

Esther initially hesitated, but eventually she trusted in God's plan and said, "And if I perish, I perish" Esther 4:16 Esther's courage and obedience to God's plan saved her people from destruction.

Esther 4:16 (NIV)

16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

Another example is the Apostle Paul.

Paul was a zealous persecutor of Christians until he had a dramatic encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. After his conversion, Paul spent the rest of his life preaching the Gospel and planting churches throughout the Mediterranean world. Paul wrote...

Romans 8:38–39 (NIV)

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,

39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul trusted in God's plan for his life, even when it meant facing persecution and suffering.

In our own lives, we may not always know what God's plan is for us, but we can trust that He has a purpose and a plan for each of us.

We can look to the examples of Esther, Paul, and others in the Bible who trusted in God's plan, and find inspiration and encouragement in our own journey of faith.

Conclusion

In conclusion, trusting God is not always easy, but it's essential to our faith. When we trust

Trusting in God's timing, plan, and character is an essential aspect of the Christian faith.

While it can be challenging to wait on God or to trust in His plan when we don't understand it fully, we can rest assured that He is always working for our good.

The Bible reminds us that God's ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. Therefore, we must trust Him even when we don't understand or when things don't go as we planned.

Throughout the Bible, we see examples of individuals who trusted in God's timing, plan, and character. Abraham waited for years for the promised son, Joseph trusted in God's plan even as he was sold into slavery, and David trusted in God's character even as he faced many challenges.

These individuals recognized that God's timing and plan were perfect, even when it seemed difficult or impossible.

As we commit our lives to God, we can trust in His timing and plan, knowing that He is always faithful and will never leave us or forsake us.

We can take comfort in the words of the Psalmist who said, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6).

May we always seek to trust in God's timing, plan, and character as we journey through life with Him.

Lets pray

“Dear Heavenly Father,

I come before you today to commit my life to you and to trust in your timing and plan for my life. I acknowledge that you are the Creator of the universe and that you have a purpose for my life. I recognize that I cannot do anything without you and that I need to seek your guidance and wisdom in all that I do.

Father, I confess that at times I have been impatient and frustrated with your timing. I have struggled to understand why certain things have happened in my life and have questioned your plan for me. But I know that your ways are higher than my ways and that you have a plan for my life that is good and perfect.

I commit to trust in your timing, even when it doesn't make sense to me. I trust that you are working all things together for my good, and that you have a plan for my life that is greater than anything I could imagine.

Father, I also commit to trust in your plan for my life. Help me to seek your will and to follow your leading, even when it is difficult. Give me the strength and courage to obey you and to step out in faith, knowing that you are with me every step of the way.

Thank you for your love, your mercy, and your grace. Help me to live each day for you and to trust in your timing and plan for my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.”

"God's plan is always the best plan, even if it doesn't make sense to us at the time." - Tony Evans

"God is not just in the big things; He's in the small things, too. He cares about every detail of our lives." - Joyce Meyer

"God's character is unchanging and faithful. We can trust Him completely." - John MacArthur

"God knows what we need even before we ask Him. His timing is perfect and His plan is good." - Beth Moore

"God's plan for our lives is not just about us; it's about others too. We are called to be a blessing to those around us." - Joel Osteen

"God is not limited by our circumstances. He can work in and through anything to bring about His plan for our lives." - Charles Swindoll

"God's timing is not our timing, but it is always perfect." - Max Lucado