“To trust is to believe in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of something. So, when it comes to trusting God, that means believing in His reliability, His Word, His ability and His strength. The Bible says that God cannot lie. That He always keeps His promises. That He loves you and has good in store for you. Trusting in Him means believing that what He says about Himself, the world, and you are accurate.” – Brittany Yesudasan (extract from article How to Trust God, Even in Difficult Times, on www.cru.org)
Trusting God during difficult times can be incredibly hard. Trusting God in difficult times is possible for any of us.
In Matthew 14, we read of how we should trust upon God in difficult times. How we should react in the midst of a storm.
Matthew 14:22-32 (NLT) Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped.
Jesus insisted that the disciples get back in the boat. Many people, when going through difficult times, always look for reasons to know why they are going through these difficult times. Some feel that it is because they have done something wrong and now are punished for it. Some blame others. They spend so much time analysing the reason for the storm in their life to blame someone or something for it. That is the tactic of Satan. Focusing on the reasons for why we find ourselves in the storm is not going to solve any problem, it is just going to worsen the current situation. We then even doubt the word of God. Remember what happened here in Matthew? Jesus insisted that the disciples get back in the boat. They acted on the word of God. They have been obedient to Jesus. Now they find themselves in a storm. Well, storms are part of life. We will never escape them.
“You’re going to go through tough times – that’s life. But I say, ‘Nothing happens to you, it happens for you.’ See the positive in negative events.” – Joel Osteen
“Problems are not stop signs; they are guidelines.” – Robert Schuller
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
So, why do you think Jesus insisted that the disciples get in the boat? Because He wanted to build their faith, He wanted to show them that He was the God of the storm. He wanted to show them that He would always be with them. He wanted to show them that nothing is impossible for Him.
James 1:2-4 (NLT) Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
I conclude with Psalm 30:5 (ESV) For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.