The Process of Learning to Trust God

Several years ago we were at the beginning of a long walk through health-related issues with a loved one. It was recommended that we visit the Mayo Clinic, so we made the appointment and waited three months until the scheduled date. In the meantime, I worked with the insurance company to request the necessary pre-approval.

When I finally received the letter, I was disappointed to read that our request had been denied. Disappointed isn’t the right word. My immediate physical reaction, without being able to control it, was panic—stomach in knots, hands shaking, light-headedness—panic.

God Always Has A Plan

While my body took longer to settle down, my mind knew immediately to turn to God. I prayed and told myself we had time, but more importantly, God had a plan. I consciously reminded myself of what I knew to be true—God had this under control. I didn’t know how and it didn’t matter. The more I prayed, the calmer I felt and that sense of peace stayed with me.

And then one day, in a conversation, I caught myself saying, “I really hope I’m not wrong, but I have a feeling God has this under control.”

Even while I was in the middle of the conversation, it troubled me… I really hope I’m not wrong?!?

She knew God had a plan, and had everything under control… so why did she still doubt? Click To Tweet

So Why Did I Doubt?

Where was the confidence I’d had? Why was doubt creeping in if I really believed?

I felt the peace I’d had when I prayed and trusted God with the situation slip away when I expressed doubt.

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

James 1:6 ESV

The conversation weighed on me for days. Was I trying to protect myself from looking silly if God didn’t come through the way I wanted Him to?

I didn’t like this realization at all. I knew I believed—I felt it—therefore, there was no room for doubt. And from then on, I determined, I would act like it.

I Was Learning To Trust God

Now, as I look back, I realize this incident was part of my learning-to-trust-God process. I knew to turn to God when I felt the panic overtake my body, but I found myself slipping back into a habit of doubt I didn’t want to continue.

Maybe it doesn’t seem right to say learning to trust God is a process, but when I look back over the years, I can see where I struggled and where there was growth. I recognize things I used to worry about that I now give to God much more freely.

And on those difficult days when I don’t feel like I’m making any progress, there are three things I try to remember.

3 Reminders for When You’re Learning to Trust God

1.) Make The Choice to Trust Him.

Choosing to trust Him isn’t a one-time decision that covers all circumstances, but a conscious choice every day to trust Him no matter what comes our way. The choice might even be hour-by-hour or minute-by-minute on those really hard days.

Looking back at where God has worked in our lives keeps us moving forward through the next situation or the next storm in life because we can trust that God will continue to work, even during the times we struggle to see it.

2.) Hand Your Doubt and Questions Over to God.

It would be great if we could do this once and be done with it, but in reality, doubt can slip in anytime, especially when we’re facing something new and unfamiliar. When we can’t see a solution, it’s easy to question if there is one.

God knows this and He can handle our questions, our doubt, and our frustration. It’s when we take it all to Him that we’ll feel the peace only He can give.

3.) Don’t Get Discouraged.

I knew I trusted God and then I found myself expressing doubt to others. It could have felt like a discouraging failure on my part, but instead, I let the realization become another step forward.

Doubt is sneaky, but when we’re aware of it, we can better put a stop to it before it takes control.

God doesn’t expect us to get it perfect. He asks that we keep coming to Him and let Him give us the strength to trust Him when nothing in life makes sense.

If the process for you feels like one step forward, two steps back, don’t give up. Eventually the steps backward get smaller and each step forward becomes a building block for the next step.

In time, you won’t feel like you’re losing ground; you’ll see the great strides you’re making in a trusting relationship with God.

3 Reminders for when you're learning to trust in God… Click To Tweet