Growing My Trust in God When Life Was Beyond My Control
I remember driving through the mountains with my husband in the middle of a blizzard. Okay, it wasn’t really a blizzard, and I wasn’t really driving, but it sure seemed like a blizzard from where I sat in the passenger seat. It was snowing hard and the wind was blowing it across the mountain road. We couldn’t see more than a foot or two in front of us.
I’d love to tell you that trust for my husband’s driving abilities got me through that experience. Because I do trust him… but I was way past that. Even the world’s best driver couldn’t see where the mountain met the road until it was too late.
As our kids slept in the back seat, I silently cried out to Jesus.
As her kids slept in the back seat, she silently cried out to Jesus. Click To TweetLeaning On God’s Promises
I prayed the entire way through the whiteout condition. And then I praised Jesus the rest of the way down the mountain. On the way up we had talked about how beautiful the snow was, but also how massive the snow banks were. We never considered we might be driving through one of the dangerous snow storms that must have deposited them there.
Taped to the dash of our van, I had Joshua 1:9 written in sloppy handwriting on a faded green note card.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (ESV)
I kept reading that over and over again and praying for strength and courage that I might trust in Jesus to get us down that mountain. That I wouldn’t be frightened, but trust in Him. I tried to recall Job 37, one of my favorite passages about how God controls the weather. I knew He was the one that says to the snow, “Fall on the Earth” (vs 6) and He was in control of the wind (vs 9).
Knowing God is in control always brings me comfort. To know that I can trust in Him. That nothing happens outside of His will.
Growing My Trust In God
While I don’t think of that night often, those verses continue to keep me focused on Jesus when weather or driving conditions spiral out of my control. My husband has a 45-minute commute every morning on a road that is littered with wildlife. I am constantly praying for his safety, while trusting in Jesus to be in control.
I am a pessimist by nature; always assuming the worst. Remembering that God is in control helps me to trust Him regardless of what comes.
When my husband had neck surgery a few years back, I was terrified. They had to go in through the front of his neck, move everything in his throat aside, and replace a vertebra in the back. That just sounded scary to me. Too many things could go wrong, and any of them could be fatal.
Looking back, that was my first experience with anxiety. I have always had social anxiety, but that’s the time that triggered my anxiety disorder. Even though I cried out to Jesus to be strong and courageous no matter what came, I developed a nervous twitch in my eye, nausea, and sleepless nights. But both my husband’s surgery and that night on the mountain helped grow my faith in Jesus.
If life was always easy, I never would have learned to trust God.
If life was always easy, how would we ever learn to trust in God? Click To TweetThe Trials of Life
James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
I still struggle with anxiety, and life is still far from perfect, but through it all I have a semblance of peace. When I slow down to think things through, I know without a shadow of a doubt that I can trust God. That He is in control. I don’t know what you are facing today, but I pray that you can find peace in that as well.
Has God ever used a circumstance beyond your control to help you trust in Him?
We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
There have been too many circumstances to name, but it has been incredible how God has always come through. One for me would have to be finances. The Lord has called us to step out and step up in our giving, and we have had to trust Him, knowing that without Him, we would sink.
God has grown my faith through our finances as well. Whenever we don’t see a way to finance a need, He always comes through with a way we never would have thought of.
We have to God trust at all times and his praise should continually be in our mouths. His promises are “YES & AMEN!” The Lord wants us to step out of our comfort zones and allow him to blow our minds with the things he will do in our lives.
Learning to trust God takes time, though. It’s not something we naturally do.
Thank you
Honestly I don’t know what I would do without Jesus in times of danger. Thank goodness He is there to comfort us and give us courage.
Right?! I am right there with you, Alice. I don’t know how people live without Jesus.
Heather- that sounds so scary! Bad weather and driving is a huge source of anxiety!
Last winter I had anxiety-induced insomnia. I didn’t sleep for 2 nights and couldn’t even fall asleep, I had been through this one time before. I knew God would help me through it and He did. I’ve learned so much about trust and faith in my most anxious moments!
That sounds horrible, Julie! So glad God helped you through it.
My husband has a nervous twitch as well, he has it as long as he can remember. He looks at it as an outlet for stress rather than letting the stress out on other people. He would rather shake his head twitching than to take it out on other people. He goes to God’s word and grows closer to me and takes it day by day. I can personally cant relate to your story I have anxiety and worry the worst and catch myself often overthinking way too much. It’s in these times I go to the Lord immediately in prayer and start reading my bible. It drives me closer to Him and makes me realize that I can’t do or handle it on my own. I need my Saviour.
Oh Stephanie, while these moments have helped me grow my trust in God, I still struggle with anxiety and worry. I’m no where near perfect, and I definitely need me Savior.
I was just discussing this with my daughter last night – sometimes we go through things because we can. We can be the change. We can be the testimony.
Amen! I keep reminding myself that testimonies aren’t built from good times.
The Lord definitely wants us to lean into Him when we are overcome by fear. I appreciate that you shared you prayed all the way up the mountain. I think being honest about where we are with God is super important. He sees our hearts and know we are clinging to him.
So true!
Absolutely true.. if like was so easy we would never be able to trust to God and see what He can do for us when all we do is keep trusting.
Amen!
I love the ability to look back at past situations and see how God orchestrated events to bring glory to Him and use me. Being reminding of those past times helps me to stay trusting and faithful during present trials.
Amen!
What a wonderful reminder of trusting God in every aspect of our lives. Nice post, Heather.
Thanks, Debbie!
Heather, I have been in those snow storms, and they are scary. I remember one night seeing quite a few cars off the side of the road while I made my way home. (No, I didn’t just drive by they had help.) Yes, God is in control, and we must remember that at all times.
Like you I have grown to trust God through all things. If life were easy I know, I would never have developed my trust and faith in him. I thought I was close to God but had no idea the depth of a relationship I could have. When my children became will with mental illness I knew I couldn’t do it alone. God became my very best friend.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful post on Grace and Truth. I look forward to reading more posts from you. I am sharing on Tailwind.
“I thought I was close to God but had no idea the depth of a relationship I could have.” I can so relate to that statement, Maree Dee! I love that God is always drawing us closer to Him. Thanks for stopping in.