Trusting God When Life Doesn’t Make Sense (2024)

Embracing Faith When Life Feels Uncertain

Life is full of unexpected twists and turns. Sometimes things don’t go according to plan, and you may find yourself asking, “Why is this happening?” or “What is God doing?” When circ*mstances are confusing and the future seems unclear, trusting God can feel challenging. Yet, as believers, we are called to lean into faith, even when life doesn’t make sense.

Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” While we may not always understand God’s plan, we can trust that He is faithful and will guide us through difficult seasons.

In this post, we’ll explore biblical principles that can help you trust God when life doesn’t make sense and provide practical steps for walking in faith during challenging times.

1. Lean Not on Your Own Understanding: Accepting God’s Sovereignty

One of the first steps in trusting God is recognizing that our understanding is limited. Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways… As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Sometimes, life’s difficulties don’t have easy explanations, but that’s where faith comes in.

Practical Ways to Embrace God’s Sovereignty:

• Acknowledge Your Limits: Admit that you won’t always understand why certain things happen, but trust that God is in control.
• Pray for Peace: Instead of seeking answers, ask God for peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7).
• Reflect on God’s Past Faithfulness: Remind yourself of times when God has shown His faithfulness in your life. Use these memories as encouragement to trust Him now.

When we accept that God’s perspective is infinitely greater than ours, it becomes easier to trust His will, even when life is confusing.

2. Trusting God’s Timing: Embracing Patience in Seasons of Waiting

One of the hardest aspects of life is waiting. Waiting for answers, for healing, for breakthrough. But God’s timing is perfect. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time.”

Learning to trust God’s timing is an essential part of walking in faith when life doesn’t make sense.

How to Trust God’s Timing:

• Be Still and Know: Psalm 46:10 reminds us to “Be still, and know that I am God.” Spend time in quiet prayer and meditation, surrendering your impatience to God.
• Focus on Growth: Trust that waiting seasons are opportunities for spiritual growth. Ask God what He is teaching you during this time.
• Stay Active in Faith: Waiting doesn’t mean being passive. Continue to serve, pray, and grow in your faith while trusting that God will move at the right time.

Trusting God’s timing frees you from the pressure of having to figure everything out. It allows you to rest in the assurance that God’s plans will unfold in His perfect way.

3. Remember That God’s Ways Are Good: Holding Onto Hope in Trials

When life doesn’t make sense, it can be easy to doubt God’s goodness. However, scripture assures us that God’s ways are always good, even when we can’t see it. Romans 8:28 reminds us that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

How to Hold Onto God’s Goodness:

• Cling to God’s Promises: Read and meditate on Bible verses that affirm God’s goodness, such as Psalm 145:9, “The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.”
• Surround Yourself with Encouragement: Spend time with fellow believers who can speak life and hope into your situation.
• Declare God’s Goodness: Even when you don’t feel it, declare God’s goodness over your life. Speak words of faith, trusting that He is working behind the scenes.

Holding onto hope in trials keeps you grounded in the truth that God’s nature is good, and He is always working for your benefit.

4. Surrender Control: Trusting God’s Plan Over Your Own

One of the most difficult things to do is to let go of control. We often try to manage our lives based on our own plans and desires, but trusting God means surrendering those plans to Him. Jeremiah 29:11 assures us, “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.”

Practical Ways to Surrender Control:

• Pray for Guidance: Instead of asking God to fulfill your plans, ask Him to reveal His plans for you.
• Release Your Worries: 1 Peter 5:7 encourages us to “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Give God your worries and trust Him to carry them.
• Live Open-Handedly: Approach life with open hands, willing to let go of what you think is best in exchange for God’s better plan.

Surrendering control allows God to lead you into His divine purpose for your life, which is greater than anything you could imagine for yourself.

5. Walk by Faith, Not by Sight: Trusting in What You Cannot See

2 Corinthians 5:7 tells us, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” When life doesn’t make sense, walking by faith requires trusting in God’s promises, even when the evidence around you doesn’t seem to support it.

How to Walk by Faith:

• Stay Rooted in Scripture: The Bible is filled with stories of people who trusted God despite difficult circ*mstances. Let their faith inspire you to keep trusting.
• Take Small Steps of Faith: Even when you can’t see the full picture, take small steps in faith, trusting that God will direct your path.
• Speak Words of Faith: Affirm God’s promises daily, speaking them aloud as a reminder that your faith is in God, not in what you see.

Walking by faith strengthens your relationship with God, teaching you to rely on Him fully, even in the most uncertain moments.

6. Trust That God Is Working Behind the Scenes: Finding Peace in His Presence

Even when life is chaotic, God is working behind the scenes for your good. He is a master at bringing beauty out of ashes and making a way where there seems to be no way.

How to Find Peace in God’s Presence:

• Spend Time in Worship: Worship shifts your focus from your problems to God’s power. It helps you remember that He is in control.
• Rest in God’s Promises: Psalm 34:17 says, “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.” Trust that God is working, even when you can’t see it.
• Journal Your Journey: Write down moments where you’ve seen God’s faithfulness. When life feels uncertain, read over those moments to remind yourself that God is always at work.

Trusting that God is working behind the scenes enables you to find peace, even in the midst of uncertainty. You may not see the full picture now, but God is weaving together a beautiful plan for your life.

Conclusion: Trust God, Even When It Doesn’t Make Sense

Trusting God when life doesn’t make sense is an act of faith that requires surrender, patience, and a deep belief in God’s goodness. While it may not be easy, leaning on His promises, embracing His timing, and surrendering control will lead you to a place of peace and trust.

Remember, God’s ways are higher than ours, and He is always working for your good. When you trust Him with your life, you will experience the beauty of His faithfulness, even in the most confusing seasons.

Call to Action:

Are you struggling to trust God in a difficult season? Begin today by surrendering your worries to Him and meditating on His promises. Share this post with someone who needs encouragement in their faith journey, and let’s walk in trust together, knowing that God’s plans are always good.