How to Trust God with Your Life When You Don’t Understand His Will
I often hear from readers who are walking through heartbreaking circumstances.
They share that although they have prayed and prayed, God hasn’t moved and it seems as though He may allow the heart-wrenching circumstances they feared.
You may have been there or maybe you’re there now.
You can’t find a job and your savings is down to almost nothing.
Your child is in full-blown rebellion and you don’t know what to do or where to turn.
Your marriage is falling apart and you are losing hope.
Your loved one is ill and the doctors have not been encouraging.
You desperately want a child and month after month the longing grows.
Your legal battle came out of nowhere and you’re overwhelmed.
Your friend rejected you and is turning others against you.
Your knees are raw from the hours you’ve spent crying out to God and you’re starting to wonder if this time, God is saying “no.”
And when we don’t like God’s answer, we want to know . . . why?
As we anxiously cry big ugly tears, the Lord in His mercy tells us He’s at work in us and around us even when we don’t understand.
He promised…
Be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:20b
And we can trust His promise because He surrendered to being forsaken so we would never be.
I try to imagine how Jesus must have felt when He cried out…
“Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me.”
Mark 14:36a
And the Father said, “no.”
How hard that must have been for the Father. He not only said “no” but He could not hold Him through the pain because Jesus was carrying our sin.
God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:21
The Father said “no” to His Son so we could be cleansed of sin and He could say “yes” to us with eternal life in His presence.
Every “no” you and I receive is temporary. So, like Jesus, we can surrender in prayer trusting the Father’s perfect will…
“Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
Mark 14:36b
Even when we don’t understand God’s will we can trust His love.
I’m so thankful we can take it all to Him in prayer…
A Prayer to Trust God’s Love
When We Don’t Understand His Will
Father, You know the longings of my heart. I believe You hear me as I cry out to You in prayer. I believe You love me . . . but I don’t understand this “no.”
I see people who don’t want anything to do with You receive the very thing I desire. And my inner child cries out, “it’s not fair!” The truth is, it’s not fair that Jesus suffered my punishment. It’s not fair that He was forsaken so I would never be. No, it’s not fair!
I am humbled by my perfect Savior’s humble love. It’s hard to imagine the pain and suffering He endured but I can’t begin to imagine what it felt like to willingly carry the burden of sin in His sinless body. I can’t imagine how hard it must have been for You to turn away, Father . . . to not be able to hold Him as He suffered.
I realize now that even when I don’t see the big picture of my forever life; when I don’t understand Your will for me . . . I can trust Your love. I can trust that in love you are working for my eternal good. (Romans 8:28) You will hold me close and give me hard-to-understand peace. (Philippians 4:7) I can trust Your promise to hear my prayer and always bless me with what I need most . . . Your mercy and grace through my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 4:16) In whose name I pray. Amen.
You and I can trust God’s love…
- when life is hard.
- when we don’t understand.
- when His answer is “no.”
- when life’s not fair.
- when __________.
Because of Jesus, we can know for certain that God’s love never fails, it casts out fear . . . it gives peace and strength. His love lasts forever!
As you and I sit at the foot of the cross this week, may we see the love we can trust with our lives today, tomorrow, and always. Because the truth is . . . when God says “no” it always comes from His perfect wisdom and love.
His love never fails!
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Trusting God even when I don’t understand . . .
Blessings, Deb!
That’s the hardest – trusting even when I don’t understand. And in panic want to grab back the wheel. Trusting when I’m certain that I got my prayer confirmed yet my lived one’s sickness remains the same in complete contradiction to the promise.
I have to keep reminding myself both the promise as of Jesus’love to keep the faith…it all will be well….. BECAUSE HE IS THE ONE WHO MADE THE PROMISE.
It is hard, Gaby. When we’ve prayed and prayed and God says “no” or “not now,” the enemy of our souls wants us to doubt His love. I completely agree, it’s focusing on His promises and knowing that He has always kept His past promises . . . so, I will trust Him with the future even when I don’t understand. Blessings!
Oh Deb, this brought me to tears. How hard that must have been for the Father. He not only said “no” but He could not hold Him through the pain because Jesus was carrying our sin.
I couldn’t help going to the times I have felt anger and frustration at not getting what I wanted. Just like a spoiled child. It is hard to remember in times like those that He is working all things for my good and His glory. I pray that I never forget to drop tp my knees and beg His forgiveness that I am but a selfish human. God bless, my sister in Christ.
I can be that spoiled child too, Marilyn. We all want what we want and we want it quickly. I’m learning that God’s wisdom and timing are so much better than my whims and desires. And I know I am forever thankful for His patience and love. Thank you for your encouragement. God bless you!