5 Ways to Be Still and Trust God
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Sometimes in life, things happen that leave us feeling dismayed, fearful, and overwhelmed. Worse than that, some of these same situations we encounter are out of our control. Calamity happens before our very eyes, and despite how much we protest, all we can do is watch. All we can do is experience. All we can do is respond. This happens when we lose a relationship, a job, or a loved one, through no fault of our own. Things happen that we don’t understand, and we’re left to pick up the pieces.
How much evidence do I need to trust?
Sometimes, despite our desire to handle a situation, sometimes God just wants us to rely on Him. In that act of trust, we develop our faith.
Naturally, when bad things happen, we think about them. We question whether situations could have occurred differently, whether bad situations can be undone, and we wonder what to do next for ourselves. Thinking isn’t bad, but we would be wise not to dwell on the negativity. Instead, where we ought to dwell is in prayer, talking to God about our angst. He cares and wants to hear. Not only that, but prayer helps mold us into the image of Christ. We invite God to speak to us and change our hearts.
As you pray and as you stop striving, you should aim for rest. Losing a friendship, a marriage, a loved one, all of that carries weight. The more you care, the greater the pain. You can’t get rid of the pain even if you desire such. Nor can you undo the situation. What you can manage for yourself is resting. Take time to do something fun and relaxing. Don’t think about the sad stuff, but set your mind on something distracting and positive. That includes physical exercise, reading, and other recreational activities.
There's no way to be still and trust God if you have no reason to do so. While you could and should remind yourself of the good things He has done in your life, you should also be mindful of what Scripture says. The issue we face is that when bad things happen, sometimes we forget the good. The solution, then, is to know Scripture because that’s a truth we cannot dispute. The word says that He is good with good plans. We can believe in that.
If you’re not used to being still, don’t be surprised when you struggle to do just that. What’s instead important is to keep trying. When you fail once, try again. After the second time, you try again. God is after our hearts, not perfection.
And thankfully, practice makes perfect.
Today I do a decent job of being still and recognizing God’s goodness, but that has not always been true. I used to question His provision, His protection, and whether He actually had good plans for me. Thankfully, today, I find myself feeling much more secure.
If that’s not where you are, then keep trying. Faith is deepened over time after experiencing life. The good and the bad. What’s important is that you maintain a mindset of wanting to grow. No matter what. God wants to develop you as a person. Let him into every area, and trust Him with everything. No matter how much you doubt, He won’t let you down.
I used to doubt. I used to ask questions. A lot. Still do. But I’ve come to realize just how God He is. I pray that you will too.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Motoki Tonn
