All of us want stability. To know that our basic needs will be met daily: food, water, a place to live, etc, etc. But in these uncertain times, it can be super easy to fall into the fear trap.
But God doesn’t want us to live in fear, He wants us to live lives where we trust Him daily. But I know how hard that can be, so in this post I’ll detail some practical ways to trust God in uncertain times.
1. Know Who God is
When you really take the time to study the scriptures, it’ll become abundantly clear who God is: a loving, strong, resourceful father who desires to care for His children.
He says he has good plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11)
He says the righteous will never be forsaken nor beg for food (Psalm 37:25)
He tells us not to worry (Matthew 6:25)
He even know the number of hairs on your head (Luke 12:7)!
God cares about every little detail about our lives because He is our loving heavenly Father. No father would willfully allow His children to suffer needlessly.
Many times in the scriptures God promises He will take care of His children. Here are some good ones:
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you,” (1 Peter 5:7)
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful” (Colossians 3:15)
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothes?” (Matthew 6:25).
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
“I have been young, and now am old; Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his seed begging bread.” (Psalm 37:25).
He always keeps His promises. So take the time to study about God’s character: he is very faithful and won’t ever abandon you.
2. Control What You Can
In these uncertain times, its easy to worry and harder to actually do something about your fears. Are you afraid you won’t be able to provide for your family?
Find ways to make money. Start a YouTube channel, start a notary business, sell items on Etsy or amazon, or start a blog. The possibilities are endless with side hustles.
Are you afraid your health will be compromised? Do what you can to strengthen your body and immune system.
Do what you can to counter your fear. If you’re trusting in the Lord, and placing your life in his hands, He’ll allow your plans to succeed (Proverbs 16:3).
Do your part, and God will take care of the rest. Like the old adage goes: “God helps those who help themselves.”
3. Get Your Hands Off the Wheel
Allow God to do what He wants to do in your life. Are you forcing something to happen that clearly isn’t God’s will?
Are you ignoring what God has explicitly say to do? Are you praying about things but still worrying about it?
Stop that! Let me do some math for you:
Worry + Prayer does not = answered prayer
Faith + Prayer = answered prayer
God doesn’t want us worrying over things. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid,” (John 14:27).
I know how hard it is to trust God for something when there is pressure on you to have an answer. We often want quick answers to our problems, but God likes to take His time sometimes.
But trust His plans are always on time. I remember as a child my family and I were going to be evicted from our home. The rental office worker was only two doors down from our home when we were finally able to get the rent money. Talk about an on-time God!
Pray over situations and wash your hands of it, allowing God to do His thing. Now sometimes we won’t like His solutions, but they will be what’s best for us.
4. Stay Away From the Noise
Sometimes you need a break from the world. From the news, social media, YouTube. Those things can rally cloud your mind, and make you forget who God is and who you are.
I had to step away from social media for a little bit myself because I noticed when I was viewing it daily, seeing all the brokenness, atrocities, and injustices in the world got me feeling hopeless about my own future.
Now, I’m not saying to not be informed; but for me it is important to limit myself from social media and other sources. According to the Center for Mental Health in UK, social media is strongly linked to anxiety and depression.
We live in uncertain times. Although these times make it easy to be fearful, we can use these times as an exercise of faith. Trusting God daily for our provisions, dreams, goals, and futures.
This coming from a woman who used to find it easy to agonize over small things and worry all the time (I’ve gotten a lot better!). But eventually I learned that everything that happens in my life, God is in control over.
Besides, this world isn’t our home anyway-were just passing through. As the world continues to spiral into madness, this fact becomes more clear every day And faith in Christ becomes more necessary.
If you’re struggling to trust Him, like the man whose son was possessed of a devil ask, the Lord to “help your unbelief” (Mark 9:24). He knows our frame, that were humans who struggle to see our lives through the eyes of faith instead of worry, but the sooner we live lives of faith, the less afraid we’ll be.
Blessings,
M/M
The Mustard Seed Wife 