Trusting God ....

Got into a discussion with a friend about trusting God and some of the ways that concept can go off track: from the laid back don't worry about doing the work because God will take care of it attitude, to people who take disproportionate risks because they trust God won't let anything bad happen, to those who live off the generosity of other people aren't particularly wise or frugal about how they spend their money.

The one discussion I rarely hear though is about what does it look like to trust God when things are going well and he has supplied the need in that area, so let's have that one. I know the one thing I have experienced lately in relation to things I want is that trusting in God looks a lot like not falling prey to the fear of missing out. But how about the rest of you:

What does it look like to trust God's provision when he's given you a job with a salary that provides enough money to meet your needs?

What does it look like to trust God with your heart and relationships when you've found and married your special someone?

What does it look like to trust God to sustain you and keep you going when you have no health problems?

What does faith look like in the midst of abundance, or is it something you only need when you feel a need?

Trust in God is doing what He says when you don't see a reason to.

Story time!

Once upon a time I wanted to buy a set of four lapel microphones. The puppet team needed them, because it's hard to hold a mic and operate a puppet at the same time. I found a set of four mics with one receiver. Price was great, everything looked good, but I felt a check in my heart to not get them. Strange...

About half a year later I went back and looked at that product on amazon and found a LOT of bad reviews. Well, glad I dodged that bullet.

Another time I wanted to buy a wireless mic. (I'm an audio nerd... don't judge me!) The price was right, the brand was one I was familiar with and it had good reviews. I had the product in the amazon cart, ready to hit the final buy button. But again, I felt something telling me to not buy it. Oh well...

The very next day on the job they told us we were being laid off. This was in late 2008 when the economy was busy going down the drain, and it took a few months to find another job. Suddenly that seemingly inconsequential amount of money I would have spent on a wireless mic became very important to me.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not perfect, and though I know God's voice by now I still sometimes ignore it when I want to do something bad enough. But I'm learning.

This is just a guess, but it might look like this....

Great questions to ponder @cinder

I want to consider this a little more thoroughly before answering, but one thing that comes to mind immediately is "gratefulness".

If our needs in the moment have all been met, then we should be ever thankful and grateful to Him because of it, knowing too that such times of blessing are normally fleeting moments in our lives, or at best, a fleeting season (and that for our good, I think .. Hebrews 12:7-11).

Or perhaps we should be worried? .. Hebrews 12:8

I think that we should also be encouraged to do all that we can during such times to be helpful, gracious, giving (and in any other ways that we can be) to others who are not so blessed.

~Deut

I think the more difficult thing is to Trust God in times of plenty, than to trust and rest in Him in the lean times.

I say this because when the only hope you have is Christ, then leaning on Him is rest for the weary..

But when you have much, it's easier to forget about God and His work in your life..

It's easier to take the credit for your good choices and hard work, than it is to acknowledge that none of that was yourself.. it was all God.

It's easier to turn on the news and eat your nice breakfast, than it is to go in the quiet and spend some time with Him..

sometimes you don't even think about Him, because the world is a distraction.

So in times of plenty, pray as if your life depends on it, just like the poor man does. Give credit for all your blessings to Him whenever people try and compliment you, even when it seems embarrassing to do so. And give some from your extra to those less fortunate if you can..

Being wealthy isnt a sin, but how you steward that is something you want to make certain is within God's will..

Hi again @cinder, I also think that this thought/admonishment of Dr. Ferguson's is an important one for us to remember and live by, both in times of want, but especially in times of plenty (so that we do not become complacent in our walk and turn our attention away from Him and back onto the world instead).


I think that this can be a difficult thing for us to do, particularly in times of great blessing.

~Deut

Hmmmmm, I reckon it would be harder to work on trusting Him in seasons of abundance and especially if is in every way.

Unless maybe those things came after depleted seasons.

I suppose that is why it is hard for a rich man...

I guess maybe it would help staying humble by staying connected and invested in the communuity, with those in need,

Like if you dont struggle to have enough to eat, you probably take eating for granted. If you serve in a foodbank, where people are not so blessed, you can see just how important it is to remember we all need to trust Him.

I guess everyone, no matter their priviledge, status or health have things that are not ideal, something that keeps them humble and dependent on His sufficiency.

Life comes with hardship....

If not, just wait...Age and loss are the great equalizers.

What great questions, Cinder!!

When I think about trusting God in the good/easy times, I think about still relying on Him and seeking Him out. Just because we aren't in need or want doesn't mean He doesn't want us to seek Him for direction. We can show our trust, by checking ourselves with Him: Praying and asking, is this where you'd have me be? What would you like me to do for you today, Lord? How can I glorify you more?

I also think we show our trust/faith in Him by living our days for the Lord. We take time to recognize that we have what we have because of Him. We don't let our pride get in the way because that's when issues start to pop up.

Hi Cinder,
Good question!
I'll start by saying that a couple of years ago I had a circumstance where I was trying to trust God about (meaning I wanted an answer to this and how do I get it) so one day I asked an older man at church. I asked "How do you trust God?" His reply, and this is not word for word but should be close, "Read the bible and look for God's promises and put your trust in them."
I was annoyed...at first. I wanted him to engage me and ask questions and give guidance. As time went on and I thought about what he said and how it applied to that circumstance I realized there was no promise in the bible that I would get it.

Interestingly enough I have a job with a good salary and it pays above my expenses and there is a retirement plan etc. But I have found that in the last couple of years I am becoming restless. God provided that job for me and I am there for a reason actually I would say multiple reasons.
1. Provide for my family and pay bills.
2. Be a light to those around me by the way I work and also through the relationships I have there. ( I would venture to say that I mess this up a lot.)
3. To give back to God in tithe. Also since God has blessed me in this I am able to support various ministries that I have a heart for. And as I have an interest in some of these I want to get involved also.
4. Plan for the future. I do not want to stay in this position for too long. For me it is stressful. But while I'm here I will be working on getting out of debt, including my mortgage, so that I can take a job where there is less stress and more time to get involved in some of those ministries.
God may change my path at any time.

As far as you second question. Marriage is not easy. Both husband and wife need to be looking to God always (which doesn't happen, we get distracted by so many things) if things are going to work. If I would have known what was going to happen in my marriage before hand, I would have ran. But God gives us the grace to go through things even if our faith is very weak. He sustains us. But I have learned much from it all. If I get the opportunity to marry again, I know it will have problems. Two sinners together is just asking for trouble but it's not impossible or even bad. It will take prayer, commitment, compromise and work.
I also realize that marriage is not a promise in the bible. I may very well never marry again. So I am planning on doing things expecting that not to happen. But if it does....

Health...hmmm. My thoughts would be that as to the rest of the things you asked, we need to be good stewards. Finances, the way we live, the things we say, the things we do, how we live, what we eat, choices we make....What are we able to do that needs done? It's not that different from finances really.
In the last year or so I have been having this growing desire to go sky diving. But sense tells me I shouldn't since I have 5 children to look after. Ya know, just in case the parachute fails to open, or in my excitement I forget to put it on!

Regardless of where we are at in our life circumstances, we need to have an eternal view of who we are in Christ. We need to realize that all that we have is given to us by God and he entrusts us with it for a short time. We need to expect that we will face hardship because of our faith, being uncomfortable, mocked, ridiculed, persecuted. I would say that the bible promises us that we will have this because of our faith. If we think that we are not going to have these things I think we are believing a lie. We will fail and fall in these things till the day we die but we need to persevere. There is forgiveness and we need it daily.
Also, God disciplines those he loves. Discipline is not fun.

If God is for us, who can be against us?
Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.

Sorry for the length. I could have kept going.

I had to scroll through all of the threads to find the appropriate place to share this. This is about as perfect as it gets.

Trusting God. Trusting him to guide my path and lead me as his sheep where his will I should go. Trusting God even when there is pain , sadness and doubt.

My heart has been so broken. Hardly a day I haven’t cried or thought about “ him “. Him being the man I was positive I would marry. I haven’t seen him or spoken in nine months. Many of you are so wonderful with words. I wish I could share with you what’s in my heart and have you type it out for me. I was so deeply in love. I still love this wonderful man. He just wasn’t Gods path for me. I’ve had a horrible time accepting that. My fault because I’ve put up road blocks and not trusted fully in God. I finally confided in a couple trusted leaders from my church. They are right that I’ve lost precious time that I could have been praising and trusting in God. Not discounting that I was in love and it didn’t work out but not allowing this situation to rob me of the Glory that God has intended for me. We have been fearfully and wonderfully made. God has such great plans for me but I’ve pushed him aside and dwelt on my sadness. You and I where meant to thrive. I’m letting go. When those thoughts and feelings try to bring me self doubt I grab my Bible and read of Christ great love for you and I. I ask you all to be in prayer for me as I simply trust GOD. God bless each and every one of you 🙏