Trusting God when life is difficult is something we can’t do independently. Some people may have a close relationship with the Lord and cry out immediately with a trusting heart. On the other hand, that may not be true for others. When people hit bottom during difficult times, they finally turn to God.
A friend was a professional athlete until he got involved in drugs. One thing led to another as his life spiraled out of control. One day a drug deal went wrong, and he was left for dead in an abandoned building. During this struggle for life itself, he cried out to God. God heard his prayers and rescued him physically and spiritually.
When we respond to the work of the Holy Spirit and repent of our sins and turn toward God, something unique happens. God, in His mercy, lifts us out of the muck and the mire and places us on solid ground.
The Disciples Struggled with Trust
The opposite of faith or trust in God is fear. In our story, the disciples crossed the Sea of Galilee in the evening. Many of the disciples were fishermen, so they were familiar with sailing at night. That was the best time to fish. Suddenly a storm came up as they tried to make their way to the other side of the lake.
After a long day of teaching, Jesus had fallen asleep in the boat. Mark 4:38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” [1]
The storm was out of control, and the disciples’ fears were out of control, but Jesus was never out of control. The Lord has power over nature, and He listens to the appeals of those who love Him. Just as the Lord listened to the disciples, He also listens to your cries for help.
Sometimes We Struggle with Trust
Jesus called out the disciples for being afraid, which in the context means cowardly fear. While they should have responded with faith, they were afraid. Many times, we are like the disciples. We have God’s word and all that He has done, and yet there are times we struggle to trust Him.
The Lord knows our weakness in His mercy and continually shows His grace, compassion, and kindness as we struggle along our journey. How often has the Lord intervened in your life when you were afraid and needed His strength to move forward? Scripture gives insight into how God lifts us during our weakness. Isaiah 41:10So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.[2]
To hear more about trusting God when life is difficult, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/mark-jesus-calms-the-storm
[1-2] The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1984). Zondervan.