Struggling to trust God is an experience you may have encountered. Throughout the Bible, God provides examples of individuals who grappled with trusting Him, including Abraham. This does not diminish their struggles but illustrates how much we depend on God’s strength to trust Him. In many ways, life is a test, and when we fail, it is often a time when God teaches us lessons that can transform our lives. Corinthians 5:7For we live by believing and not by seeing.[1]
Abraham was a great man of faith, but he, too, struggled at times to trust God. After the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham moved to Gerar, where he encountered King Abimelech. Distrusting God’s protection, Abraham resorted to his sinful lie by telling Abimelech that Sarah was his sister, which resulted in him taking her into his household. However, before Abimelech could sleep with Sarah, God came to him in a dream, instructing him to return her to her husband.
God is our Foundation of Trust
Genesis 20:9 Then Abimelech called for Abraham. “What have you done to us?” he demanded. “What crime have I committed that deserves treatment like this, making me and my kingdom guilty of this great sin? No one should ever do what you have done! 10 Whatever possessed you to do such a thing?” 11 Abraham replied, “I thought, ‘This is a godless place. They will want my wife and will kill me to get her.’ [2]
Abraham’s failure was not a result of a lack of knowledge about God but rather a failure to apply that knowledge to his circumstances. We can do the same thing. Trusting God is believing He is good, even when circumstances are unfavorable. Faith drives this trust. Hebrews 11:1Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.[3] By embracing faith, we choose to trust God’s Word instead of our anxieties, believing that He orchestrates events even in situations that may cause us fear.
God is at Work in Us
Trusting God is a process of His work in us, not a matter of sheer willpower, but rather yielding to the Holy Spirit’s transformative power. Spending time with God’s Word, praying, and reflecting on His faithfulness strengthens our trust in Him.
Even in Abraham’s deception, God intervened, protecting Sarah and rebuking Abimelech, showing that our faltering trust doesn’t affect His faithfulness. He works through our imperfections, drawing us closer to Him. The struggle to trust isn’t the end but an opportunity for God to refine us, reveal His commitment, and deepen our reliance on Him. When we are struggling to trust God, we need to surrender our fears to Him. Then we realize true security lies not in our control but in the unfailing love and power of our trustworthy God. To learn more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/when-fear-leads-to-deceit
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.