When times are hard and no answers are ready, we are given the opportunity to grow our faith and become more like Jesus by trusting God to manage our trial. He warns us in His word that we will go through hard times. But, God offers us hope in that when the difficulties come, He will be with us. That’s the When and Will of trust.
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“My heart is breaking for you,” came the compassionate words of a friend as she held my hand while my shoulders heaved and sobs caught in my throat.
I found myself in circumstances that I could never have predicted nor imagined. In fact, I had tried to obey all the rules, do everything right, and tell the truth, yet it didn’t serve to make me immune from trial or heartache. Quite the contrary, I came to realize that many don’t value the truth.
It felt like the walls were crushing me on every side, with no end in sight. The pain and agony lingered and the longer it lasted, the harder I had to fight to maintain my hope. My very beliefs were being tested. Would I trust my feelings…the very feelings that threatened to hold me in the pit of doubt and despair, or would I stand and trust in God’s truth even when I did not understand?
When my physical and emotional pain were at their peak, I wasn’t sure I could make it. I knew I couldn’t make it alone, nor did I want to. When there seemed no human solution to the dire circumstances, helplessness threatened to engulf me. Surely there must be something I could do?
Trusting God to manage our trial
There was, but at the time, I gave it too little credence: Trust. When times are hard and no answers are ready, we are given the opportunity to grow our faith and become more like Jesus by trusting God to manage our trial.
“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you” (Isaiah 43:2)
The “When” and “Will” of Trust
“When” and “Will” are two sure words…words that both signify and necessitate trust. They leave no room for doubt or debate.
- God very clearly warns through His word that we will go through times that threaten to drown us, but we are equally assured that WHEN that happens, God WILL be with us.
- It also warns that WHEN we go through rivers of difficulty that just keep rushing past us and threatening to knock us off our feet, we WILL NOT drown.
- WHEN we go through fires of oppressive circumstances, we WILL NOT be burned or consumed by flames.
Heartache and trial will come…that’s the “when.” But the good news is that God offers His hope in the “will” and the “will nots” of His assurances that follow. When my circumstances were grim, I needed to know I would not be alone and that the circumstances wouldn’t do me in and consume me. As long as I could know and trust that, I had hope and hope will sustain us through the darkest days because it attests to God’s faithfulness.
All of us have our “when” and “will” scenarios. In the comments below, I’d love to hear about a time when you can look back and see that He was faithful to get you through.
Because of Him, #HopePrevails!
Indeed have gone through hard days, and hard years. And many times, I had no friend nearby to hold my hand and offer compassion. Those I had hoped would be friends just didn’t understand or became weary and backed away from me when chronic illness and what was breaking my heart resurfaced again and again over decades of time. At other times, the few real friends I had were far away and the enemy convinced me that they were unavailable and that I was alone in my world of physical and emotional pain. But praise God that I did not drown, and I was not consumed by the flames even when I was not sure how I would hold on for another day, another minute. Because God IS with me. Over time, as I saw His faithfulness over and over again in this way, my trust strengthened. The words to an old hymn often come to mind.
“Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
Just to take Him at His word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord.”
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!”
Mary Lee, my heart breaks at the thought that no friend stepped in to hold your hand and comfort you in your time of need. But my heart rejoices at the faithfulness of God who WAS with you in the storm: He didn’t let you drown or become consumed by the flames, and as such He strengthened your trust. Now you encourage others. What beauty that is for ashes! Because of Him, #HopePrevails!
There are so many times God has gotten me through the toughest times in my life, and so far our record is 100% of the time!
One such time that comes to mind is during a particularly hard day at work; nothing went right, I had corporate breathing down my neck for something I had no control over (in fact I had done everything I was supposed to do but it wasn’t enough in their eyes), and I felt the walls crashing in.
I took a couple hours off to clear my head and I honestly wasn’t sure I was going to return. Ever. And I was in such a low place with other stuff going on at the time, this was the straw that broke me and I thought about not returning at all. As soon as I knew exactly what and how I’d go about it, I texted my pastor to let them know I needed them right that minute and I was on my way to their office.
Unfortunately, they were in a meeting in another town they couldn’t get out of and would have to call me back later. I was desperate at this point and I just took off driving. A few minutes later, I was so blinded by the tears I could no longer see to drive and I was about to head over a bridge to a neighboring city. A PERFECT bridge. For some reason (only God knows, and really He is the reason), I stopped my car and waited.
I texted another pastor friend of mine, knowing I was very close to their house, praying they were home and I could stop by to talk to them for a while. They were in another city for a while too but told me they would come back if I needed them (even so it would take 30 minutes for them to get to me). I felt I couldn’t win. Looking back, maybe it was God’s way of just saying “hold on a little while longer”. I don’t know. So I say in my car. Waiting, seemingly forever. Crying uncontrollably. Praying, and not hearing anything.
My pastor ended up calling me back while I was waiting; talked with me- essentially talking me off the ledge, prayed with/for/over me and truly saved my life! My other friend came back while I was on the phone with my pastor, I went to their house and we had a long conversation.
That day God showed me He is truly Emmanuel, God With Us, through other people-As His hands and feet. He places people in our lives to be there for us, to be a shoulder, to be a caring hand to hold, to be a kind word or a prayer said. We may or may not truly know the impact we have on someone’s life in the grand scheme of things, but I firmly believe those people are there for a reason. There will be times when we need them (or they need us) because trials will come, but God will show us he’s with us, if we are open to seeing Him.
Pam, your testimony so beautifully shows how God sees. He knows just what we need and He supplies for our every need. And sometimes He uses us to meet the need of someone else if we will be willing. I’m so glad your pastor was there to talk with you and pray with and for you. You are precious. He has a plan and a purpose for you and your life that only you can fulfill. Because of Him, #HopePrevails!
What an encouraging post, Michelle!
I’m sharing it today and tomorrow all over!
Sure do appreciate you~
Melanie
Melanie, your sweet, generous spirit never ceases to bless my heart. All for His glory! Because of Him, #HopePrevails!
The verse in Isaiah you shared was one of the very first verses I memorized with my prayer partner. {Being someone that has struggled with anxiety her whole life, it brought much comfort.} But your exposition of the verse brought a whole new encouragement to an already encouraging verse. I appreciate your insights.
Thanks so much for sharing!
Karen, don’t you just love how God’s word is alive and fresh, and how HE can bring fresh insight? Our God is amazing. Because of Him, #HopePrevails!
Amen! Those hard times always come, but God WILL help us through them. Always.
Anita, I’m so grateful for God’s faithfulness. WHEN life is difficult and trials come He WILL see us through 100% of the time! Because of Him, #HopePrevails!
As I was studying this morning I was given Isaiah 26:3
” You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.”
This is what I learned from it:
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Peace–Freedom from disturbance; calm
Staying in God’s Word Daily is the key to this peace. Keeping your eyes on Christ and not your situation. Like Peter when he looked down while walking towards Jesus all Chaos ruled. This is why we must keep our eyes on Christ. Because when we do, we will have peace that only He can give. Taking those lies of the enemy and casting them down and refilling our minds with the Truth. Write those Truths down and say them out loud every day even while weeping until they get deep into your heart.
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Steadfast– Chiefly British: Fixed or unchanging. Firmly Loyal (faithful)
Old English: Fixed in One place. (firmly rooted ~ emphasis mine)
Fiercely protect your time with God, in His Word, His presence and in Prayer even when you do not feel like it. Stay firmly rooted in God’s Word. Even if that is all you get done for the day that is the most important piece. Spiritual Battle is exhausting if we try to do it in our own power but we are only to embrace our weaknesses and let God Battle for us. To let His Glory Shine, not us.
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Trust-To Rely; depend, To be confident; hope
The American Heritage Dictionary of the English language phrases it this way– “Firm reliance on the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing (For me this reliance is in and of God.) Confident belief, faith.”
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This has helped me through many of my Deep Waters (http://masqueradingcrafter.blogspot.com/p/my-lifes-st.html) and I am going through more deep waters with my health.
It would seem that my doctors have had in their hands the knowledge that I have had either Giant Cell Tumor or a rare Cancer Chondroblastoma and never even told me. I just now got my MRI approved after 2 years. But here is the thing—> God is bigger than this and even if he chooses that I will walk this Valley He is walking through it right with me. Plus, Psoriatic Arthritis that is untreated as of yet due to infection that, too, is also not being treated, Osteoarthritis, Tendinitis & Carpal Tunnel (in both hands, wrists, and elbows),Fibromyalgia, Diverticulosis with a narrowing of my colon, excruciating pain in my ribs with a weird muscle swelling thing going on my right side with very painful nodules and pain in the rib bones. Also , I have food allergies, medicine allergies, seasonal allergies, year-round allergies, allergic to latex and get this– to Medical Adhesive. ( I am not complaining or making anyone else’s problems and pain seem small–they are not!! We all have the same problems and troubles in this world as Christians — this is why we are to pray for one another and to encourage and to comfort as we have been comforted.)
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I am choosing to use the Insight from Harold J. Sala in one of his studies from ‘ When Your heart Cries Out to God Finding Comfort in Life’s Trials’
— “Regardless of conflict or turmoil in our world, you can always have a heart ruled by peace. Your attitude is a choice, not a circumstance imposed on you.”
A movie that has really helped me has been War Room. It really shows the power and the peace of praying Scripture over yourself and others.
As old as I am, I still can forget to cry out to God for help for myself – easier at times to do so for my friends in dire straits – so today I do – Lord, help. My list is too long and my friend is so scary. Amen.
thanks, michelle
Thank you for this post. I know that He is here for me, but when things are as difficult as they are right now, I feel like I am being consumed. My husband’s recent strokes and my journey through menopause are fighting hard to take the last bit of sanity that I ever had. I feel like I am in a pit that there is no hope of escaping from. I think that I will put Isaiah 43:2 on my desktop so that I will have this reminder often.
Thank you and have a blessed day.
Michelle,
I am so thankful for a God who reaches right down in the middle of those “wills” to come alongside me and hold me all the way through to the other side!
Thank you so much for sharing this message of hope with us at Moments of Hope! I am humbled by the hope God is bringing to this place each week!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
I love that sweet promise in Isaiah 43. It’s carried me through many a dark season. Thanks for your words of wisdom here, Michelle. Love you so much!
When my first husband left I prayed and believed he would come back to my children and to me. However, almost a year after he left, he took me to our favorite Mexican restaurant to tell me he was gay. I was devastated. But God…was always with me, even in the darkest of nights. He met every need I had and He healed my broken heart.
When and Will comes often in life but 7 years ago was a major one for us. When I noticed my hubby was acting strangely, I called one of our adopted daughters to see if she Will come. She and her hubby did and helped me encourage my hubby to be checked at the hospital. He listened even though he did not know the day, month, but he did rattle off his SS#. I can only say that through the next 36 hours, daughter stayed with me, notified family, helped me encourage my hubby, he had a CT scan, they found a brain bleed, by ambulance speeding to the big hospital and brain surgery the next morning, I had that peace that passes understanding. I was surrounded with love, hugs, prayer, and words of encouragement. Much hope and a calm assurance that the Lord was with me. This message is powerful. Thank you for sharing!