Trusting God can be hard sometimes, even though we know He commands us to. On a recent episode of Your Hope-Filled Perspective podcast, I chatted with Kristine Brown about learning to trust God with our decisions. If you missed that episode, you can listen here – Learning to Trust God with Our Decisions – Episode 186. In fact, I encourage you to go back and listen. In this post, Kristine Brown is sharing 3 ways she became more confident as a decision-maker by strengthening her trust in God.
Be sure to read to the end for a book giveaway!
(If there are affiliate links in this post, meaning, if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission (at no extra cost to you)).
3 Ways to Trust God with Decision Making (and Mean It)
by Kristine Brown
I’ve heard these two words many times, “Trust God.”
I’ve seen them plastered on social media, listened to ministers preach about them in sermons, and even shared them as advice to friends. Don’t know what to do? Just trust God. Have a life-changing decision to make? Trust God. Going through the most difficult time of your life? That’s okay, trust God. I knew this was the solution to my daily battle with worry and doubt, but there was one small problem.
I didn’t know how to trust God.
Sure, I could say I trusted Him. I read my Bible reading plan and could even quote a verse or two. But when decisions had to be made or the really hard stuff hit like a wave, my life didn’t show it. Which brought up an important question that would change how I defined those two familiar words I’d heard so often.
How do I learn to trust God like I mean it?
Hebrews 10:23 says, “Let us hold without wavering to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” (ESV) When we learn to cinch our hope to our faithful God, we build a strong foundation for trusting Him with the details of our lives. And with that foundation in place, we can live with steadfast assurance that God is guiding us through every decision. Even if circumstances look shaky.
Our ability to become more confident decision-makers begins with strengthening our trust in the One who created us, cares about us, and delights in us. Here are a few practical ways we can begin trusting God with our decisions.
1. Daily release control to God.
For most of my adult life, I’ve had a hard time making decisions. I’ve overanalyzed then moved on to worrying about the worst-case scenario. Even the smallest choices— like whether to sign up my child for little league— affected my contentment. I longed to make decisions while living with the peace and joy God promised. But how?
In our podcast conversation on Your Hope-Filled Perspective, Dr. Michelle and I talked about how we often hear the advice, “just give it to God.” We know that’s what God invites us to do, but many times we say we are giving our problem to Him, only to take it right back. I’ve found it helpful to pray, “Lord, I give it to you,” anytime I feel worry working its way into my heart. Beginning each day with this short prayer helps me develop a habit of relinquishing control.
“Moving to a new level of trust is not a one-time big decision but a continued daily commitment to release control and let the Holy Spirit guide us.” – Cinched book
When we tell God we trust Him with the process and the outcome of our decisions, the words “give it to God” become more than just a cliche. They become life-giving truth to sustain us through the hardest decisions.
2. Create some quiet space.
So many times I’ve asked God for direction, only to continue fretting about what to do. I fill my mind with all the possible paths, leaving no quiet space to hear God speak. Creating quiet doesn’t only mean eliminating physical noise, but also dealing with those thoughts that just won’t stop.
When analyzing our situation leads to an overloaded mind, what’s the best way to create the quiet space we need to connect with God? There is no right or wrong way, and finding your personal quiet space may involve exploring different ideas. But the key is to keep redirecting our focus back to our Heavenly Father. Not with what we have to say, but simply to seek Him more.
My favorite way to create some quiet space is to take a prayer walk. I begin with this short prayer, “Lord, I’m listening.” Then I focus on the sounds of nature. When my mind drifts back to decisions that must be made, I repeat the prayer again. Guarding against distraction makes room for connecting with our Lord.
3. Find assurance in God’s faithfulness.
When a tough decision must be made and I feel a weight of responsibility, doubt comes calling. I can stand firm against any doubt by reminding myself of the times God has been faithful in my life.
Ever wonder why it’s so easy to focus on life’s challenges? Since identifying my own need to trust God more, I’ve realized how much time I spent thinking about my troubles rather than God’s presence. So to encourage myself through whatever challenge I face, I like to keep a memory journal.
A journal is a great place to record memories of the past— when God revealed His goodness in remarkable ways. Times when we didn’t think there could possibly be a way out, but God demonstrated the truth of Matthew 19:26, “…With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (NIV)
Some call it a “gratitude journal” or a “prayer journal.” Nothing fancy needed to begin; a simple dollar store find will do. The purpose is to have a place to write down our blessings. We may not be sure how things will turn out, but we can have assurance in God’s faithfulness by remembering what He has done.
If you’re feeling that familiar weight of worry and doubt over decisions right now, know this. God is ready for you to give it to Him and trust Him to handle it. His Holy Spirit will guide you as you make the daily choice to focus on His presence rather than the outcome of your decision.
And the next time we hear those two familiar words, “Trust God,” may we find renewed peace and joy as we trust Him like we mean it.
We’d love to hear what helps you trust God, in the comments below!
About Kristine Brown
Kristine Brown is a ministry wife, mom, stepmom, and Mimi. A former chronic worrier, Kristine loves connecting women today with women of the Bible and sharing lessons learned through her website, freelance writing, and speaking to women’s groups. She is the author of 3 books, including her latest release, Cinched: Living with Unwavering Trust in an Unfailing God. To connect with Kristine, visit kristinebrown.net.
To connect with Kristine: Website / Facebook / Instagram
Book Giveaway
In conjunction with this post and the podcast interview, Kristine is giving away a free copy of her book, Cinched: Living with Unwavering Trust in an Unfailing God.
Leave a comment below sharing with us one thing you learned about trusting God with your decision making and you will be entered into the contest for your chance to win a copy of her book.
You could also share this blog post on Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter then comment here to tell us where you shared it and you’ll also be entered into the drawing.
The winner will be selected at random and announced next Monday, November 14, 2022. Continental United States only.
I found myself thinking about the choices I made throughout my life. I found that when I was more in step with the Lord, I could check my motives and the way it would impact myself and my family, I could follow through with difficult decisions. I am also a believer in prayer walking and now take a walk through the park to a stream where a lovely waterfall brings thoughts of the Living Water that our Lord provides to quench my thirst. Thank you for your thoughts on refocusing on the Lord and trusting Him to show you the choice that is right for you.
Shared this on Twitter, but don’t see how to enter contest to for a chance to win the book. Hopefully, this is what you need!
Hi Michelle and Kristine, thank you for sharing your podcast and techniques. I am going to try the
prayer walk. I have heard of the benefits of engaging with God in nature. It’s usually the simple things
that bring the greatest results
Shared to Pinterest, thank you. May the Lord God bless you and keep you. With my love born of His, Jenny.
I tend to forget step #2, to really be quiet & listen for God’s answers. I appreciate the 3 step approach & will remind myself of these steps when facing decisions on a daily basis. Thank you for your insight!
What a wonderful way to put into action Phil 4:6-7.
Thank you.
Your podcast with Kristine and this blog are so very helpful in going through the process of trusting God in all things, all decisions and all steps to take toward healing and restoration. Meditating on God’s faithfulness is such a big one for me. I have so many memories and stories of how God has helped me through some difficult situations and trials of health and relationships. His faithfulness, His truth and His peace have been mine so many times and I love to go down memory lane on His faithfulness. I shared this on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook. Thanks so much Kristine for sharing with Dr. Michelle and all of us.
Thank you for the inspiration to start a Blessing Journal. Through out my life I have overcome brain tumor, heart problems, a divorce and family medical obstacles. God has answered sooo many prayers. In times of my doubts, rereading how God has helped me along this journey to remind me how HE has been there for me as I focus on “The Trust Walk” that is ahead in my life.
I love the prayer walk idea. I don’t do enough listening (and consciously choosing to actually listen).
What help me to trust God? God had answered my prayers in so many ways, on his time not mine. I prayed for health, a home, financial security, my family, The Lord had provided substantial blessings my for me. I thank him every day. There was a family problem that I have been praying for God answer my prayer after three years. While waiting it’s important to continue and worship Him daily and thank Him because you know that he hears you and know what you need. I am now praying for healing and my estranged son to come back to his family. I continue to pray that I will trust that God will answer my prayers on his time. The prayer walk I like, I do that at times but, I listen to all my favorite gospel songs while I walk. Quiet time, I have not yet to master that to listen to God to speak. My mind always flutters around to something else. I am working on refocus on my quiet time with the Lord. Thank you for allowing me to share this moment. Helpful hints thank you for your time kristine.
I trusted God when I married my husband. I felt that I was a failure and not worthy of love. My husband loves me and shows me each day.