Navigating Life's Challenges

“I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered / That's why I trust Him, that's why I trust Him.” These lyrics have become a sort of mantra for me and many Christians around the world.  They are part of the vamp of one of my favorite praise and worship songs, “Trust in God,” by Elevation Worship.  The song signifies complete faith in God, because He Himself has been faithful and true.  It is also a testament to the “blessed assurance” that believers experience because they trust Him. I love to see the joy and excitement on the faces of congregants as they proclaim, “That’s why I trust Him!  That’s why I trust Him!”

But what happens when things are not so good—when times are tough, when you receive a shocking report from the doctor, when your children are running amok, when your job has come to an end?  What happens when there's more month than money? What happens when it seems like everything's gone awry?  

Times will get tough. Jesus told us, “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). But in that same verse, He also reminded us not to worry, because He has overcome the world. That means we should continue to trust Him, even in those difficult times.

Having peace amid trouble may seem easier said than done, but it is indeed possible. There are no cookie-cutter methods or magic techniques to alleviate difficult situations.  But there are things we can do as believers to help us deal with tests and trials and get through them.  Here are some practical ways to maintain—and even increase—our trust in God as we experience His faithfulness while navigating life’s challenges.

Remember Who and "How" God Is.

In all things it is always a good idea to start with remembering Who and how God is.   If you consider God’s track record, a few things should come to mind: His mercy, His grace, His love, His faithfulness.  Remember that He said He would never leave or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:5) and that he promised not to leave us helpless (John 14:18). The holy, self-sufficient, and sovereign God is not only with us always, but He is committed to giving us the strength we need to endure every situation.  We need only remember to approach the throne of grace in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16).  Like the song “Trust In God” states, let us remember that even when the times are tough, we can seek His face and seek His comfort, because He hears His children and He always answers.

I am reminded of David, who encouraged himself in the Lord (1 Samuel 30:6). Though he was in anguish because Ziklag had been burned and his family taken, he did not allow his circumstances to cause him to lose heart.  Instead, he found strength in seeking the Lord, remembering His character and His promises, and he trusted the answer God provided for recovering.  David “sought the Lord” in his distress, and the Lord heard and answered him. 

Elevate Your Thinking.

Like David, we should be careful to practice “elevated” thinking and living to regain and maintain peace in chaos. Philippians 4:8–9 reminds us,

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is

pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is

anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and

received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be

with you.” 

We must remember our training and actively practice our faith, and in doing so, God is with us, giving us His perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3).

Encourage Others As Well. As we remind and encourage ourselves in the Lord, we should also be mindful to do the same for others.  Paul reminded believers to speak to each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:36).  He stressed that this “building up” should be a continual practice (1 Thessalonians 5:11) so that others would stay encouraged and be edified as well, despite the constant misleading of false teachers.  When we encourage others in the Lord and remind them of His faithfulness despite our situations, it also allows us to show and share the truth of the Gospel, reminding us to keep our faith in Christ and hope in His return.  

Troubles Will Pass.

Finally, we should remember that our situations are temporary.  Psalm 23:4 says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” We are literally going “through,” passing from one place in time to another, and therefore should remember that we will not endure hardship always.  Likewise, we must also remember that God is with us, comforting us through each and every step. 

Maintaining our focus on the Word of God, its promises, and its reminders of Who and how God is can not only help us endure difficult situation. It also helps us stay encouraged when experiencing them. Let us be careful to continually seek His face and trust in Him, regardless of the situation, because the grace of the all-sufficient God is sufficient for us. “He will never fail.”

“I trust in God, my Savior / The one who will never fail / He will never fail.”

–Trust In God, Elevation Worship