There is a slogan on American currency: “In God We Trust.” People pass it from hand to hand millions of times a day. This is truly ironic considering the spiritual state of our nation, and of the world, today. There is just not a lot of real trust in God.
The question for us is: “How much do we trust God?” That might sound like an easy question to answer, at first. When all is going well—when the weather is pleasant and warm, there is sunshine on our face and a gentle breeze at our back—we can feel pretty good about our relationship with God.
But, when the sky grows dark, the wind blows, and the rain falls, things look bleak. When the car breaks down, debts pile up and money is tight, we can get discouraged. We cry out to God and ask for help. We examine ourselves to see if we need to change. But maybe God does not answer right away. Or, maybe the answer is “no” or “not right now.” Maybe God lets someone die. Maybe He allows a trial to go on and on and on. We can get disoriented, confused and worried. We still believe in God, but we feel hurt—why is this happening? Why does it keep on going? Where is His deliverance, especially when we read the many scriptural promises of it?
Trusting God takes more than simply believing He exists. The Bible says that the demons believe—and tremble (James 2:19)! Real trust is believing that God always has our best interest at heart, and is dedicated to guiding us.
It is human nature to trust those things we have seen with our own eyes. We trust people with whom we have spent personal time, and whom we have come to know as trustworthy. Trust takes contact, and it develops as we see firsthand how the people we trust respond to us.
But God is invisible—so, how do we grow in trust toward Him? We must spend time with Him. We must walk with Him and experience Him in an ongoing relationship. And we must come to spiritually see Him. Ecclesiastes 2:14 says, “The wise man’s eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness.” Paul reminds us that “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). The true realities of life are not the things we can touch, taste and see. They are the unseen things of God.
Do we come to see and trust God more through our own human faith? Of course not. As Dr. Meredith often explains, we must have Christ’s faith in us, not our own faith (Galatians 2:20). Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). His Spirit shows us things we did not previously see. “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For ‘who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:14).
When we are filled with God’s Spirit—and therefore the mind of Christ—we see things that we previously could not. We are able to do things we normally could not. At this year’s Teen Camp, Mr. Martin Montgomery gave a heartfelt address to the campers just a few days after his daughter Morgan was tragically killed in a boating accident. Yet Mr. Montgomery not only encouraged the campers to seek comfort from God; he also encouraged them to pray and have compassion for the man driving the boat that killed his daughter. Mr. Montgomery could see a higher perspective than what is normally seen—he had spiritual sight.
We all need more spiritual perspective, to face our trials, to understand why they happen, and to grow in trusting God. Because “without faith [or trust] it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).
So, what are some things we must do in order to grow in trusting God?
Seek to See God More Clearly
How acquainted with God are we? How much do we really know Him? How much do we really see Him as a reality in our life? That should be a huge priority in our spiritual life—to grow to understand Him in every way.
The carnal mind does not understand God or His character. God explains this in saying to the wicked in Psalm 50:21, “You thought that I was altogether like you”! In Isaiah 55:9 God further explains, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” God is not like us! He does not react carnally, like humans do—but because we assume He is like us, we can misjudge His motives and intentions.
Have you recently read the book of Job? Who could guess how the story would unfold from the opening verses? From the start, Job is described as a man who was “blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil” (Job 1:1). Later we see that description coming from God Himself (v. 8), with the addition, “there is none like him on the earth.” Wow! From that description you would expect that Job’s life, in the story, would be blessed and wonderful, with never a sour note!
God was pleased with Job—he was doing a lot of things right! Did he have some things to learn? Of course. However, God was not punishing Job or playing a cruel joke on him. Neither was He neglectful of Job. God did not “fall asleep at the wheel.” When you are in a trial, how do you think God feels about you? What do you think God says about you? Could it be possible that He is saying some of these same things?
We normally do not assume positive things when we are in trials. We assume God is disappointed or ashamed of us, and we are sometimes ashamed, ourselves. We should always examine ourselves! But could God be happy with our progress—and He just wants to take us to the next level? Brethren, can we see that? Do we see the kind of God we serve? Do we see His care and concern for us? He says, “Trust me! I will take care of you!”
There is a proverbial story of a father who was teaching his son or daughter to swim. He waited in the water while they were on the side of the pool. He said, “Jump in, I will catch you. I promise! Don’t be afraid!” So the frightened child jumps—and at the last second the father pulls his arms away and lets the child fall, helpless, to flail in the water. The child sputters and struggles to come to the surface. Eventually the father pulls the child out of the water to safety. Once the child is safely in the arms of his father, his father says, “You’ve learned your first lesson—don’t trust anybody!”
Is that how God treats us? Absolutely not! He does not “drop” us unexpectedly, or “teach” us not to trust anyone. No! He is actually in the business of teaching us how to trust Him more deeply. He says “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5)—and Titus 1:2 says that God never lies!
We need to understand our Father more completely, and understand that He is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy” (Psalm 103:8). We need to remember that “as a father pities [or should pity] his children, so the Lord pities those who fear him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust” (vv. 13–14). We need to focus on these character traits, especially when we are in grievous trials.
Seek to Recognize the Tactics of Satan the Devil
To grow in trust and belief that God has our best interests at heart, we also have to see and recognize the work of our Adversary. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 2:11 that “we are not ignorant of his devices.” We must not be ignorant of the fact that Satan the Devil is a spirit who is always on the attack. What is he trying to destroy? Our faith and trust in God and Christ.
From the very beginning of mankind’s history, Satan has been at his devious and destructive plan. In the Garden of Eden, what was Satan’s message to Eve? You cannot trust God (Genesis 3:1–4). God lied to you—He is holding something back—He cannot be depended on. Humanity ever since has been hearing—and heeding—this message from Satan.
The book of Job gives an unusual—and enlightening—look at the spirit world, because it contains a conversation between God and Satan. As you read Job 1:6–12, you find that God supports His righteous servant Job and defends him, whereas Satan accuses and judges him.
We need to remember who is the “accuser of the brethren.” Not God! Who questions our motives and doubts our intentions? Not God! This is extremely important to think about. Yes, we need to examine ourselves to see if we are doing something wrong. We need to ask God to show us what we need to learn. Sadly, some allow themselves to sink into depression, under the weight of guilt, unnecessarily. They may feel they do not measure up. Truly, none of us do! However, that does not mean God is busy accusing us. He is not the accuser of the brethren—Satan is (Revelation 12:10)! Satan is busy day and night, accusing God, trying to put doubts in our mind about God’s motives.
When we face trials, we must not succumb to Satan’s negativity. He constantly throws doubts at us, like spiritual fiery darts. Our personal trust and faith in God helps us to extinguish those flaming arrows, with the “shield of faith” (Ephesians 6:16).
Not being negative does not mean it is wrong to grieve or mourn—and we even need to vent sometimes. We should not judge those who are grieving or struggling in a trial. We need to comfort them and encourage them, even if it is hard to find the right words. Never let that hold you back from offering condolences! Sit with them. Cry with them, if need be. If you do not know what to say, just say, “I’m sorry—I’ll pray for you.” Pray for God’s help working through the trial, so they can once again see blue sky beyond the grey. Pray that they will clearly see the hand of God, and also recognize the fingerprint of Satan.
Seek to Understand What God is Doing
In the dialogue between the Lord and Satan, the Devil made an interesting observation. He said, “Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has… You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land” (Job 1:10). Think about it. Even Satan acknowledged that God put a “hedge” or ring of protection and blessing around this righteous man!
God did give Job special protection—and He gives it to us as well. Think about all of the things the world has to deal with. This is Satan’s world (John 16:11), and he is a cruel master. Dozens of wars are raging around the world right now. Thousands of people are killed every year, with many more separated from their families or driven out of their homes. Millions have fled the fighting in Syria. Hundreds and thousands are killed in natural disasters.
Brethren, billions of people on this planet do not have the tremendous benefit of having a hedge! We in God’s Church know that the ultimate hedge will be put around God’s most faithful, zealous people, who will be taken to a Place of Safety during the Tribulation (Revelation 12:14). We pray for protection. We pray for guidance. We pray for help. We pray for the food on our table. We thank God that He has called us out of this world, and that we know the Truth. We thank God that we can share the Truth. We have a hedge.
So, why do bad things sometimes happen?
The story of Job shows that though we have a hedge, sometimes God lifts the hedge, just as with Job. All his oxen were stolen (Job 1:14). All his sheep were destroyed (Job 1:16). His camels were captured (Job 1:17). Most of his servants were killed in these catastrophes. And, tragically, his seven sons and three daughters were killed by a sudden windstorm (Job 1:18–19). Later on, he came down with a debilitating and painful illness (Job 2:7).
Had God lost control? Had His promises suddenly become void? Was He unfaithful? No! God briefly lifted the hedge to allow Satan to strike at Job. God was in complete control—including the exact, limited parameters under which Satan could strike Job (Job 1:12; 2:6). God dictated exactly what the terms were, down to the details—Satan could go not one inch further.
When we think about the trials in our life, could it be that a similar conversation might be going on between our Lord and the Adversary? Jesus Christ might be allowing Satan to send you a trial, but He is telling Satan, “You can go this far, and no further!” Jesus Christ explained the proper fear we should have for God, because He has ultimate power of life and death over us, for all eternity (Luke 12:4–5). But then, in the same context, He also explained the care and concern that the Father and the Son have for us, if they even are aware of the tiny sparrows (v. 6) and the number of hairs on our head (v. 7).
God’s capacity for keeping the whole universe running is astounding and awesome! But, so is His sensitive loving-kindness, gentleness and capacity for encouragement. God is neither cruel nor cavalier about our lives. He does not just throw us “in the deep end” and see if we can survive. He does push us out of our comfort zone, but only as far as He knows we can handle it. That is a promise! Paul said, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:12–13).
The lesson is that God is with us, and He is in complete control. However, God is pushing our comfort zone. He allows us to be tested. He wants us to develop greater capacity to serve Him. So, He has to let us face trials.
Jeremiah 17:5–6 outlines the curses for trusting in our own strength instead of trusting in God. Verses 7–8 explain that it is much better to trust in God instead of ourselves. However, that is not the entire context; read verses 9–10: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked [or incurably sick]; who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind.” The word for mind here is, as explained in the margin, literally “the kidneys,” or the most secret parts.
God wants to really know what we think and feel deep inside! He tests our motives, our intentions. He wants to know what we really want. Moses told the Israelites after wandering for forty years, “The Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not” (Deuteronomy 8:2). He wants to know how well we see—and to help us develop our spiritual understanding! Ultimately, He wants us to learn, to ask Him to show Himself more clearly, and to cry out for Him to do so!
In his address to the campers after his daughter’s tragic death, Mr. Martin Montgomery quoted Psalm 116:15; “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” The Living Bible says it this way: “His loved ones are very precious to him and he does not lightly let them die.”
Be grateful that God has a hedge about us, and that He only opens the hedge to teach us, train us, try us and test us—to make us more fitting servants. He does not test us in order for us to trust Him less—but rather to trust Him more!
Seek to Understand the Answers God Gives
When we face trials, we have many questions, often similar to the ones with which Job wrestled: “Why?” “Why did you do this, God?” “If You didn’t do it, and I know you are all powerful, why did You allow it?” Those are many of the questions we ask as well.
God answered Job, eventually—but in a way that took Job completely by surprise. Notice in Job chapter 38: “Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said… ‘Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy’” (vv. 1, 4–7)? The answer, of course, was that God did all those things—and so much more (Job 38:8–36)!
When small children ask parents, “Why?” sometimes the answer is simply, “Because I told you so.” This was essentially what God was telling Job. “There is a reason. I have a reason. You cannot see it right now. But just because you cannot see it does not mean there is no reason. You are in the palm of My hand. I am faithful. I am here. I love you. Sometime, you will see. But you will have to take My word for it right now.”
Sometimes that is all the answer we will get right now. We may not know the reason for every tragedy or trial, and it is hard not knowing! But God does give us an answer. God always gives us an answer when we ask Him questions—even hard questions. We just need to be aware that the answer might be to a different question than we asked!
God did answer Job, clearly—but He did not directly answer Job’s question. Job had asked “Why?” God’s answer was, “I know what I’m doing. I’m the Creator. Trust Me.” And, as it turned out, that was exactly the answer Job really needed.
Notice how Job responded to God’s answer: “Then Job answered the Lord and said: I know that You can do everything. And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’ I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You, Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:1–6).
None of his circumstances had yet changed, but he had a totally different attitude, because his “sight” had changed. His outlook had changed. His perspective was different. He saw God better.
How can we know that “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28)? Only through having spiritual vision. God says that for those He is calling now, He works all things out toward one unified purpose. That is, to prepare us to be with Him in His Family for all eternity—and to help others attain that goal as well.
God is working out a plan here below. We sometimes struggle to understand the good in every circumstance, but God helps us through His Spirit (Romans 8:26). We know that the whole world is struggling under the burden of pain and suffering, and “groans and labors with birth pangs,” but we have hope—because God has allowed us to see the unseeable (Romans 8:22–25). We cannot see the whole picture yet, and that is why we have to hope and wait for it. And we ask for God’s vision, to help us trust Him.
What is spiritual vision? Paul clearly exhibited it when he said, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). Paul suffered greatly in his life, and yet had solid faith and trust in God, because he had come to really see God and God’s priorities in his life. That is our goal!
Psalm 62:8 exhorts us: “Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” A key to trusting God is seeing Him and His care and concern for us more clearly (which also involves recognizing the snares and traps of the devil—including the doubts he tries to plant in our mind to undermine our trust in God). We also must appreciate the hedges God does place around us, and understand that He—in a limited way—allows them to be lifted, from time to time, for a purpose. There always is an answer when we ask God, “Why?” It is just that God’s answer may be to a different question than the one we are asking.
All of this requires spiritual sight. Spiritual sight is vital to growing in trust in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and our Heavenly Father as well. As Paul said, “Therefore we do not lose heart… For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen” (2 Corinthians 4:16–18).