5 Great Reasons to Trust God Rather Than Worry
When life hands us difficult situations, we don’t have to let them disturb our inner peace. Trusting in God is the better way to respond.
This morning’s circumstances gave me several great reasons to trust God rather than worry.
I’d set both my phone alarm and an alarm clock to wake me at 3:45 because I had a flight to catch. I woke at 3:42—to complete darkness. The alarm clock’s black face meant only one thing—a power outage.
My first thought was, Oh no. I don’t need this right now.
Sailor-Man is in Poland, so I was on my own to figure things out. I wanted to shower but couldn’t blow dry my hair (I know, I know—a first-world problem, right?). My phone was less than half charged, and my laptop was dead.
The lights on the dock were off, which would mean walking in the dark to the parking lot. The lights up there were off, too, so that would mean walking in the dark to the marina office where I’d arranged for a taxi to pick me up. This wasn’t the way I intended to start my trip.
My human bent wanted to worry
If my day began like this, what else might go wrong? Would the taxi driver show up? Would my flight be cancelled or delayed? I thought about the many things that could wrong, but seriously, I’ve spent so many hours reading and writing about the names of God in the past year that I knew, beyond a doubt, I needed to choose a different response.
Here’s the better response
Jesus said, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me” (John 14:1 NLT).
His words—“Don’t let your hearts be troubled”—imply that we have control over worry and fear’s role in our lives. We can choose to let them run rampant or we can choose to trust God instead.
Letting our hearts be troubled brings us no benefit whatsoever. Worry can’t change what’s already happened and it won’t help resolve the current challenge. It does, however, encourage fear to take root. It makes it difficult for us to rest well at night and ties our stomach into knots.
I’ve let my heart be troubled too many times to count, and guess what? Doing so has never made my life easier. So why live like that, right?
When life hands us difficult situations, we don’t have to let them disturb our inner peace. If we take Jesus seriously, then we can rest assured that trusting in God is the better way to respond.
Here are five good reasons to trust God rather than worry:
- God promises His presence. He is with us no matter what happens in the course of a day. Why, then, should we be afraid or anxious? (Joshua 1:9)
- God promises to give us wisdom, and lots of it. When we face circumstances that baffle us, we can ask Him for insight, and He will answer. (James 1:5)
- God promises victory. He’s on our side if we belong to Him. Who can stand against us? (Romans 8:31)
- God promises to turn negative situations into something good. He specializes in transforming the bad into beauty, the sad into splendor. (Isaiah 61:3)
- God promises joy. Sorrow may last for a night, He says, but joy comes in the morning. There’s light at the end of the tunnel. (Psalm 30:5)
When I read those five reasons, I feel as though the title for today’s post doesn’t do justice to Jesus. It should read , “Infinite Reasons to Trust God.” Seriously—the five reasons I’ve listed here barely scratch the surface.
I wonder what your day will look like and what opportunities will come your way to choose to trust God. I woke to several. Another came my way when the taxi driver didn’t see me waving and blew right past me.
Choosing to trust God set my heart in a better place than it would have been had I let it worry. May I encourage you to do the same?
My encouragement to you…
When unexpected circumstances throw a wrench into your plans, speak these words aloud: “I will not let my heart be troubled. I will trust in God.”
Know you are loved,
Grace
Thank you for the good word today (and song) I am a natural born worrier and I am trying to trust far more.
Hi Tina:
I’m glad you found the post and song helpful. We’re all on a journey, and God walks with us and works in us. He’ll lead you to a place of freedom and rest as you continue growing in your trust in Him.
Know you are loved,
Grace
Thank you for the reminder! You are so right there are infinite ways God reminds us to trust instead of worry. When my to do list gets too long I tend to worry but have learned a number of times to trust that God will get me through the important things if I trust him.
Hi Martha:
Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comment. I totally “get” what you say about tending to worry when the to-do list gets too long. Here’s a passage that I’ve started praying in that regard at the beginning of each day: Psalm 143:8-10. Inviting God to show me where to walk each day really helps keep me focused and more trusting. Perhaps you’ll find it helpful, too. Have a great day!
Know you are loved,
Grace
Wow it is amazing how God works and gives you exactly what is needed. My husband and I are on a vacation in Ireland and just woke to news that his mother 90 had fallen. Your words meant so much and I needed to hear it. May God continue to bless you.
Hi Elizabeth:
I’m so sorry to hear about your husband’s mom, but I’m thankful the Lord put this devotion in your path at just the right time. He is good, and He’ll be good in this situation concerning this dear lady, too.
Know you are loved,
Grace
I’m ew to your webpage but not to your devotionals. I’m a MWJ reader at least for the last 11 years. I’m a quite 75yo Portuguese-Venezuelan migrant living in Madrid. With no savings and no retirement (I’ve a meager 3$ public retirement) I live with the work and money the Lord graciously give me. I trust him every morning and He always speak to me and sustain me. Thanks a lot for your devotionals and for this today’s post! GBY!
Hi Maru:
Thank you for sharing your comments here. “For this we have Jesus….” is so true. No matter where we live or what our circumstances are, He is with us and for us. May He continue to be Your provider and joy as you trust in Him.
Know you are loved,
Grace
I read your devotion in Mornings with Jesus and looked you up and found your blog. I’m now a fan. Thank you for sharing your inspirational insights to God’s word. Also absolutely love the music at the end.
May God continue to bless you in sharing His word.
Hi Diana:
Thanks so much for leaving your comment here! I hope you subscribed to my updates. If not, be sure to do that so you can receive a lovely printable of Scripture-based prayers based on the seven names of God I wrote about in my new book, Names of God: Living Unafraid. It’s a devotional-style Bible study that’s ideal to do with friends, and it comes with bonus video teaching for every chapter.
Have a wonderful day, and know you are loved!
Grace
Hi Grace-I had shared with you some time ago that I had received clearance for the bypass that I need, and that wasn’t the case; someone had jumped the gun on giving me that info. I ran into one medical roadblock after another, and it’s easy to lose hope and trust after so long. I’m finally scheduled for the surgery on Monday, and I’m about tapped out. Your reasons to not worry touched me and uplifted me, and Jesus is probably saying, “Why did you doubt Me?” Thanks, as always, for inspiring me.
Hey, Diane, I’m grateful that the problem is being addressed and trusting with you for the very best outcome. “Father, guide the surgeon’s hands on Monday. Give peace to Diane and heal her body. Restore her health that she might live long and strong for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Know you are loved,
Grace
Thank you, Grace. It’s my daily prayer to live for God’s glory.
Hi Diana:
That’s a worthy prayer for all who profess to follow Jesus. Thanks for that!
Know you are loved,
Grace
Praying for you as you are at AWSA and CPE, Grace. Plus interceding for other upcoming travel that may provide you, like me, “opportunities to wring our hands.” But I’m folding mine in prayer with you!
Thank you for your prayers, dear Maggie. I look forward to sharing with you how God answers.
Love you,
Grace