trusting God when you don't understand (2023)

FAQs

Trusting God when you don't understand? ›

Tell God that you need Him to help you to trust and ask Him to step in and take control. Even though God knows that you are struggling, He wants nothing more than for you to come to Him and ask for help when you need it. God sees more than we can ever see. He knows more than we will ever know.

Tell God that you need Him to help you to trust and ask Him to step in and take control. Even though God knows that you are struggling, He wants nothing more than for you to come to Him and ask for help when you need it. God sees more than we can ever see. He knows more than we will ever know.

Take encouragement in Jesus' words. Although you may not understand today, you may not understand tomorrow, one day you will. One day you will see what He was doing in your life. God's plans are always greater than our own, take comfort in that today friends.

Another reason we can struggle to trust God is that we have limited understanding. We see so little when it comes to human history. It is hard for us to know how suffering fits in with God's good plan. We are taught to believe that God's plan is good and right, but it's difficult to see that when things are difficult.

Struggling with faith is normal; it's part of growing.

You don't need to cancel your church membership just because you're questioning some of your beliefs. It's normal to have questions about God. Sometimes taking faith and the questions it poses seriously means struggling with faith.

James 1:5-8 (NIV) - If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

What does the Bible say about not understanding God's will? ›

Proverbs 3:5-6

So, Solomon tells us not to lean on our own understanding because our understanding is limited. We don't get to see things from God's perspective. We don't get to see God's plan and purpose for our circumstances. That's why we must simply trust that God has a plan and purpose for everything we encounter.

Perhaps God's delay is His way of redirecting you. His delay may be His way of telling you that you need to seek His will in this matter. You may be praying in one direction but He wants you to pray in a different direction. This may be a gentle way of saying “No” to your request.

All we need to do is believe, with no doubts nagging at the edge of our minds. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5, 6). Our limited intellectual understanding isn't a requirement of faith.

Your prayers do not align with God's will.

Simply put, sometimes God doesn't answer our prayers because we are praying for the wrong things. And we may not be doing this out of malice, either, so much as out of ignorance. Perhaps we don't know enough of God's Word to know his will.

[1] This isn't the same as when God doesn't answer our prayers the way we want—there are other reasons why He might choose to do that. When He doesn't listen to us, it is likely because our sin has caused offense to Him and hindered our prayers.

I've heard it said that God answers prayers in one of three ways. God says “Yes,” and you receive what you ask for. God says “No,” and you have to accept it and move on. Or God says “Not Yet,” and you learn to be patient and wait.

Anxiety is a lack of trust in God. It is a vain attempt to gain control. Often, our anxiety stems from what we fear we are losing due to our circumstances.

When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? All day long they twist my words; they are always plotting to harm me.

If you've struggled with doubt or are currently struggling with it, before you do anything else, you simply must know that going through these seasons — those ones that wreck you about Jesus and God — is normal. And not only is it normal, but it's also necessary. Doubts are the growing pains of the faith.

It's not a sin to question God — search the scriptures if you doubt. I believe God wants us to question His plan and His ways. He settles our doubts by giving us the belief that His ways are not always our ways.

Does God know everyone's thoughts? ›

Fifteen hundred years after Noah's great flood, King Solomon was receiving some advice from his father, King David, who said this, ” … for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts” 1 Chronicles 28:9. In other words, “Be aware of what's in your head, son. God sees it.”

If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. – John 14:13-14. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

James 1:6. "But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."

God tells us that confusion is not from Him- seek His peace. 3. Don't make quick decisions when you are feeling confused or fearful. His power lives in you- practice self-control.

What Does The Bible Say About Clarity & Finding Clarity? Psalm 25:4, NIV Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Isaiah 55:8-9, BSB “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. #2 Remember That Wisdom Comes From God Alone.

It is not sinful to feel angry toward God. It is human. We have a concern for righteousness, and whenever we encounter what we perceive to be unjust situations, we experience anger. Knowing that God is all-powerful and could have averted these events, our anger is often toward God.

Our key verse says, "The LORD our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them." God reveals the truths He wants us to understand when He feels we are ready to understand and apply them. When we don't understand something, it doesn't mean we are less of a Christian or not as smart as another.

For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

What does the Bible say about beyond understanding? ›

4:6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

So does God change His mind when we pray? No. God is unchangeable—He is immutable.

Proverbs 4:23 also states, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Notice that above all else, we are responsible for the health of our own heart. So if you are too busy to live a healthy life, it's time to slow down.

Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that when “prayers … seem to go unanswered and unanswered and unanswered, … you need faith.” That faith, he said, needs to be “powerful faith, faith that sustains us here and now, not just on the day of judgment or somewhere in celestial glory.”

James 4:3 says, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” We don't get our prayers answered because our motives are impure and wrong. God answers prayers according to His will and desires. If it isn't His will (or goes against His will) you can be sure it won't get answered.

Through the scriptures, we are taught that God will always hear our prayers and will answer them if we address Him with faith and real intent. In our hearts we will feel the confirmation that He does hear us, a feeling of peace and calm.

Does God hear our prayers if we are not saved? ›

He has stated that He will not hear certain ones. Isaiah wrote, “Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isa. 59:1-2).

God says no or wait because he has a greater purpose.

This means that he has all power and full authority in heaven and on earth. Everything that happens is under his control (Job 42:2). This means that he doesn't make any mistakes. You will never know the cost of what you want.

Jesus taught, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find” (Matthew 7:7). When you are sincerely striving to obey God's commandments, He will give you answers to your prayers, and you will be ready to receive them. God “heareth the prayer of the righteous” (Proverbs 15:29).

Because God loves you, you can show your trust in Him by talking about all your feelings and circumstances with Him — the good and hard — through prayer. Don't let your emotions rule your life; bring them to God so He can help you address them. He is not disappointed or frustrated by your struggles, doubts or pain.

Get to know God personally.

He pursues us and loves us and wants to be known by us. God loves you and wants to spend time with you. The more time you spend with Him, the more you get to know Him. And the more you get to know Him, the easier it is to trust Him.

The key to trusting God is to follow Jesus's example. Imagine how unfairly He was treated, how it must have appeared that God didn't know what He was doing, as Jesus made His way to the Cross. But the Bible says Jesus entrusted Himself because He knew God would do what was right.

When God is silent during difficult times? ›

“For God alone my soul waits in silence . . . my hope is from him” (Psalm 62:1, 5). If we lean on him while we wait, God will give us the grace to wait and to listen carefully as we pray, go to trusted Christ-followers for encouragement, and keep opening his word and asking him to help us hear him.

To gain Christ we must accept the necessary losses. Paul said, “For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” Nothing is more valuable than Christ, therefore no amount of suffering that draws us closer to Christ is too great a sacrifice to make.

Prayer is simply talking to God -- and the most important thing I can say about this is that God wants you to talk to Him!

Find prayers in the scripture and pray those on your own behalf. Praying will build your faith and help you to keep your eyes focused on the Lord, even in times of crisis. Meditation is powerful, especially for the Christian. Meditation is not some whimsical clearing of your mind.