Often we only want to trust God when things are good. When we feel as though God has delivered the best outcome or has done as we have desired. But the Bible is full of examples of men who were willing to trust God either way. They knew God would do what was best even if it didn’t seem good to them. Win or lose, feast or famine, live or die various people in the Bible trusted God no matter the circumstance or potential outcome was. An attitude that every Christian should still share to this day.
2 Samuel 10:9–12 (ESV)
9 When Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and in the rear, he chose some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Syrians. 10 The rest of his men he put in the charge of Abishai his brother, and he arrayed them against the Ammonites. 11 And he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. 12 Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to him.”
Habakkuk 3:17–19 (ESV)
17 Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
19 God, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer’s;
he makes me tread on my high places.
To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.
Daniel 3:16–18 (ESV)
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
Philippians 4:11–13 (ESV)
11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
The sad truth is that many Christians today simply don’t trust the Lord like those that came before us did. Instead of placing our trust in God’s will as Joab did, many of us would instead say may the Lord do what’s best for us. Not may the Lord do what seems best to Him. Instead of expressing praise to God when the pantry is empty Christians today would lament. Asking why God I did everything right, didn’t I? Why are you punishing me? Sadly many would give in to the pressures of the world instead of trusting God and standing strong as the three Hebrew boys did. While many today recite Philippians 4:13 few truly embrace it as Paul intended it.
While many Christians only trust the Lord in words, these men did so in words and in action. They didn’t simply profess faith but showed their faith by their willingness to trust the Lord through anything. Like anyone, they were thankful for the good years but unlike most, they were unshaken by the bad years. Through life’s ups and downs, their faith stays consistent. Never did they stop trusting in God no matter how bad things got. Leaving for us an example of faith to follow after.
We have to understand the key in this though. While all those listed above continued to trust God even though facing extremely difficult situations they are no better than we are. Nor did they have deeper experiences with God than we have. In fact, we have even more reason to trust God through any situation than they did. Because we are able to see the miraculous things He did for them. We can know that God has no favorites. That He is willing and able to do what he did for others for us. If we will only trust Him.
Romans 2:11 (ESV)
11 For God shows no partiality.
Not to mention the fact that the majority of those examples come from individuals living in the Old Convent. Meaning they did not share in the same life-giving hope that we do today. They had not experienced salvation because Jesus had not yet been sent to save the world. Nor did they have the revelation of Heaven we have today. We can trust God in the good or in the bad because we know that neither will compare to what is waiting for us in Heaven.
John 3:16–17 (ESV)
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Romans 8:18 (ESV)
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Revelation 21:4 (ESV)
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Life as a Christian isn’t always going to be perfect. We are still going to face hard times in this life. At times even serving God will feel difficult. As you navigate times in which you find it harder to pray, read the Bible, worship, or even extend love to others. But those times shouldn’t matter because we know that God is greater. Even in the worst times, God is still good. We can find comfort in knowing that even in the bad times God has a purpose. As well as the faith He is able to use hard times for our good. Giving us every reason to trust Him regardless of if things are going good or bad currently.
Romans 8:28 (ESV)
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Don’t fall prey to the devil’s wicked trap and believe that your only reason to trust God is that things are going well. Don’t give up on faith when a storm blows in on your life. Instead, trust in God to guide you through the storm. If you give up on God when the sky begins to turn black you will never see how He is able to calm the winds. Trust God no matter what comes your way because you can see that regardless of what happens God is still good. That God still has something better in store for you.
When you are walking into a situation and do not know what will happen just place your trust in God. Share the mindset of the righteous examples we opened with. Allow the Lord’s will to be done and for Him to do what seems good to Him. Because that will be what’s best for you. Know that even if things don’t go the way you hoped you can still rejoice in the God of your salvation. Know that Like Paul you can get through whatever life brings with the help of God. Just keep on trusting God either way.
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