Trusting When We Don’t Understand

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Step One – Trusting God

Previously, we looked at James 1 and his instruction to “count it all joy when you (we) fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your (our) faith produces patience…” (James 1:2-3). Even though we don’t always understand the why of when troubles come our way, Proverbs 3:5-6 teaches us we don’t have to! This passage tells us that in this fallen world, we will all face troubles – Christians and non-Christians alike. Trusting God in these circumstances is a crucial step, even if we never quite understand the why.

Step Two – Learning Patience

Notice that James went on to write that we can count it all joy because we “know” that God is going to use these painful episodes for good (a truth also found in Romans 8:28) even if we don’t understand why, by producing in us “patience”. In addition to trusting God in general, we can also trust Him most particularly in times of trials and tribulations to help us, including during episodes of conflict! I’m not saying any of this is easy, but we KNOW God promises that He will use it for good if we simply and patiently submit to Him and allow Him to work in and through us in these situations.

Step Three – Going the Distance

Next, James writes, “But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:4). Someone has said this is akin to being placed in a frying pan with the heat getting turned up. As it gets hotter and hotter, every fiber of our being screams to jump out of the skillet, but God is telling us to stay in! Why? Because through these trials, He is working in us to purify, mature, and make us more like Christ.