How to Find Unwavering Hope When Things Are Hard
How Trusting in God Transforms Our Pain into Purpose
This week, I found myself reflecting on trust. I was working for eight years away from home and only saw my family on weekends. Not the ideal situation. But it was the result of events that happened in my life that all worked out for the good. And as with everything in life, God has a plan for me and is in control.
During that time, leaving early in the mornings and living another life far away from home, I was longing to get back to my family and have a normal life again. I started to pray about this, reminding God about His promises and hoping and trusting for change.
Maybe you have also been in such a situation. A dream you’re holding onto, or a promise you’ve been given. Maybe you’re waiting for a person to change or a situation to shift. Maybe you’re waiting for a prayer to be answered, joy to replace sorrow, or clarity and hope to replace confusion and chaos.
It's not easy to trust in God amidst pain, loss, and suffering. Yet, this trust is precisely what we're called to cling to.
Isaiah warned the leaders of Judah that their reliance on idols and political rulers would lead to exile. But alongside his warnings, he also reminded them that God is sovereign, that He would bring them out of exile, and that He would one day send a Saviour to rescue them forever. He didn’t live to see this happen, yet he held firmly to the hope he preached. This is also true for us today.
Trust in the Lord, even when circumstances don’t make sense.
Trust in the Lord, even when you’re suffering.
Trust in the Lord, even when your heart is breaking.
Come what may, trust in the Lord.
Seasons will change, situations will change, and people may let us down, but God remains constant. He has been unchanging, immovable, and faithful throughout history. He understands our suffering because He has suffered for us. His promises are trustworthy, and He has promised to fight for us, never leave us, make a way for us, love us, protect us, and remain faithful to us. (Read Psalm 46 and make it your own.)
God did change my situation, and I was reunited again with my family, but it was not on my terms but on His terms. I prayed for almost two years, wondering if God heard me and asking Him how long this was going to continue. Today, I can declare that because God is our salvation, we can trust Him without fear.
Make the choice to trust in the Lord, no matter what you face. He is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Stand firmly on His promises and hold onto His unchanging love. Know that He is with you and will never leave you or forsake you. Indeed, I can vouch for that.