Sometimes it can seem like life is going the exact opposite way that you think it should. In these moments it can be difficult to trust that God is with you, helping you. However, it is precisely in these moments, when it seems like God is far from you, that He is closest to you.
We can see this in the Scriptures, which offer countless stories and examples of God coming through for people when it might seem extremely logical for them to lose their trust in God. The best example is when Jesus dies on the cross and everything His disciples had hoped for seemingly died with Him.
It must have been incredibly hard to trust in God at this time. We read of Mary Magdalene weeping as she visits the tomb of Jesus on what would become Easter Sunday, and I can only imagine the despair and heartache she must have felt. However, we have the hindsight to know that it was precisely at this moment of total defeat and loss that Mary Magdalene was about to experience complete victory and gain more than she could have ever imagined.
I find hope in this story as I journey through my own life, experiencing its ups and downs. Over the years of running Zenith, I have shared many instances in my life when the Lord has similarly brought victory for me when things seemed utterly dark. God has shown me many times that He brings the most amazing sunrises out of the darkest nights.
To drive home this point even more, here are 5 Bible verses that showcase the hope that we can have in God and instruct us on how we must think about God and our life. There are many more in the Bible that I did not include, so if you have one that you like in particular, please feel free to share it at info@zenithministries.com.
“What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” – John 13:7
Jesus speaks these words during the Last Supper when He washes His disciples’ feet and Peter protests the Lord’s actions. Jesus meets Peter’s confusion with this simple explanation that promises future understanding for what does not make sense to anyone at the time.
It makes more sense to us now. Of course Jesus would wash the feet of His followers. However, this was not how things were done in the first century. Jesus response to Peter’s refusal is a striking reminder to us all that sometimes you don’t understand what is happening in your life. However, you can still trust that the Lord is taking care of you and what you are going through will eventually make sense.
“The Lord will fight for you, you have only to keep still.” -Exodus 14:14
Moses says this to about 2 million upset people who were confused and frightened about being trapped at the banks of the Red Sea with the Egyptian army closing in to drag them back to Egypt. He tells them this because of his great trust in the Lord that he hopes to inspire in the Israelites.
He did not yet know how God would save them, but He knew that God would. Looking back, we know that Moses was right and now we can view our own lives with this understanding. We can already assume that the Lord will take care of us.
We might not know how the Lord will take care of us at this moment, but just as the Israelites were not truly trapped at the Red Sea, neither are we ever truly without hope. It may not be the path you want it to be, but God will always bring what is best for you if you trust Him.
“They asked him, “Where do you want us to make the preparations?” And he answered them, “When you go into the city, a man will meet you carrying a jar of water. Follow him into the house that he enters and say to the master of the house, ‘The teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ He will show you a large upper room that is furnished. Make the preparations there.” Then they went off and found everything exactly as he had told them, and there they prepared the Passover.” -Luke 22:9-13
This one needs more explanation to understand, but it might be my favorite example. Whenever I read this story, I am reminded at how much Jesus knows. This is one of many examples where He knew the details of events before they happened and is able to guide His disciples perfectly.
You can trust that He has full knowledge of your entire life and is able to guide you perfectly as well. He has even the details in His mind. Ask the Lord to guide you, just as the disciples did, and He will!
“For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope.” -Jeremiah 29:11
This is a classic Bible verse quoted often to encourage people going through difficult times and it is because it is such a powerful reminder. Similar to the last example, it reminds you that not only does God know your future, but He also has good and beautiful plans for it.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence do not rely; In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths.” -Proverbs 3:5,6
This one gets to the heart of what we are talking about here. Basically, it is saying to trust in God even when life does not make sense. This verse has played such a powerful role in my own life, as many times I have trusted God when it seemed crazy, and He came through for me.
I have shared examples of these times in various podcasts and blog posts throughout this ministry, but to remind you, here are a few of them with links to the full stories.
-Between the ages of 15 and 21, I lived a hedonistic lifestyle imitating what I saw on MTV and the 70s rock stars I idolized. After a few years of battling my addictions, the Lord helped me overcome them in one day. You can read more about that here.
-At 17, I was in a severe car accident that nearly took my life and should have left me with life-altering injuries. You can read more about it here.
-In college, after my girlfriend broke up with me, I prayed a special prayer to see if I should wait for her to return to me or move on. God miraculously answered my prayer to tell me to wait. You can read more about this story here.
-On a trip through Europe, I experienced God’s supernatural care for us when he amazingly guided me through the streets of Athens to meet up with a group of friends. You can read that story here.
If you are looking for more guidance in navigating your life during those times when it might be difficult to trust the Lord, consider signing up for one or more of our services. With our new Unlocked online course, you can receive 10 KEYS to help you grow in your faith and gain vital tools to shape your mindset and behaviors to better encounter your life. Over the 5-month period, you will learn how to better view God, yourself, and your life to discover more peace and joy. Check out more info and sign up here.
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