Learning to trust God can be hard. Sometimes we come to a place of trust and then our trust is tested. Something difficulties comes our way. We find a difficult challenge in our lives. We realize that perhaps we did not trust as fully as we thought. Paul expressed trust in God when he wrote, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. ” (Philippians 1:6, NIV84)
Paul learned through many difficult situations that although the road he was on was not always the one he would have chosen, when he trusted God while on the road, God was able to work good in Paul’s life even in adversity. Paul never wavered in his desire to obey his calling from God. Whenever and wherever Paul was, he hung on to his faith and trust that God was good. Therefore he was able to say, “Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. ” (Philippians 1:12–13, NIV84)
Trust has many facets. Trust is our reliance on the integrity and strength of God. Trust is our confident expectation in the goodness of God. Trust is the certainty that God will work out all things for good. Trust is relational and reflects confidence in someone else. Faith is an expression of trust directed at God. Faith turns to God and never runs away. Faith in God will take the worst situation and transform it into the best. Faith in God will pull down the blessings of God in every difficult situation.
“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” (Philippians 1:27, NIV84) Faith will serve God in both the good times and the difficult times. Character is always revealed by adversity. What is really in you is only revealed when times are tough. Will you serve God when the world is against you? Will you serve God while you are still waiting for the manifestation of your healing? Will you serve God while it seems those dreams that you hoped are may never come to pass?
There will be times of hardship. “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. ” (Philippians 1:29–30, NIV84) There will be times of struggle. Never quit serving God. Never quit believing in the love of God for you. Never quit obeying God.
Your victory will come.
“The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. ” (Psalm 19:7–11, NIV84)
