Trusting God When Things Are Out of Control
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If you ask my husband which Bible verses I quote the most, he will say “Proverbs 3:5&6” without a doubt. I just asked him across the room while I was typing this to verify my hunch. At that point, my oldest son says, “No, it’s Ephesians 6:1.” ha.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5&6
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Ephesians 6:1
A few months back I asked a question about what makes you feel like giving up. While many reasons were posed, the one answer repeated numerous times was “circumstances beyond my control.” Shortly after this, I began to study the topic of trusting God when things are out of control. I came across this statement from Corrie ten Boom:
Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.
In other words, if you have any doubts, take a look at God’s track record. So I’ve been doing that- researching Bible characters who trusted God in spite of crazy circumstances. People who stood in the middle of situations that were totally whacked out and said, “We believe God.”
Moses as he crossed the Red Sea
David as he faced the giant Goliath
Daniel as he stared in the eyes of lions
Jonah as he wiped seaweed from his face
And the list can go on and on. So I have two questions I need your help with today. The first one is:
Which Bible character stands out in your mind as one who really trusted God when things were out of control?
And the next one:
What kinds of circumstances do we encounter today that gives us the feeling of being out of control?
If you could help me out with your opinions and suggestions, I’d be so grateful!
Have a fantastic Friday!
Rachel
Elijah! Everything that he was, that he endured, and was in t b e mist of was a total faith walk! He had to totally and completely trust God. Things were always out of his control but he still stood! Not always strong but none the less he stood.
Being in ministry and situations you are placed in.
Abraham sacrificing Isaac; Death of a baby or having a child with a significant global disability
I think of Sarah !
At 90 years old having to trust that indeed within a year she would conceive a baby.
I’d say she would be reasonable in thinking that door was pretty shut!
I know it reads that she laughs.
It also reads that she trusted in faith.
And in present day, it has became a reality to my family that government laws can mean citizens lives are not within our perception of control, I believe God is always in control.:-)
oh Nina- I think of Sarah too. And Abraham. So much depth to their story- YEARS of waiting and trusting God. Amen and prayers going up for you again!!
#1 I would say Esther – she really put her life on the line.
#2 Loved ones who are making bad choices that don’t just affect them, but the whole family. painful…
My first thought was Ruth, but then after more reflection I think of Hosea.
God told him to put himself in the out of control situation. To marry a woman who would continually break his heart and be out of control. Both Hosea dealt with having a situation out of his control and Gomer dealt with being out of control.
Then God showed them what covers everything…Love.
Such a beautiful heartbreaking story.
oh thank you Beke. totally agree and love.
I thought of Job, even before reading the other comments. I am kind of feeling like Job myself right now. I am going through an extremely difficult time, living with a husband (of 50 years this year) who has PTSD from VietNam. I don’t know where the man I married has gone to, but he is gone. This is such a horrible situation and there seems to be no way out. I have loved my God with all my heart and soul, but right now, I feel as if he has left me. I can’t believe I am saying that, but that’s how I feel right now. I wrote God a 14 page letter yesterday………..the only thing that helped me to stop crying.
May the God of peace feel closer to you than ever, Sharon. Prayers going up on your behalf.
Sharon, who knows if God may have led you to Rachel’s blog for such a time as this…please know I am praying for you, too. Thank you for sharing.
The woman I think of about a life out of her control would be the bleeding woman who touched Jesus’ robe. There was nothing she could do…but she still had enough faith and hope to reach out for His healing.
I think of her right now because I have a girlfriend who was diagnosed with stage 3 uterine cancer right after the birth of her 3rd child. God has led her on a different path of healing than the typical radiation/chemo. She has had one clear report and getting ready for the results of her second. She constantly gives her days to the Lord…and has to give Him all the control for her healing.
Esther, a jewish girl from ancient Persia and her dilemma as she comes up against Haman and his evil plot to wipe out a race.
The lack of morals and values in our society are unquestionably out of control.
As a mother, I think of Mary as she watched her Son on that cross. He gave His life for all, yet as a mom, I’m sure she had to have felt confused, dismayed, out of control etc…
Life’s circumstances today… As a pastors family we know that God is on control of all, yet when those we love are broken, it’s very difficult to not try to take control & wait for God. Again, knowing that He knows better than us… Please pray for us to be obedient:)
I was thinking Rahab, trusting God would save her and her family as the rest of the walls came tumbling down and the everyone around her dieing.
Things in my life that are out of my control would be those whom I love not speaking to me and issues with husband and his family that breaks my heart. I continue to pray for all of these things.
I dropped into financial circumstances that got worse and worse until I was served with foreclosure papers. No job, no car, no clue. As time went on, what I thought was a relationship with God proved to be extremely shallow. Six months in, I really began to learn about the concept and reality of God’s timing, because He didn’t bail me out immediately. I got angry, repented, angry, repented…when? when? when? In the meantime, He continued to speak to me, usually asking me “Do you wish to choose differently now?”
Finally, I started to get it. Acceptance. Gratefulness. Faith. Thinking lack and fear for 53 years doesn’t change easily, but He helped. Gradually I got into regular prayer and Bible reading (Psalms – big favorite – go figure!) I’m still learning and excited about that.
He brought me a great buyer. A last minute closing problem came up. God solved it. I closed with some equity. He found me an apartment that is……clearly from God! I prayed for a bit for a car – decent looking, solid mechanical shape $2000. A tough call? Not for God. On the sixth day, He went way better than that, and dropped one in my lap for $2500. Note that requires movement away from the “lack” thinking and redoubling of faith he’ll provide for me financially, but it was clearly His car.
These days, still unpacking, I”m partnering in a whole different way and am so thankful that that knot, that weight, that paralysis has been lifted from me, that when I think of His grace and goodness, I seriously get all choked up and teary eyed, I”m so grateful. Here’s the kicker – I know it only gets better as my faith and surrender continues to grow.
I know, without a doubt, that everything is because of Him. Were it not for HIm, were it not for my choosing Him, I’m not sure I’d have made it out the other side. I’d have become drenched in self pity and ended up in a shelter or something. That sounds incredibly childish and selfish from where I sit now, but it felt very real for a long time.
The out of control circumstances changed my life and I’ll never be the same again. Thank God – and I mean that literally!
WOW- Judi!! Thank you so much for sharing your incredible story. Brought me to tears. Bless you, sweet sister, for following in boldness.
I always think of Job because he lost EVERYTHING that God had given him before. He lost so many things he’d worked hard for and loved, he even lost his friends and his health! So I think it’s amazing and truly inspiring that he didn’t lose his faith and give up.
When I graduated from college it took me over a year to find a job in my degree field. I was depressed, and sad. I felt worthless and it was really hard for me to keep trusting God and being patient. Then, finally I found a great job in my field!It paid fairly well and I was able to move out of my parent’s place and start living life on my own! I was happy, proud and excited about all the things that were unfolding.
In February of this year I was let go from my job. My world crashed. I went back to being more broke than I was last year b/c I’m not living with my parents anymore. I couldn’t afford to take classes this summer like I’d planned. My parent’s told me it’s becomming a burden on them to keep paying my bills, which I understand. I can’t hang out with my friends as much, that makes me feel alone. So I spend a lot of my time questioning God. Wondering why he would take me out of a cozy situation and toss me into chaos so quickly? Why he would let me be jobless yet again? This time needing money more seriously than before. I didn’t really like the work I was doing at my previous job but I didn’t want to leave until I’d found another.
I spend many days feeling like my life is out of control. Feeling like God has abandoned me or is punishing me. But then I remember Job; how he never gave up on God. How he took the time to seek God more during his struggle. So I try my best to do that, stay positive and not worry. It’s mucg easier said than done but I can say that this time around I hav much more peace while being jobless than I did before.
Job certainly faced the trials, didn’t he? Prayers for you, Jasmine, that God will provide just what you need in his perfect timing!
Esther, Gideon, and every day with two boys who have adoption, and trauma issues. The oldest boy who is 4 unable to trust us yet and whose behavior indicates HE HAS TO BE IN CONTROL. And then the crazy destructive behavior that goes along with him working at he being in control because of his lack of trust from former caretakers.
Joanne- my adopted nephew is super sweet, but at age 4, he exhibits much of what you are describing. God is greater!!!
Rahab!
oh yes- love her!!
I immediately thought of Ruth and Naomi. And then of course there was Mary and Joseph. Those are two totally different examples of giving God your complete trust and love.
The character of Job comes to my mind. He had everything, then it was all taken away. Who doesn’t want to blame God in circumstances that look so hopeless? Yet, he remained faithful.
Impending death will always be out of our control. We pray for a miracles, we keep vigil with our loved one through their suffering. . .but ultimately we are dependent on a loving and just God and we are NOT in control
Job comes to my mind. Despite the fact that he lost all he continued to trust in God. He refused to budge to the pressure of his own wife and friends and choose to fix his eyes on God. I wonder how many of us can endure such loss yet manage to love God for who he is.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego blow my mind with their demonstration of trust…and, I have recently felt out of control with my Mom’s lengthy illness and the dr.’s inability to diagnose and treat her quickly. But, the MOST out of control feeling I struggle with is the longing for my brother to give his life to Christ…for 18 yrs this has broken my heart…I cannot imagine eternity in Heaven knowing my little brother will be in hell.
I think of Ruth who had stepped out to follow Naomi to Bethlehem. She is now a childless widow living with another widow and her only means of sustenance is to glean behind harvesters. A situation where she is nothing in the eyes of the world; at risk for harassment and potential harm but she trusts God; who she did not know until she married into this family. Or I think of Esther, who also was in risk of death to approach the king who was her husband; how she fasted and prepared for this; she made sure she was in relationship with God before going forward.
For my daughter and son-in-law feeling out of control is having everything point to the military relocating them to another state and unexpectedly learning yesterday they are staying where they are. “Lord you want me to STAY here, this place I want to leave, this job I want to leave, Lord we are ready for a change and you want us to STAY?”
I feel like I am in the middle of circumstances that are out of control and feel I am sinking…. I lost my job two months ago. I have tried with interview after interview and every door gets closed sometimes slammed in my face…. I am running thin on patience. Trying to trust God’ s direction but at the same time losing hope.. Thank you for your emails everyday they sure help me get through the day….
Any other advice or words of wisdom will be soaked in and appreciated…
oh Leisa! God is in control- but that is why I feel his impression on my heart to discuss this subject. Life sure can get hard! Here’s my go-to list of Scripture for trusting God in tough times: https://rachelwojo.com/15-bible-verses-for-trusting-god-in-tough-times/ Praying for a peaceful day for you!
Right away I thought of Job. Who lost more than he? Yet in all this Job sinned not nor charged God foolishly. I needed this tonight! While my husband quits his temp job because of possible health reasons and we sit with no income in sight, I need to… what Corrie Ten Boom say?… Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to an unknown God. Thank you, Lord, for letting me run across this tonight on pintrest. I needed it! Maybe now I can stop my pity party, pray, and truly lay this mess in God’s hands.
It’s so tough, Carolyn. so tough. But God is in control!! That’s the beauty of things being out of our control- his way is HIGHER than our way. Jesus, please bless Carolyn today. We pray for provision for her family in your glorious, miraculous way.
I typed the quote wrong: Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God. Thank you for the prayers, Rachel. Still going one day at a time, one prayer at a time. It’s all we can do.
I can think of several but I think Job is top of the list. There for a while, everything that could go wrong did go wrong for that poor man. It took a lot of faith to stick it out.
Circumstances that make me feel out of control: When one of the kids get sick or hurt and I can’t “fix” it at home; unemployment; major debt- and just when you think you’re making headway, one of the kids has to be hospitalized and the car breaks down again (on the same night!); do I buy groceries or pay rent; and being alone in the world.
Been there multiple times with those kinds of decisions. It is so hard. Thank you for sharing yours- that “fix it” attitude is tough to relinquish to the Lord. And yes, loneliness. I pray this prayer for feeling lonely might ease some of your pain: https://rachelwojo.com/a-prayer-when-i-feel-lonely/ Blessings to you, TE!
One person from the Bible that stands out to me, is Joseph. I feel like his situation just kept getting worse. And even though his circumstances may not have been as intense as lions or a giant, he probably was hoping for a better day. The promise God had given to him in a dream could have just seemed buried away somewhere, but yet he chose to believe.
I learn a lot from him during days when nothing seem to get better. Sometimes we believe we’ve had enough rainy days, and that we’re ready for the sunshine now, only to face another rainy day with no sign of the sun. But there is always hope when we believe in God. His joy comes in the morning.
Circumstances we face today might be financial, health related, or even an open door we wait for.
I love Joseph. Have studied him over and over again. Thank you so much, Bernice.
I always think of David…God said David had a right heart with him and I strive for that feeling. Most out of control is when I’ve made an error at work and there is a problem. I have to just stop and say, Lord I give you my burden and pray for the right words at the right time.
Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego! Their situation was beyond their control, and yet they trusted God. They did not know if He would rescue them or deliver them. What amazing faith!
Situations today…health issues and natural disasters. Seems as if both can strike with little warning and have devastating consequences.
I try to bathe EVERYTHING in prayer. Even those little things that seem so inconsequential. Some may call it silly, but I call it faith. I KNOW God will do what is best for me.
YAY- I love that you brought the three amigos up! Yes, indeed. I agree. And yes, natural disasters are a big one. Thank you for mentioning that. Amen- God will do what is best for his children!