I’m in a difficult season with lots of changes and unknowns. I don’t like it—at all.
My job ends soon, and I feel God calling me to move out of state.
But I haven’t secured a new job yet.
I love my current city, and I’m surrounded by family, friends, and Christian fellowship.
It’s easy to become discouraged when our circumstances feel confusing, uncertain, or hard.
3 Ways to Trust God in Difficult Seasons
God can grant us a perspective to see His goodness in the midst of feeling overwhelmed.
Here are three ways we can trust God in difficult seasons and shift our focus to the Lord’s character instead of our circumstances.
1. Remember God’s faithfulness in the past.
“Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us.’” – 1 Samuel 7:12 NIV
Samuel set up a stone to remind the children of Israel about God’s help. When we remind ourselves of God’s faithfulness in the past, we can draw strength for the present.
During good times, write spiritual victories in a journal or a notes app on your phone.
Draw a timeline of your life and insert mile markers of when God rescued you. Create a poster or a rock garden with Ebenezers marking instances when God delivered you.
Ensure access to these reminders to foster trust in God during difficult seasons. Let these Ebenezers lift your spirit and allow God’s past triumphs into your life today.
Sometimes the pain of current situations can block our memories. Having someone outside our circumstances can help give another perspective.
Find a friend who has known you for many years. Ask her to recall God’s faithfulness during difficult seasons of your life or others’ lives.
When God shows up for us, it’s like He deposits trust funds in a bank to draw from in challenging seasons. Pull from the equity of what God has already done on our behalf.
Since God has made a way before, He can do the same again.
2. Ask God for help to trust Him.
“Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, ‘I do believe; help my unbelief!’” – Mark 9:24 NASB
When Jesus returned from the Mount of Transfiguration, His disciples were in a pickle. They strived to cast out a demon from a boy without success.
Too many times, the boy’s father watched as a demon tried to kill his son by throwing him into fire or water (Mk 9:22). And now the disciples couldn’t cure his son.
When Jesus told the father all things were possible for those who believed, the father cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”
The father wanted to believe Jesus, but confessed his doubt.
When we have less to draw from past experiences with the Lord, we can ask God to help us trust Him—just like the boy’s father did.
God always acts in ways consistent with His character. The Lord inclines His ear to His children (Ps 116:2).
Philippians 1:6 reminds us, “that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” What God starts, He will complete.
God is trustworthy in every season.
3. Consider that seasons change.
“Here is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” – Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV
A tree looks different in every season.
In winter, a tree has empty twigs. But in the spring, that same tree may be lush, full of green leaves, and bear fruit.
The Lord ordains a time and season for every purpose He has for us.
During difficult seasons when we may feel like hope is lost and all that remains are barren branches and withered leaves, we can remind ourselves that this season shall pass.
If we find ourselves in a hard season, we know a better one will come one day. Even if this means waiting for Heaven (Rv 21:1–4).
Make Space for God
I took off work to fast and pray for direction from the Lord. Should I move out of state?
I received four nos from God during that focused time. Four.
Only one of those nos was wanted.
While processing these nos, I shared the experience with my Bible study group.
My Bible study leader, Zeke, motioned with his hands as if removing four chess pieces from a board one at a time.
“If God hadn’t said no to these four things,” Zeke said. “There wouldn’t be space for what God has next.”
Zeke ran his hands down the middle of the invisible chessboard, showing a clear path for the Lord to move.
If a tree isn’t pruned properly, it can become unruly. Old branches suck nutrients needed to nurture new growth.
Sometimes we need to shed old leaves or have some branches cut for new growth to happen.
At times, we may cling to what we know too tightly and don’t allow God space to bear fruit in our lives.
We should look for ways God is preparing a new path forward for us and thank the Lord for how He works in our lives.
Our circumstances may change, but God will not (Heb 13:8).
When we’re in a difficult season and finding it hard to trust God, we can remember His faithfulness in the past, ask God for help when we need it, and understand how seasons change.
Whatever season we find ourselves in today, we can trust God to see us through it.
Joanna Eccles
Joanna Eccles founded Words from the Honeycomb to share sweet words to encourage people in Christ. She has led Bible studies for over 15 years and desires to shape culture through her writing by addressing truths in relatable ways. Joanna can’t wake up without a cup of coffee, loves reading, and lives in Virginia.
