There are a few things that I don’t really like. I don’t enjoy snide comments masked as a compliment and I don’t particularly want to jump for joy when I see my friends cry. I don’t really like realising that my favourite pen has run out of ink and I don’t really feel like smiling when I realise my phone is only on 5% and I am nowhere near a charger. But above all, one of the things that I dislike the most is when I’m thrown curveballs in my life that I wasn’t expecting nor did I want.

I wish I could tell you that I was fearless. And I wish even more that I could tell you that I never cease to smile. But that would be a lie. There are moments I failed to feel joy and failed to see the upside in the unwanted circumstance I found myself in.

When my parents said that I couldn’t get a bunny for my birthday when I was 6 years old, I was pretty upset. When I found myself crying over a friendship gone wrong, I was devastated and when I didn’t place for a music competition that I spent months working towards, I wasn’t exactly beaming for joy. A couple of my examples are jokes, but I can honestly say that I have definitely felt seasons in my life where I felt like God wasn’t hearing my cries for help and I was feeling pretty mad.

Just like you, there have been many times in my life when curveballs had been thrown in my direction. Nobody ever plans for mistakes, hurt or failures to happen. No one ever asks to spend a Saturday night crying in their room over something someone said to them. Nobody ever asks to mess up in an important test and no one ever asks to have to say goodbye to someone they love.

Trusting God in all circumstances isn’t easy… especially in the midst of hard times. And it probably never will be. Because every single person will get to a point in their life when they finally realize that they aren’t in control. But if there is something that I have learned over the years, it is that all these unexpected failures and trials remind us of how much we actually need God. When things don’t go smoothly or as expected, we remember that we aren’t God. No matter how well detailed our weekly organizers are, or how organized our bullet journals are, we still can not guarantee what we will face next year, next month, or even what we will face today.

You were never made to be able to control the world. That was not the purpose for which you have been created for. Rather, you were created so that you would be able to revel in the wonder of having the best protector, provider and carer to look after all of your needs. So loosen that grip and let Him take control. Instead, focus on following the lead of your Maker… and not try and be Him.

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Why Does Bad Things Happen to Good People?

Good people don’t exist.

If we were good, we wouldn’t have a need for a saviour.

Bad things happen because sin has entered our world.

Brokenness. Hurt. Fear. All of it.

We are never guaranteed an easy, breezy life where we are granted everything that we want. Instead, only when our heart’s desires align with that of our Maker’s, will those desires be given to us.

“Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” — Psalm 37:4

And sometimes, God allows suffering to happen because something even more beautiful comes out of it.

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” — Romans 5:3-5

So despite the hardships and the tribulations that we are bound to face, the world that we live in doesn’t have to feel hopeless.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” — Romans 8:28

No matter the season that you are in, whether it would appear to the human eye to be one of destruction and sadness, we can take comfort knowing that in ALL things (both the good and the bad) can be used by our Father for the good of those who love Him.

How beautiful is it that even in those moments when we unexpectedly mess up or we are surprised by an unwanted curveball in our life that something wonderful can still come out of it?

—> You might also like: FREE Romans 8:28 Bible Study (downloadable)

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How to Trust God When Bad Things Happen | Trusting God in Hard Times

#1 Drop to Your Knees and Pray

More often than not, praying becomes somewhat of a ritual. We pray before we eat, pray before we sleep and pray during church. But prayer is so much more than a habit or routine. It is a lifeline offered by our Creator so that we can remain in constant communication with Him. So often, we only pray beyond our ‘routine’ when we need something from Him. But how would you feel if someone only ever wanted to message you or call you if he/she was going through a rough patch? It wouldn’t really be much of a relationship would it?

And without a trusting relationship, how can we expect to trust God when bad things happen? How can we expect to trust God in difficult times? To build our trust in God, our Maker and Creator, while we should definitely drop to our knees and begin praying when bad things happen, we should also be in constant communication with Him always. Trust is built over time. So when hard times arise, trusting God in all circumstances will be made that easier when we have already taken the time prior to actually get to know Him and build that trust.

He hears every single one of your cries for help. He might not deliver you in the way you imagined or hoped for, but trusting God in hard times means reminding yourself of the truth that He will always come through for you… and Psalm 18 is an amazing testament of God’s goodness.

“In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.” — Psalm 18:6

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“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.” — Psalm 18:18-19

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#2 Use it as an Opportunity to Cultivate Your Relationship with Him

Do you remember what it was like to have a deep chat with one of your girlfriends on one of those days you would rather forget? It could have been anything from having gone through heartbreak or having been bullied mindless. But, after a heartfelt conversation with one of your girlfriends, do you remember feeling instantly closer and more connected to her than ever before?

God wants you to come closer to Him with your circumstances. He is present in both the bad times as well as the good. He is a friend that is above your circumstances and He doesn’t have a look at what you have to offer Him. Instead, He is always faithful no matter your situation.

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” — Psalm 139:7-10

Trusting God in all circumstances isn’t easy. But we shouldn’t let our circumstances shape our relationship with God. Instead, let’s allow God to shape our view of our circumstances. He has the power to change our hearts and the way we see and experience things.

Don’t be afraid of drawing closer to God. If you find yourself running to everything but Him, then it might be time to ask yourself how you actually see your Father. Learning how to trust God when bad things happen begins with cultivating your relationship with Him. So spend time with Him. Establishing a consistent time with the Lord during the good times will help you to continue going to Him when the goings get tough. And it is never too late to begin cultivating your relationship with Him!

Click the image below to grab your FREE devotional on How to Trust God Completely when Bad Things Happen! Trusting God in hard times can be a challenge, but check out this devotional to learn more about what God has in store for you!

#3 ALWAYS Seek Truth in Scripture and Use His Word as Your Authority in all Matters of Life

Trusting God in hard times doesn’t come easy. In fact, there will be many moments where you don’t want to trust God when bad things happen. But God knew that we would fail… even in our ability to trust in Him. So, in order to help us combat the lies that run through our minds about the things that are going on, He has given us the right to suit up in His armor; the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God to fight the good fight. (Ephesians 6:10-17)

No matter the situation that you find yourself in, God knows that you need somewhere to run to when you are feeling alone and unsure. And that place is His Word. It is the only thing that remains unapologetically unchanging and forever worthy of our trust.

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” — Isaiah 40:8

You have to have a strong foundation of Scripture to stand on when you are feeling uncertain. If you don’t run straight to the Word to remind you of the truth in difficult times, it is so much easier for you to be led into lies about the circumstances that you are facing and who God really is. When life throws you a curveball and you are suddenly amongst the fallible and inconsistent, the only thing that we can cling to for truth is the never-changing and trustworthy Word of God.

There is no better way to build a relationship with God than by reading Scripture and diving deep into His Word. Throughout the pages of the Bible, we can learn more about who He is and what He has promised. And when we grow in our knowledge and understanding of our Heavenly Father, we grow in our trust in what He says and the promises He has given.

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#4 Remember There’s Always a Bigger Purpose

When we remember that there is a purpose, learning how to trust God when bad things happen can be so much more encouraging. While I don’t believe that God causes us to suffer, I do believe that sometimes He allows suffering to happen so that He can use it to encourage you or others… even if it isn’t in the way you expected. (Romans 5:3-5) So don’t ever feel like your suffering is for zilch. He sees you in your suffering and wants to take that and use it!

Sometimes the purpose is to take action, but sometimes it is to simply invite you to rest and wait. Pray to God and listen carefully to where the Holy Spirit is leading you to do. Continue faithfully seeking the Lord and wait on Him to lead the way. If you feel like He isn’t responding to your cries, remember His promises that He is always listening to your prayers and He will always respond to them... albeit in His own way and timing!

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.” — Psalm 34:17

#5 Confess Your Unbelief to Your Maker

Trusting God in all circumstances isn’t meant to be a task that you can achieve all by yourself. There is nothing in this life that we can do perfectly… including our faith in God. And He knows that! So don’t be afraid to be honest and tell Him exactly how you are feeling. Let Him into your life and tell Him about what you find difficult in trusting Him in.

Even in Mark 9, we see a man who has brought his son to Jesus, asking Jesus to free his son from a demon who has been possessing him. He asked Jesus to heal his son “if you can”. Jesus asked the man if he did not believe that he could heal his son, to which the man replied, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” He had faith, but needed help to believe because even the act of believing was a challenging thing.

Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”

“From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”

— Mark 9:14-29

To trust God when bad things happen doesn’t come naturally to us when life takes an unexpected and unwanted detour. But that is natural… because we are just human. Luckily for us, we are perfectly able to confess our feelings to God when we feel like our beliefs aren’t lining up with His Truth.

—> You might also like: How to Let Go and Let God Control Your Life

Click the image below to grab your FREE devotional on How to Trust God Completely when Bad Things Happen! Trusting God in difficult times can be a challenge, but check out this devotional to learn more about what God has in store for you!

So… How to Trust God When Bad Things Happen?

What it Truly Means: Trusting God in All Circumstances and Situations

It can be downright hard to trust God when bad things happen… and trusting God in hard times can be quite the mission… especially when life becomes unpredictable and difficult. but even when we don’t see our prayers getting answered or our problems being solved straightaway, we can continue to soldier on because we can trust in His promises to be our source of strength.

So let’s be honest. You’re still going to have your heart broken by those closest to you and you’re still going to make the same mistakes over and over before you learn better. You’re still going to be thrown into situations that you have never been in before and you’re still going to feel out of control and alone. But this time, if you do that little jiggle with Christ, you won’t find yourself suddenly bursting into tears when life doesn’t go the way you planned or expected. Instead, when you do your dance with Him, you will be able to reflect and think, “no matter what my circumstances are, He is God… and He is still good.”

Trusting God in Hard Times: The Story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego

When situations and circumstances arise that seemingly come out of nowhere and bad things keep on happening, there will still be joy in your everyday. Because you know that His goodness comes from who He is and not the circumstances that you find yourself in.

So you, yes you! Read this story about the Image of Gold and the Blazing Furnace in Daniel 3 where a group of three men; Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to bow down to a gold statue of King Nebuchadnezzar… even when threatened to be thrown in the fire alive.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” — Daniel 3:16-18

Even if you aren’t delivered from the struggles that you are facing and the circumstances that you are in, I hope that you will be able to have the same faith that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had when the King was preparing to burn them to a crisp in the furnace for not listening to his imperial commands. I pray that even if you aren’t delivered, you will be like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and still worship Christ… and remember that you do serve a good God that has a plan bigger than your circumstances. But while God did eventually deliver Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from the flames, take comfort in the sweet reminder that if you are experiencing hard times, it is for a reason and He has the power to use all things for your good!

Everything that you go through is only temporary and it serves an eternal purpose. So don’t fail to dance in the midst of your trials and don’t forget to take God’s hand and let Him lead you every step of the way!

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” — James 1:2-4

Click the image below to grab your FREE devotional on How to Trust God Completely when Bad Things Happen! Trusting God in hard times can be a challenge, but check out this devotional to learn more about what God has in store for you!

Hey! Here Are Other Resources…

—> CLICK THE LINK TO READ … 5 Biblical Truths for Finding God in Hard Times (& Prayers to Speak)

–> CLICK THE LINK TO READ … Why Letting God Take Control is Hard (and what you can do about it!)

—> CLICK THE LINK TO READ … How to Find God’s Calling for Your Life

—> CLICK THE LINK TO READ … How to Find Your Identity in Christ

or browse the blog HERE!

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Before You Go…

Hope ya enjoyed this lil’ blog post on what it means to be trusting God in all circumstances! Being able to trust God when bad things happen isn’t easy, but you are never alone! He wants to do this dance with you… and roll with the punches with you! So drop a comment below and let me know — do you struggle with trusting God in hard times?

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