Have you ever felt like everything is just too hard? Like your heart is really sad, and you don’t know what to do next?
Maybe it feels like all your good thoughts are gone, and you’re just stuck in the dark. It’s okay to feel this way. Lots of people do.
But guess what? Even when everything seems lost, you can still trust God. He is always there, and He wants to help you.
God is Always Good, Even When Life is Hard
Life is like a path with lots of bumps and turns. Sometimes it’s sunny and easy, and other times it’s rainy and tough. The Bible says that everyone will have hard times in their life.
This isn’t because God is mean, but because our world isn’t perfect. But here’s the good news: God is always good, and He can make good things happen even from the bad times.
The Bible tells us in Romans 8:28, “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.” This means God can take all the yucky stuff and turn it into something good for you!
Bible Stories to Help You Trust God
The Bible is full of stories about regular people, just like you and me, who had really hard times. But God always showed up for them! Their stories can help us trust God too.
When Life Feels Too Big:
Think about a strong lady named Deborah. She was a leader, a judge, a wife, and a mom, and she even led her people to war! It sounds like she had a very big to-do list, right? When life gets too busy and you feel like you can’t do it all, remember Deborah.
She knew God was going before her, helping her with every single thing. The Bible says in Judges 4:14, “Then Deborah said to Barak, ‘Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands.
Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?'” When you trust God like Deborah did, you know that God is on your side, helping you with everything you need to do.
When You Pray and Nothing Happens:
There was an old couple named Zechariah and Elizabeth. They really wanted a baby, but they couldn’t have one because they were too old. They prayed for many, many years.
It must have felt like God wasn’t listening. But God was working in a way they couldn’t see! Finally, God sent an angel to tell them they would have a son named John, who would grow up to be very special.
The Bible tells us in Luke 1:13 that an angel told Zechariah, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.”
When your prayers don’t seem to get answered, don’t give up! God is still there, and He is still working. He might have a different, even better, plan.
When You Hear Really Bad News:
A prophet named Isaiah had to tell his people some very sad news. It made his stomach hurt, and he felt really down.
But even with all that bad news, Isaiah chose to trust God’s plan. He was honest with God about how much it hurt, but he still believed in God’s bigger purpose.
In Isaiah 49:4, Isaiah said, “But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose. Yet I leave it all in the Lord’s hand; I will trust God for my reward.”
It’s okay to tell God exactly how you feel when bad things happen. He is big enough to handle your sadness and your questions.
When You’ve Been Hurting for a Very Long Time:
There was a woman who was sick for twelve years. She tried everything and spent all her money, but no one could help her.
Imagine how tired and sad she must have been! But she didn’t give up hope. She heard about Jesus and believed if she could just touch His clothes, she would get well. And she did!
The Bible shares this in Mark 5:34: Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
Don’t let long-lasting pain steal your hope. Keep believing that God cares and can still do amazing things.
When Things Feel Impossible:
Think about Moses and the Israelites when they were stuck between the Red Sea and a big, angry army. It looked like there was no way out! But God did something nobody expected.
He parted the Red Sea so they could walk across on dry land. Moses told the people in Exodus 14:13, “Do not be afraid!
Take your stand and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today.” The Bible also says in Psalm 66:5-6, “Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people! He made a dry path through the Red Sea, and his people went across on foot.” When you feel trapped and there’s no way out, remember that God is an “outside-the-box” thinker.
He can do things we can’t even dream of.
When Life Doesn’t Go Your Way:
King David was a hero, but his life didn’t always go as planned. He ended up hiding in a cave with a group of people who were also having a tough time. It wasn’t the royal life he thought he’d have.
But David kept trusting God. He knew that God had a special plan for him, and that plan wouldn’t change, even when things got hard.
Ephesians 1:11 reminds us that God has a plan for our lives. Your plans might change, but God’s good plan for you never does.
When the Future Feels Scary and Unknown:
Remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? They were told to bow down to a gold statue or be thrown into a super hot fire.
That’s a very scary choice! But they said they would trust God no matter what.
They said, “But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up” (Daniel 3:18).
And guess what? God was with them in the fire, and they didn’t get hurt at all (Daniel 3:24-25)! It’s hard to trust when you don’t know what will happen.
But God is bigger than any scary outcome. You just need to keep trusting Him and His goodness.
When Your Heart is Broken (Grief):
Naomi and Ruth were two women who lost their husbands. Naomi also lost her two sons. She felt very bitter and sad.
But Ruth stayed with her, and they helped each other. God used their friendship to bring them healing and hope.
Ruth 1:16 says, “But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.'”
When you’re really sad, let your friends and family help you. God often sends people to comfort us and help us see the light again.
When You’ve Made Mistakes:
Jacob tricked his brother and ran away for many years. When he finally had to face his brother, he was very scared.
He knew he had messed up. But Jacob prayed and wrestled with God, and God changed him.
In Genesis 32:10, Jacob prayed, “I am not worthy of all the unfailing love and faithfulness you have shown to me, your servant.”
Then, in Genesis 32:28, God gave Jacob a new name, Israel, saying, “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.”
God doesn’t want your past mistakes to stop you. He wants to help you move forward and become new.
When You Are So Afraid:
Queen Esther was a young woman who had to speak to a powerful king to save her people. It was very scary, and she could have died!
But her cousin, Mordecai, helped her see that maybe God had made her queen for just this time. Esther chose to be brave and act, even though she was still afraid. Esther 4:14 says, “And who knows? Perhaps you have been made queen for such a time as this.” It’s okay to be scared.
But you can choose to be brave and trust God, just like Esther did.
When the Pain Doesn’t Go Away:
Even a great man of God like Paul had a “thorn in his flesh” that caused him a lot of pain. He asked God three times to take it away, but God said no.
Instead, God told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” The Bible shares this in 2 Corinthians 12:9. Paul learned that God’s strength showed up best when he was weak.
Sometimes, God doesn’t take away the hard things, but He gives you the strength to go through them. His grace is truly enough.
Even Jesus Felt Lost and Hurt:
The best person who ever lived, Jesus, also felt very sad and overwhelmed.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, He was so sad He said, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.”
He prayed to God, asking if there was another way, but He still trusted His Father’s plan. The Bible tells us this in Matthew 26:38.
Jesus knows what it feels like to hurt. He understands your pain and is with you.
How You Can Trust God Today
It can be hard to trust God when everything feels hopeless. But here are some simple ways to keep your heart close to Him:
1. Read His Good Book (The Bible):
God’s Word is like a lamp that shows you the way when it’s dark. It helps you remember that God is true and never changes.
Romans 15:4 says, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”
2. Talk to God (Pray):
Tell God everything, even your sad and confused feelings. He wants to hear it all!
The Bible says, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
He even keeps track of your tears, as Psalm 56:8 says, “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in Your book.”
3. Be with God’s Friends:
You don’t have to go through hard times alone. Other people who love God can encourage you, pray for you, and remind you of God’s truth.
Philemon 1:6 talks about how our “partnership in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.”
4. Remember How Good God Is:
Even when things are bad, God is still good. Remember times when He helped you before.
He is always on your side. Psalm 34:18 tells us, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
5. Look for Good Things:
It might be hard, but try to find small things to be thankful for each day. This helps you fight the sad feelings.
The Bible says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
6. Let God’s Spirit Help You:
God put His Spirit inside you when you believe in Jesus.
This Spirit will comfort you and show you what to do next. John 14:26 says, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
7. Wait for God:
Sometimes, the best thing to do is to wait for God to act. He will give you strength while you wait.
Isaiah 40:31 says, “They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
God Always Has a Plan
When you feel like all hope is lost, remember this big truth: God is in charge of everything.
He has a good plan, even when you can’t see it (Romans 8:28). You might just be seeing one small piece of the puzzle, but God sees the whole picture.
Jesus told His friends that they would have hard times in this world, as it says in John 16:33, “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage: I have overcome the world.” But He also promised to always be with them (Matthew 28:20). He is with you too.
When it feels like the darkest night, remember that the morning is coming. Hope is always there because God is always there. And He will never, ever let you go.