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Faith Over Fear: Daily Steps to Trust God in Tough Times

744 words, 4 minutes read time.

The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1, NIV)

Introduction

When tough times come, it’s easy to get caught up in fear and uncertainty. But as Christians, we have a greater option available to us: trusting God in the midst of chaos.

In Psalm 27, David expresses his trust in God as his light, salvation, and stronghold. He asks who he should fear with such confidence in our Lord. As believers, we can do the same.

Insights into Fear

Fear is a natural human response to uncertainty and danger. However, when we let fear take hold, it can lead us down a path of doubt and despair. In 1 John 4:18, we’re reminded that God does not give us evil things to suffer, but rather gives us strength and hope in the midst of trial.

When we focus on our fears rather than our faith, we open ourselves up to feelings of inadequacy and powerlessness. But when we fix our eyes on Jesus, we discover a different narrative – one of courage, resilience, and victory over fear.

Practical Applications

So how can we cultivate trust in God when the world around us seems dark and uncertain? Here are a few practical steps to consider:

Practice Spiritual Discernment

As believers, we have access to spiritual discernment through the Holy Spirit. When faced with fear or uncertainty, take time to pray and seek God’s guidance. Ask Him to reveal His truth in your situation, and trust that He is working everything out for your good (Romans 8:28).

Focus on God’s Presence

When we focus on our fears rather than our faith, we can lose sight of God’s presence in our lives. Take time to reflect on the promises of Scripture and remember that you are never alone. God is with you, even when it feels like He’s not (Deuteronomy 31:6).

Surround Yourself with Believers

When we surround ourselves with people who share our faith, we’re reminded that we’re not alone in this journey. Seek out community and connection with fellow believers – it can be a powerful antidote to fear and uncertainty.

Reflection / Challenge

What are some specific fears or uncertainties you’re facing right now? Take time to pray for God’s strength and guidance in these areas.
Reflect on times when you’ve trusted God in the midst of tough times. What did you learn from those experiences, and how can you apply those lessons today?
Write down three things you trust God with today – no matter how small they may seem. Remember that our faith is not based on what we have or accomplish, but on who He is.

Prayer / Closing

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for being my light and salvation in the darkest of times. Help me to trust You more deeply today, even when fear tries to creep in. Surround me with Your presence and remind me that I am never alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Call to Action

If this devotional encouraged you, don’t just scroll on. Subscribe for more devotionals, share a comment about what God is teaching you, or reach out and tell me what you’re reflecting on today. Let’s grow in faith together.

Sources

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the author. The information provided is based on personal research, experience, and understanding of the subject matter at the time of writing. Readers should consult relevant experts or authorities for specific guidance related to their unique situations.

Intentional Faith Nov 24

When God Works Good From What We Cannot Understand

Afternoon Moment

Some afternoons feel longer than others. The morning’s energy begins to fade, responsibilities press in from every side, and the weight of unfinished tasks sits heavy on our shoulders. It is often in these later hours of the day—when the body slows and the mind grows cloudy—that our frustrations speak the loudest. Yet it is also here, in this tender space, that the Lord invites us to pause, breathe, and remember that He is near.

Today, as the Church approaches the beginning of Advent, we turn to a theme central to this season: hope. Not wishful thinking, not optimism, but anchored hope—the kind that steadies the soul when life grows difficult. The writer of Hebrews gives us this promise: “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil” (Hebrews 6:19). Our hope is not anchored in circumstances but in Christ who stands behind the veil, interceding for us.

And this afternoon, perhaps that is exactly what you need: not answers, not explanations, but an anchor.

Faith in the Middle of the Unseen

Our Scripture reading from Hebrews 11:23–29 reminds us that the people of faith often walked through long seasons of uncertainty. Moses’ parents hid him for three months, not because they could guarantee the future, but because they trusted the God who governed it. Moses himself chose mistreatment with God’s people rather than comfort in Pharaoh’s courts. He walked through the sea before the waters parted. He obeyed before understanding.

Their faith reminds us that obedience always precedes clarity. When life feels heavy, it is tempting to demand explanations from God, but the saints of old learned to walk by trust long before they saw the outcome. The anchor of Hebrews 6:19 was not placed in calm seas but in the storm’s center.

As Oswald Chambers wisely wrote, “Suffering either makes fiends of us or it makes saints of us; it depends entirely on our relationship towards God.” Trouble has a way of revealing what we have been relying on. If our confidence rests on comfort, ease, or predictability, suffering will unravel us. But if our hope rests in Christ, suffering becomes a deep well from which God draws spiritual strength, compassion, humility, and wisdom.

Many believers, if asked, would deny being angry with God when trouble enters their lives. Yet irritation often seeps out in the way we pray, in the tone we use when we speak of God’s sovereignty, or in the weariness that whispers, “Lord… why didn’t You stop this?” Somewhere in our hearts, we know God is capable of halting any trial with a single word. So when He doesn’t, frustration creeps in, not because we doubt His power but because we don’t understand His plan.

But Hebrews reminds us that faith does not silence honest questions; faith simply refuses to let them turn us bitter.

When Hurt Presses In—Kneel Instead of Run

The study invites us to take a posture we often resist: kneeling in prayer. When disappointment, heartache, or confusion knocks on the door of your afternoon, your first instinct may be to search for an escape route—something to fix, someone to call, a distraction to reach for. But searching for a way out often magnifies the problem.

Prayer, however, places the problem in God’s hands instead of your own.

In prayer, we do not come as experts, strategists, or survivors—we come as children. God is your heavenly Counselor, the One who understands the entire landscape of your circumstances. He sees the beginning, the middle, and the end. He knows what this moment will produce in your life if committed to Him.

The study encourages us to ask God why He allowed certain things into our lives. Not with accusation, but with humility. God would rather we come to Him with our confusion than hide from Him in our pain, the way Adam hid in Eden. Honest prayer opens the door for God to reshape our perspective.

And sometimes, God uses people to help in that process. Talking through your struggles with someone who honors Christ, seeks His best for you, and values confidentiality can be deeply healing. Wisdom often flows through relationships, and many burdens become lighter when shared.

But even good conversations must return to God in prayer. The study reminds us that the healthiest way to end such moments is by placing the hurt in the Lord’s hands, asking Him to bring good from it.

When God Works All Things for Good

Romans 8:28 is not a sentimental phrase or a spiritual bumper sticker. It is a pillar of hope for the hurting. “God works all things together for good…” does not mean all things are good. Pain, betrayal, injustice, illness, and loss are not good. They are wounds in a fallen world. Yet in His unsearchable wisdom, God enters the cracks of our suffering and begins weaving redemption into the places that hurt the most.

He brings compassion out of sorrow.
Strength out of weakness.
Perseverance out of trial.
And character out of disappointment.

He does not merely repair what was broken—He transforms it.

This is why Hebrews speaks of hope as an anchor. When we face suffering, hope keeps us from drifting into despair. When life feels senseless, hope keeps us from collapsing inward. When disappointment grows heavy, hope whispers that God is still writing the story.

Afternoons can be long, but God is longer.
Days can feel overwhelming, but God is deeper.
Our strength may fade, but His strength renews us.

Let this be your moment to breathe, pray, and remember that God is at work—even here, even now, even in this.

A Simple Prayer for This Afternoon

Dear Lord, please take my hurt and frustration and bring something good out of them. Give me a new perspective on my circumstances and renewed strength to face the challenges ahead. Anchor me in Your hope, and keep my heart steady in Your presence. Amen.

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#afternoonDevotional #hebrews619 #romans828 #sufferingAndFaith #trustingGodInTrials

Lauryl Inspiring Jul 30

Don’t let the pain stop you. #ChristianMotivation #PurposeInPain #GodsPlan #Romans828 #FaithBuilder http://www.youtube.com/shorts/uM-XmMsiPuM
https://laurylinspiring.wordpress.com/2025/07/30/dont-let-the-pain-stop-you-christianmotivation-purposeinpain-godsplan-romans828-faithbuilder/

Don’t let the pain stop you. #ChristianMotivation #PurposeInPain #GodsPlan #Romans828 #FaithBuilder

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Belgian Ecclesia Brussel - Leuven Jun 20, 2019

Today’s thought June 20: The hand of the LORD has gone out against me

From a love story going deeper than just the story of a man and a woman.

The account of Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi has a special message for us in encouraging us to see the ‘bigger picture’ of life, the picture as God sees it. Because of a severe famine Naomi with her husband and two sons move from Bethlehem to Moab. Some years pass but then her husband dies and she “was left with her two sons” (1:3). The sons marry Moabite women and “they lived there about ten years” (verse 4) but then her sons die.

Naomi then decides to return to her home town of Bethlehem and one of her daughters-in-law insists on coming with her declaring,

“Your people shall be my people and your God my God” (verse 16).

Naomi, at first, feels it would be better if Ruth stayed in Moab and states,

“it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me” (verse 13).

As events unfold, we begin to see the bigger picture. God sees the end from the beginning. In Isaiah’s chapter today we see God is challenging those who worship idols,

“Let them declare what is to come” (44:7)

as the Lord does. In chapter 46 we will read,

“I am God and there is no other … there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done” (verses 9,10).

Naomi starts to perceive that “the hand of the LORD” weaves together events in a longer time frame in the outworking of his purposes; this is more than we mortals can normally comprehend, but we can catch some perception of it as we look back. Thus we see how Ruth became the grandmother of Jesse the father of David. The time came when David was being hunted by Saul and David saw the need to protect his parents from the probability of Saul’s vengeance and 1 Samuel 22:3,4 tells us he went to Moab and

“said to the king of Moab,

‘Please let my father and mother stay with you’”.

It is evident why he trusted this king. This gives us a glimpse of how, under God’s oversight,

“all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28).

So, in this twenty-first century we eagerly watch to see how God will fulfil His Word through Isaiah that we have read today in chapter 44 for

“The LORD … will be glorified in Israel” (verse 22)

and this nation is now a focus of attention in a the world that now largely believes in the ‘god of evolution’! But God declares,

“I am the LORD who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself … who turns wise men back and makes their knowledge foolish” (verses 24,25).

Let us all search God’s word to see more evidence of his “hand” at work!

Preceding

Are you looking for answers and Are you looking for God

Today’s thought “Blessed people …” (July 27)

Memorizing wonderfully 20 Mountain and Kingdom of God

Best intimate relation to look for

God’s never-ending stream of much-needed mercies

Additional reading

Vox populi anything but Vox Dei

Praying is surrendering in all circumstances

Actions to be a reflection of openness of heart

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