Navigating Life’s Turbulence: Trusting God Through Trials
Have you ever found yourself asking, “How did I get here?” In moments like these, it’s natural to question whether God is with you. If God were with me, how could I possibly be in this situation? How could I be going through these things? Yet, it’s in these very moments that we must realize and believe that the fact you’re here, reading this, is proof that God has been with you all along. How do I know? Because you’re still here. He has sustained you and is holding you.
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” (Isaiah 43:2 NIV)
God’s message to us is clear:
“But now, God’s Message,
The God who made you in the first place, Jacob,
The One who got you started, Israel:
‘Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you.
I’ve called your name. You’re mine.
When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you.
When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you’re between a rock and a hard place,
It won’t be a dead end —
Because I am God, your personal God,
The Holy of Israel, your Savior.
I paid a huge price for you:
All of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in!
That’s how much you mean to me!
That’s how much I love you!
I’d sell off the whole world to get you back,
Trade the creation just for you.’”
(Isaiah 43:1–4, The Message)
These passages remind us that God has given us the opportunity to seek Him, so He can guard our hearts and minds and give us peace. He promises to hear us when we cry out and to answer us. It’s comforting to know that He listens and responds, providing the reassurance that we are not alone.
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:8–9 NIV)
In The Message version, this passage is even more vivid:
“We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken.”
God sustains us and protects us. We may not have everything we want, but He ensures we have everything we need. With Him, we lack nothing, and He will not withhold anything good from us. When it feels like you’re between a rock and a hard place, remember that these struggles can be mental as much as physical. We’re often dealing with things we don’t know how to escape from, and it’s crucial to learn to give these burdens over to God. It sounds easier said than done, but we must practice surrendering to maintain our sanity and keep moving forward. God has not forgotten about you. He promised to be with you always, to see you through, and to be with you until the end of time. He said, “Draw near to me, and I will draw near to you.” Trust God.
Embracing Faith Through Life’s Turbulence
Most of us have been on a plane at least once. When you board a plane, they tell you to brace yourself for turbulence. The higher you climb, the shakier it gets. You do your best to stay positive, blocking out negative thoughts. As the plane climbs, going through rocky stages, you hold on tightly and pray, asking God to get you through the turbulence. Though you feel the jerks and impacts, you aren’t worried because you trust God to see you through.
Why is it that when trials and tribulations hit our lives, we say God is not with us? Instead of bracing ourselves, we complain. The Bible says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Just like the pilot tells you to brace for turbulence, life’s challenges are similar. The higher you go, the more intense the turbulence. The higher you go in life, the more trials and tribulations you will face. But no matter how rough it gets, you must hang on and trust that God will get you through it.
“God, get me through this turbulence.”
When you board a plane by faith, trusting God to get you to your destination, you let go of control. “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1)
When you step onto the plane, your seat is already assigned. You take your seat, knowing you’re supposed to be there. Some of you may already have your plane ticket and assigned destination but are afraid to board. You’re afraid to step out in faith and see what God has for you because it means relinquishing control.
Trusting God Beyond Our Comfort Zone
Once the plane takes off, you are no longer in control. You trust God with your life, knowing that anything could happen. Have you ever been on a plane during a thunderstorm? Some people shut the blinds, trusting God to make it through the storm without needing to see. Others want to watch the storm, wanting to be the first to know if something happens. In either case, faith involves trusting God regardless of the circumstances.
Like Peter walking on water, we struggle to stay afloat when we take our eyes off Jesus and focus on the chaos around us. But God promises to keep in perfect peace those whose eyes are stayed on Him.
We are on this plane, and God is taking us higher. It will get hard, and we will doubt and be afraid, but God is with us, guiding us to our destination. He makes our crooked places straight, no matter how far we have drifted.
Holding On Through Life’s Trials
There are times when you want to get off the plane, feeling that it’s too hard, that you’re not built for this. But you can’t abandon ship because you are already in the sky. Jumping isn’t a guarantee of survival. If you walked on this plane by faith, sat in your seat, and buckled up, knowing you’re supposed to be here, hold on tight as you go through trials and tribulations.
God has given us His word to navigate life. If turbulence lasted the entire flight, no one would fly. Similarly, God won’t send you through more than you can handle. Tests and trials come to make us strong and test our faith. You will not go through any hardship without becoming wiser, stronger, and more motivated to pursue everything God has for you.
Remember, trouble doesn’t last always. Joy comes in the morning, and your latter days will be greater. After you have suffered a little while, God will restore you.
Trust God through the turbulence, knowing that He will bring you safely to your destination.
