Is it possible to trust God with problems and disappointments before you see them resolved?
During my senior year of college, a restless anxiety began to build in me. Graduation loomed, and I wasn’t sure what to do next. I overheard some sorority sisters talking about a ski retreat with a Christian group. The group was a bit more zealous in their faith than I was, but a ski retreat should be safe. And I needed a dose of inspiration.
I joined the group on an old school bus chartered to carry us to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. As soon as we hit the mountain foothills it became obvious the bus was made for the flat lands of coastal Georgia. It sputtered, stuttered, and stopped.
The first time we halted, several students prayed while the bus driver worked to repair the bus. Their prayers sounded something like this:
“Thank you, Lord for being in control.”
“Thank you, for allowing this to happen.”
“Thank you, that you are working this out for Your purpose and our good.”
I’d thanked God before. But I thanked Him for things I was actually thankful for! Not for disappointments or when life wasn’t working out as I wanted. These prayers certainly grabbed my attention.
As we climbed steeper hills, the bus’s stops became more frequent. Its heater also quit working. My toes felt like the frozen snow on the side of the road. Each breakdown brought more prayers of thanksgiving. Finally, late into the night, long after the conference’s evening sessions had ended, our bus sat on the side of a dark highway broken-down—again.
Across the street sprawled a dingy motel we dubbed Cockroach Inn. When talk about staying there surfaced, I added my silent prayers to the others. “Dear Lord, don’t listen to these people! I don’t want to spend the night here. We’re cold, hungry, and tired. Please get us to the conference—tonight.”
The bus rumbled, and we were off. We tiptoed into our sleeping rooms so as not to awake the others.
Engaging speakers, joyful singing, and lots of fun made the weekend better than I’d anticipated. But what stood out most was the attitude of the students and staff both on the bus and at the conference. A guy lost his senior ring and didn’t fret. Who were these people who completely trusted God with their disappointments?
I’d begun attending church nine months before I was born. I knew Jesus as my Savior and that I was going to heaven when I died. But I lacked the calm confidence these students displayed. I’d never considered turning to the Lord with my day-to-day disappointments.
I came home thirsty to know Jesus better—not because of the wonderful teaching, great worship, or fun—though those didn’t hurt. I wanted to know Him better because of the peace these students showed during disappointment. They trusted God was at work in all things.
And they were right. Not only did God use that broken-down bus to make me thirsty to know Him better, He used it in many other students’ lives too. What felt like a big frustration ended up being the most memorable part of the conference for many of us.
Trusting God during disappointment is powerful. It brings us peace and provides a brilliant witness to an anxious world.
Do you have a problem or disappointment weighing on you? What might happen if, by faith, you chose to thank Him for it before you see how He’ll use it?
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Heb. 11:6 NIV).
Blessings,
Photo by David Preston on Unsplash
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This is a message I needed to read today. Thank you so much. I love how God sends messages exactly when we need them. 🙂
Melissa, He is amazing! Glory to His name!
Debbie, I loved this story of having eternal perspective in the ordinary things of life. (Although I’m sure that bus ride didn’t seem ordinary at all!) So true how having the right perspectives does so much good.
Leslie, when I can remember God is looking at the big picture it helps me trust Him.
Debbie He has proven this to me numerous times and never has let me down! He never fails even if the resolution looks different than what I was hoping for!
Amen, Ann! I often need that reminder. Thanks for your witness to this truth.
Wow !
I was looking for an understanding on Eccle 7:13, when I found your article !
It was my own meditation too about Joseph and your article added so much more faith and clarity !
I was wondering about a person who is crooked that could be made straight, that could happen ONLY by the one who made him – GOD, through FAITH IN our LORD JESUS !
BUT your article spoke about GOD’S plans, and how we expect it to be straight – because of other Scriptures telling us of how straight GOD’S ways are, and so because GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT spoke to me today through Eccle 7:13 , I found your article !
Thanks for being faithful to GOD, you have a gift of sharing the gospel in your unique and beautiful way.!
I’m blessed and am sharing it with my own brother !
Learning to trust in all circumstances can be difficult to master, but oh so rewarding Ms. Debbie. I join you in prayer that many more come to understand that we can trust our faithful Father in all circumstances – even the unresolved ones.
J.D. I have had a chance to practice that again this week. God wants us to walk by faith, and sometimes that stretches us! Thanks, friend.
This is a needed challenge to my faith and prayer life today. Thank you.
Thank you, Lauren!
Debbie, isn’t it amazing how God started teaching you before you arrived at the destination! Sometimes I get focused on the problems instead of remembering to thank Him in all things. Thank you for an engaging post that reminds us to trust God in all circumstances.
Yes, Jeannie. My biggest lesson was a life lesson. Thanks so much for pointing that out!
Debbie, thank you so much for these reminders! Trusting God seems to be the theme I need to hear today.
Pinned.
Thank you for linking up at InstaEncouragements!
Patsy, since faith pleases God, I think our enemy is always throwing up reasons not to trust Him. Thanks for sharing.
Debbie, such a powerful story of how the Lord used the other adults and students to show you that peaceful and calm assurance in who God is and what He’s capable of doing. And glad your own prayer over the cochroach hotel worked too! 😉
LOL! Me too, Karen! Thanks so much.
I struggle to be thankful during challenges, too. Though I am quite guilty of offering God all “my solutions,” as if He might not have thought of the one way I thought it might get solved best to fit my needs…. But, I usually learn another lesson when God’s way is ALWAYS better (and higher) than my way! Thanks for sharing! (by the way, what sorority were you a part of at GS?
Julie, I was a ZTA. And I’m quick to think I know a better way too. 🙂
It sounds like your adventure to Gatlinburg was a perspective changer. God calls us to pray boldly and when you heard the others thanking God ahead of time for upcoming challenges you were shown the power of praying boldly. Thank you for your words, Debbie!
Thank you, Mary!