Hello my lovelies! Do you ever worry about the future? In these uncertain days, it seems that there is little stability. We make plans and find them abruptly cancelled. And we who enjoy the illusion of controlling our destiny soon realize that we have very little control at all. Faced with the challenges of life, it’s easy for us to be afraid or worried. You may wonder, “Can I really trust God with my future? Or should I try to plan it myself?” In this post, we’ll talk about what to do when you’re afraid to trust God with your future.
Read on for 4 key questions to ask when you’re afraid to trust God with your future.
What are you afraid of?
Fear is one of the most powerful motivators in the human experience. Let’s take a look at some common fears that you might have.
What if I don’t get accepted to that university/college program?
What if I get cancer (or another illness) and die?
What if I never get married? (What if I marry the wrong guy?)
What if I am rejected by others and end up alone?
What if I take a wrong turn and mess up God’s plan for my life?
At the root of every fear is something that we care deeply about. If you fear cancer, that means that you deeply value your health. If you fear not getting married, then you have a strong desire to get married. There is nothing wrong with wanting to stay healthy and get married.
Who are you trusting?
Do you think fear trusts in God or in self? (I’ll wait.)
You got it! Fear trusts in self. When faced with a difficult situation, Fear invites his twin Worry to come over for a brainstorming session. Over a strong pot of tea, they try to figure out all the possibilities in an effort to control the future. They finally come up with an equation that looks like this…
All our best efforts at control will fail in the end. And they point to a serious problem in our hearts. If we value anything more than we value God, we will be afraid of losing it.
Fear points to an idol that we are loving more than Jesus.
If you are afraid, then you do not yet trust God with your future. You are not resting in Him. And that, my friend, is something you need to fix.
Who is your God?
The best antidote for the poison of fear is FAITH.
Faith is focused on the One who holds the stars in place. It trusts the Author of man’s story, the Creator of the universe, and the All-Powerful God.
To build your faith, spend time reading and studying and thinking about the character and promises of God.
- God is always good. (Psalm 145:9)
- God is generous. (James 1:17)
- God never changes. (Hebrews 13:8)
- God is faithful to His promises. (Numbers 23:19)
- God is patient. (2 Peter 3:9)
- God will never leave us or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5)
- God will continue to work in the lives of His people. (Philippians 2:13)
- God will never stop loving us. (Romans 8:38-39)
The more you understand God, the easier it is to trust Him. Sometimes the first step of faith is the hardest. But He gives so much grace to those who will trust Him! I have never regretted trusting God and submitting to His will for my life. He has blessed me with things I would never have dreamed of having or doing. Doing God’s will is the adventure of a lifetime!
Will you yield to His good and perfect will?
One day, a little boy went fishing with his grandfather. But he hadn’t quite understood what fishing was all about. As soon as he spotted some fish, he picked up a few fistfuls of rocks and started pitching them into the water. Hoping to avoid a complete disaster, the quick-thinking grandfather ran back to the camper and filled a bowl with ice cream. Then he came back and offered it to the little boy. The boy quickly dropped his rocks and accepted the ice cream gleefully. Smart boy!
Too often, we are not like that little boy. We cling to the rocks of our dreams and plans and refuse to drop them at God’s feet. Fearful, we imagine that the bowl of ice cream He offers will turn out to be sugar-free. We don’t trust His heart.
It’s time to drop the rocks. It’s time to come to God and lay down your hopes and dreams for the future. Give them to Him and yield your life fully to whatever and whoever He wants you to be.
If you trust God with your future…you won’t be disappointed.
I leave you with these words of wisdom…
“Whenever you surrender the most precious areas of your life to God, it is like trading in a pile of worthless pebbles for a truckload of priceless jewels.”
Leslie Ludy
For more reading: How to Stop Worrying about the Future
Thank you so much for this, Claudine!
It’s my pleasure! God laid it on my heart and I am glad it was an encouragement. Thank you for reading and commenting! 💕
Thank you so much for your bright perspective and the lovely verses!
Thank you for your kind words, Mom! Love you!! 💕
SO well said! I have heard a message on worry this week and now this. I didn’t even realize I was worrying, but the Lord has brought it to my attention. I’ve been worried about school for the kids…how we’ll get it done…what we should use…how to ship all our materials… Thank you so much for sharing!
Isn’t God good to teach us exactly what He needs us to know? Praying for peace for you, sweet friend! Thank you for reading and commenting. 💕
Great article, Claudine! I definitely struggle with trust a lot. It usually comes down to surrender for me..am I willing to surrender my future or dreams or whatever it is to God? And I love that you pointed out idolatry because that’s another one!
Amen, Elizabeth! That is so true. God bless you! 💕
Ooof, shots fired! I so needed this!
You’re one of the few people I know, Claudine, that can so systematically tear down my inward arguments, offer straight-forward, godly advice on how to fix it, and still leave me smiling. 🙂💕
Thank you for this, Claudine! Terrific as always! Love you so much, friend!
Thank you so much for reading and commenting, dear Sara! God definitely helped me with it and He keeps teaching me to trust Him more. Love you too! 💕