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Sometimes God asks us to trust Him even when His plans do not make sense. Learn why trusting God in seasons of uncertainty strengthens your faith and reminds you that His ways are always higher than ours.
Trusting God When You Don’t Understand His Ways
If I am being honest, I think one of the hardest things I have ever had to do was trust God when I did not understand what He was doing.
It is easy to trust God when everything is going well.
It is easy to trust Him when prayers are being answered the way we hoped.
It is easy to trust Him when doors are opening, and everything seems to be falling into place.
But what about the times when nothing makes sense?
What about the times when God says, “Wait”?
What about the times when a door closes that you were praying would open?
What about the times when life takes a turn you never expected?
Those are the moments when trusting God becomes difficult.
I know because I have been there.
There were times when I prayed and wondered why God was taking so long.
There were times when I questioned why things were happening the way they were.
There were moments when I wanted answers, but all I seemed to get was silence.
Looking back now, I realize something.
Even when I did not understand His ways, God was still working.
He never stopped working.
I could not see it at the time.
We Want Answers Right Away
I think many of us like to know what will happen next.
We like having a plan.
We like knowing where we are going.
We like feeling like we are in control.
But following God does not always work that way.
Sometimes He only shows us the next step.
Sometimes He asks us to move before we understand everything.
Sometimes He asks us to trust Him without explaining the entire journey.
That can be uncomfortable.
Especially when we are the type of people who like to have everything figured out.
But faith does not grow when we have all the answers.
Faith grows when we continue trusting God without them.
God’s Ways Are Higher Than Ours
One lesson God keeps teaching me is that His perspective is completely different from mine.
I only see what is in front of me.
God sees the beginning, the middle, and the end.
I see today’s problem.
God sees tomorrow’s blessing.
I see the closed door.
God sees the better door that has not opened yet.
I see the delay.
God sees the preparation.
That changes everything.
📖 Isaiah 55:8-9 (KJV)
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.”
Those verses remind me that I do not have to understand everything for God to still be right.
His wisdom is greater than mine.
His timing is better than mine.
His plan is perfect, even when I cannot see it.
Looking Back Changed My Perspective
One thing I enjoy doing from time to time is looking back over my life.
Not to live in the past.
But to remember God’s faithfulness.
There were situations I did not understand.
Some prayers seemed unanswered.
There were opportunities I thought I had missed.
At the time, I was disappointed.
But when I look back now, I can honestly say I am thankful.
Because if God had answered every prayer exactly the way I wanted, I probably would have missed something better.
There were doors I wanted opened that God knew would not be good for me.
Some delays protected me.
There were seasons of waiting that prepared me.
At the time, I could not see it.
Now I can.
That has helped me trust Him more.
Sometimes God Is Protecting Us
I think one of the hardest things to accept is that sometimes God’s “no” is actually His protection.
We get disappointed because something did not work out.
A relationship ended.
A job did not happen.
An opportunity disappeared.
A plan changed.
We assume something went wrong.
But what if God was protecting us?
What if He saw something we could not see?
What if the closed door was actually His love keeping us from unnecessary heartache?
God has a perspective that we do not have.
That is why trusting Him is so important.
Waiting Does Not Mean God Has Forgotten You
I know there have been times when waiting made me wonder if God had forgotten about me.
Maybe you have felt that way too.
You pray.
You wait.
You pray some more.
Still nothing changes.
It is easy to become discouraged.
But waiting is not proof that God has forgotten you.
Waiting is often where God does His greatest work.
Sometimes He is preparing the blessing.
Sometimes He is preparing us.
Sometimes both.
That waiting season teaches us patience.
It teaches us dependence.
It teaches us to trust Him more deeply.
Even though waiting is difficult, it is never wasted when God is involved.
Let’s Make This Practical
If you are struggling to trust God because you do not understand what He is doing, here are a few things that have helped me.
1. Pray Honestly
God already knows your heart.
Tell Him exactly how you feel.
You do not have to pretend.
2. Remember What He Has Already Done
Think back to times when God has been faithful before.
If He did it then, He can do it again.
3. Stop Trying to Figure Out Everything
Sometimes we spend so much energy trying to understand that we forget to trust.
There are some things only God knows.
4. Stay in God’s Word
His promises remind us that He is always working, even when we cannot see it.
5. Keep Walking by Faith
Do not stop trusting just because you cannot see the whole picture.
Take the next step God has placed in front of you.
Faith Is Trusting God Without All the Answers
One thing I have learned is that faith does not mean I understand everything.
Faith means I trust God anyway.
I trust His heart.
I trust His character.
I trust His promises.
Even when I cannot explain what He is doing.
There are still moments when I ask questions.
There are still things I do not understand.
But I have reached a place where I know God has never failed me.
He has always been faithful.
That gives me confidence to keep trusting Him.
📖 Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
Those words remind me not to depend only on what makes sense to me.
Sometimes God is working in ways I cannot yet see.
God Is Always Working Behind the Scenes
One thing that brings me comfort is knowing that God never stops working.
Even when I cannot see it.
Even when I cannot feel it.
Even when I do not understand it.
God is still working.
He is arranging things I cannot see.
Opening doors I have not reached yet.
Closing doors that are not meant for me.
Preparing blessings that are not ready yet.
Working in other people’s hearts.
Teaching me lessons that will help me later.
Just because I cannot see Him working does not mean He is not working.
Final Thought: Trust Him Even When You Don’t Understand
If there is one thing I hope you take away from this, it is this:
Trust God even when you do not understand His ways.
I know that it is easier said than done.
I know because it has been one of the hardest lessons I have had to learn.
There were times when I wanted answers.
Times when I wanted God to explain everything.
Times when I wanted to know why.
But I have learned that I do not have to understand everything to trust Him.
I simply have to remember who He is.
He is faithful.
He is wise.
He is loving.
He is good.
He has never left me.
And He has never stopped working on my behalf.
So today, if you find yourself in a season where nothing makes sense, keep trusting Him.
Keep praying.
Keep believing.
Keep walking by faith.
One day you will look back and realize that even in the moments you did not understand, God was writing a story far better than anything you could have planned yourself.
Scriptures
📖 Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
📖 Isaiah 55:8-9 (KJV)
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.”
📖 Romans 8:28 (KJV)
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God…”
📖 Psalm 37:5 (KJV)
“Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”
Reflection Questions
- Is there an area of my life where I have been struggling to trust God because I do not understand His plan?
- Am I relying more on my own understanding than on God’s wisdom?
- Can I remember a time when God worked things out even though I did not understand what He was doing?
- What would it look like for me to trust God more fully today?
- How can I continue walking by faith while I wait for His answers?
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for being faithful even when I do not understand what You are doing. I confess that trusting You is not always easy, especially when life does not make sense or when my prayers seem unanswered.
Help me trust Your heart even when I cannot see Your hand at work. Teach me not to rely only on my own understanding but to believe that Your plans are greater than mine. Give me peace in seasons of waiting and confidence that You are always working for my good.
Strengthen my faith, remind me of Your faithfulness, and help me keep my eyes on You instead of my circumstances. Thank You for never leaving me and for loving me enough to guide every step of my journey.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
With Love,
Ty 🤍
Encouraged by Faith
About the Author
Hi, I’m Ty, founder of Encouraged by Faith. God placed it on my heart to create this space to encourage others through Scripture, prayer, and personal reflections from everyday life. My prayer is that each post strengthens your faith, draws you closer to God, and reminds you that you are never walking alone.