How to Trust God When You Don't Understand: Why We Start With God, Not Conclude Him

Struggling to Trust God When Life Doesn't Make Sense?

Do you find yourself questioning how to trust God when circumstances seem overwhelming? When life throws unexpected challenges your way, do you wonder if you should rely on your own understanding or lean into faith? You're not alone in this struggle. Many Christians have fallen into the trap of treating God as someone we need to prove rather than the foundation we build our lives upon.

The apostle Paul understood this principle perfectly when he declared in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4: "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures."

Why Learning to Trust God Matters More Than Ever

The Problem with Trying to Prove God

How can you learn to trust God when the world demands proof of everything? Too many Christians today allow unbelievers to put God on trial, spending countless hours trying to prove God's existence through evidential arguments, scientific debates, and philosophical discussions. While apologetics has its place, when we make God our conclusion rather than our starting point, we've already lost the battle.

The truth is, we cannot trust someone we don't know. That's the secret of learning to trust God. When someone says "trust me," we instinctively ask "why should I?" With God, trusting Him naturally follows when we understand who He is and why He's worthy of our trust.

Romans 3:23-25 reminds us: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God."

Notice the word "declare" - we don't prove God's righteousness; we declare it.

What We Must Declare as Christians

1. The Gospel Every Christian is duty-bound to declare the truth of God. This isn't optional or dependent on our comfort level. The gospel message must be proclaimed clearly and consistently.

2. His Righteousness In a world where most Christians "live unrighteously" and "could care less about godliness, holiness, and purity," we must declare God's standard of righteousness. When we compare ourselves to God's righteousness rather than to each other, it humbles every one of us.

3. His Glory Through Creation Psalm 19:1 declares: "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork." When people claim they don't believe in God, we can simply point them to creation itself.

The Life-Changing Power of Starting With God's Truth

How to Trust God: The Biblical Foundation

Learning to trust God begins with understanding His character and promises. Proverbs 3:5-6 gives us the blueprint: "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."

This isn't just religious advice - it's practical guidance for how to trust God when you don't understand what's happening in your life. When we trust in our own understanding, we're limited by our finite perspective. But when we start with God, we have access to His infinite wisdom and power.

Why You Should Trust God Over Your Own Understanding

Numbers 23:19 reminds us why God is worthy of our trust: "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?"

Unlike humans, God never lies and never fails to fulfill His promises. He has the power to bring to pass what He plans and purposes to do. His plans are perfect, holy, and righteous. As Romans 8:28 assures us, He "worketh all things together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

Understanding Human Nature and Our Need for God

Proverbs 20:6 reveals a fundamental truth about human nature: "Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness." Every person, before coming to Christ, proclaimed their own goodness. This is why learning to trust God must begin with His standard, not human comparison.

Romans 1:21 shows us the root problem: "Because that when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened."

The truth is powerful: everyone knows God exists. Romans 1:18-19 states: "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them."

The Eternal Perspective

1 Timothy 6:7 reminds us: "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." Why do we live for temporal things when we should have an eternal perspective? Our young people won't change course if we only offer "pep talks and potlucks" instead of serious commitment to Christ.

Church Growth God's Way

Acts 9:31 provides the biblical formula: "Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied."

Churches grow when people fear God, are edified in His Word, and find comfort in the Holy Spirit.

How to Trust God in Your Daily Life

Start Your Relationship With God on the Right Foundation

When learning how to trust God, don't allow unbelievers to put God on trial. Instead:

1. Ask the right questions: "Do you consider yourself to be a good person?" Most will say yes, revealing their self-proclaimed goodness.

2. Bring them to God's standard: Use Scripture to show God's righteousness, not human comparison.

3. Declare truth, don't defend it: Your job is to declare the gospel and God's righteousness, not to win arguments.

How to Trust God When You Don't Understand

Learning to trust God practically means believing in His reliability, His Word, His ability, and His strength even when circumstances don't make sense. Here are biblical steps:

Step 1: Accept that God's ways are higher than yours Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Step 2: Find contentment in God, not circumstances Philippians 4:11 teaches: "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." In our age of constant scrolling and comparison, biblical contentment is revolutionary.

Step 3: Fear God above all else Acts 9:31 provides the biblical formula for growth: "Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied."

Churches grow when people fear God, are edified in His Word, and find comfort in the Holy Spirit.

Biblical Steps to Strengthen Your Trust in God

Embrace Your Christian Duty Jude 1:3 exhorts us to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." This requires:

• Declaring God's Word regardless of comfort level

• Living with eternal perspective

• Fearing God above man's opinion

• Being gentle but firm in instruction

Remember the Foundation of All Knowledge: Proverbs 1:7 establishes the principle: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."

If we were to know anything at all, we would have to know everything - unless we receive revelation from Someone who does know everything. That Someone is God. People cannot know anything without God. It starts with God.

Practice Proper Witnessing: 2 Timothy 2:24-26 provides our model: "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will."

How to Trust God as Your Starting Point

Learning how to trust God when you don't understand begins with this fundamental truth: we don't conclude God - we start with God. This isn't just theological theory; it's practical Christianity that transforms how we witness, how we live, and how we approach every aspect of life.

Isaiah 1:18 invites us: "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord." What's the foundation for every person's ability to reason? It's God Himself.

When you're struggling to trust God, remember that He is worthy of your trust because:

• He never lies (Numbers 23:19)

• He keeps all His promises (1 Kings 8:56)

• He has the power to do what He says (Isaiah 14:24)

• He works all things together for good to them that love Him (Romans 8:28)

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