Trusting God in difficult times

Why we should always trust God

There will be times of difficulty in life that will put our trust and faith in God to the test. The book of Exodus looks at the children of Israel's failure to trust God when He led them into the wilderness.

The children of Israel had witnessed God's amazing deliverance from Egypt.  They'd seen God's tremendous plagues and the Red Sea dividing.  They had seen the entire Egyptian army drown in the Red Sea while pursuing the Israelites.  They were eyewitnesses to God's mighty hand.  God had freed them from Egypt and was now leading them into a desert without water.  You'd think they'd trust Him after witnessing His power and unwavering loyalty in releasing them from captivity. But no!  Instead of trusting their mighty father, the Israelites grumbled and sighed.  The following is a description of what happened while they were in the wilderness at a place called Rephidim, where there was no water.

Water from the Rock

At the Lord’s command, the whole community of Israel left the wilderness of Sin (The geographical name Sin is related to Sinai and should not be confused with the English word sin). and moved from place to place. Eventually they camped at Rephidim, but there was no water there for the people to drink. So once more the people complained against Moses. “Give us water to drink!” they demanded. 

“Quiet!” Moses replied. “Why are you complaining against me? And why are you testing the Lord?” 

But tormented by thirst, they continued to argue with Moses. “Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Are you trying to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?” 

Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What should I do with these people? They are ready to stone me!” 

The Lord said to Moses, “Walk out in front of the people. Take your staff, the one you used when you struck the water of the Nile, and call some of the elders of Israel to join you. I will stand before you on the rock at Mount Sinai. Strike the rock, and water will come gushing out. Then the people will be able to drink.” So Moses struck the rock as he was told, and water gushed out as the elders looked on. 

Moses named the place Massah (which means “test”) and Meribah (which means “arguing”) because the people of Israel argued with Moses and tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord here with us or not?” (Exodus 17:1-7)

The unbelief of the Israelites

Despite witnessing God's amazing manifestations in Egypt and the wilderness, the Israelites failed to trust him. It only needed a scarcity of drinking water for them to rebel against God.

1. They questioned God's goodness, accusing him of attempting to kill them via thirst.
2. They questioned God's capacity to provide them with the water they wanted.

God announced that because of their unbelief and rebellion, they would not enter the promised land that he had promised to their forefathers.

But as surely as I live, and as surely as the earth is filled with the Lord’s glory, not one of these people will ever enter that land. They have all seen my glorious presence and the miraculous signs I performed both in Egypt and in the wilderness, but again and again they have tested me by refusing to listen to my voice. They will never even see the land I swore to give their ancestors. None of those who have treated me with contempt will ever see it. (Numbers 14:21-23 NLT)

If they had thought on their past and remembered God's magnificent work, they would have believed God's readiness and capacity to care for them and sustain their lives. Perhaps they would have trusted his good intentions and providence then.

In trying circumstances, put your trust in God.

The conclusion of this story is to trust God when he leads you into a desert where you lack even the most basic essentials and see no hope or light at the end of the tunnel. We don't know why God has chosen to take us into the desert, but remember the excellent things He has done in your life in the past.  Trust him and do not question his character; He is all-powerful, faithful, and kind to us even when we are undeserving, doubting individuals. Because he does not perceive our situation through our limited lens, we must trust his judgment.  

My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT)

Trust Him! His intentions for us are always good. He will sustain us in the desert that he has taken you to. Do no allow discouragement to drive you to blaming God or distancing yourself from Him; instead, allow it to lead you to a deeper trust in His abilities. He has a purpose for guiding you into adversity; just trust Him! More than having our needs fulfilled, we need the presence of God in our life.  We have everything we need to live a Godly and satisfied life when God is at the center of our lives.

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32 NLT)