Do You Struggle Trusting God In Difficult Times?

As Christians we are called to walk by faith not by sight. In Hebrews 11:6 (NIV), it says "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."

Up until the Summer of 2000, I thought I did trust God. I went to church each Sunday, was involved in a small group bible study, did my daily bible reading, volunteered where needed, and was a board member of our church daycare.

It's easy to trust God in good times. But how do you truly trust God in difficult times?

Trusting God When Out Of My Comfort Zone

I struggled with this question in 2000 when we lived in Houston and I found out my husband had accepted a job in Pittsburgh, PA.

Okay, this next part will show my age (59 yrs old) and you will not understand the severity of my dilemma unless you are a football fan. 

I'm a proud native Houstonian and my father retired after 30 years of running the business side of the Houston Oilers organization. His final task was helping the team transition to Tennessee as the Tennessee Oilers prior to becoming the Tennessee Titans.

My dilemma in 2000 was that I was moving from my beloved Houston, Texas to "enemy country" which was Pittsburgh, PA.

Let me explain why I referred to Pittsburgh as "enemy country". In the 1979 AFC Title game between the Houston Oilers and the Pittsburgh Steelers, a controversial call was made by the referees in the third quarter which cost the Oilers a touchdown that would have tied the score17-17. There was no instant reply back then. The Oilers had to kick a field goal instead and Pittsburgh won the AFC Title 27-13. The Oilers returned to Houston to be met by an overflowing crowd of cheering Oilers fans at the Astrodome welcoming the team home. 

So, back to my move. I didn't move to Pittsburgh kicking and screaming but you could certainly see my heel marks from being "dragged" the whole 1,500 miles.

Bloom Where You Are Planted

Two weeks after arriving in a small town north of Pittsburgh, I learned my husband had to go out of town for work for two months. I went into panic mode.

"How am I supposed to find a part-time job, look for a good daycare center for our 3-year old son, get my stepson settled into high school, and learn my way around this town whose streets change names depending on cross streets? I'm used to Houston's streets laid out like a grid! How can you do this to me?"

I'm normally not a drama queen but I was completely out of my comfort zone and stretched to the limit. If momma ain't happy, nobody's happy.

So my husband proceeded to drive me around our small town to see what stores and businesses were available. As he pointed things out to me, I sat in the passenger seat sulking, arms crossed, and grunted in response.

Then he said excitedly "Look, here's something you like. A book store with the sign 'Bloom Where You Are Planted'. There's you sign from God!"

Grunt. "God wouldn't send me to live in 'enemy country' without family and friends and then send you away for two months. That's not my sign from God."

The next block had a mom and pop hardware store going out of business so my husband decided to stop and see what kind of deals they had.

How I Found Out God Had A Dented Golden 2x4 With My Name On It

We parked but I didn't want to go into the store. I just wanted to go home and enjoy my pity party. Finally, I agreed to go in for five minutes.

We walk inside the small store and I proceed down the main aisle looking left and right for something to buy. All of a sudden I hear "Laura?"

I look up and I see an old college friend, Martha, from Houston. We scream, run towards each other and hug. I didn't even notice the shocked customers staring at us.

I knew Martha and her husband had moved to Pittsburgh but I didn't know where. I assumed they lived on the other side of town from me. Turns out she lived 10 minutes away.

Martha said to me "I was out running errands. As I drove past the store I saw they had tomato plant stands on clearance so I turned around. I've lived here over two years and never noticed this store before."

I told her that we decided to stop at the last minute and see what they had on clearance, too. I told her my pitiful story and she gave me her phone number and said to call her so she could show me around.

As we walked out of the store, my husband asked me if I felt better now. I said with a big confident smile "Of course! God has my back. You can go away for two months and I'll be just fine. I guess that sign 'Bloom Where You Are Planted' was God's sign for me after all. All is good now."

Since then, I joke that the golden 2x4 with my name on it is badly dented because God had to hit me in the back of the head with it so many times until I finally saw the signs I had been praying for. 

I know God loves me and provides for me. I know I can trust him completely.

What Is Your God Story?

I've had other God stories but my "Martha God Story" is one of my favorites. My current God story is how I received a new heart in six days with no pain or complications at all. Zero. Zip. Nada.

My heart transplant was truly a miracle since it happened April 2020 at the beginning of COVID. I have no doubt that God was reminding me to trust him again since my next adversity would be coming very quickly, my unexpected divorce after 27 years of marriage.

Question: What is your God story? If you're not sure then look back over your life and think of events that happened to you where you would consider yourself "lucky" or being at the right place at the right time.

I'd love to hear your favorite God story. They keep me inspired. You can contact me here.

"Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the desert. By day the pillar of cloud did not cease to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst. For forty years you sustained them in the desert; they lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear out nor did their feet become swollen."  ~Nehemiah 9:19-22 (NIV)

Daily Mantra: Hunt the good stuff, find the humor, keep positive, and focus on your blessings. God can bring good out of every situation!