I hopped up on the counter at the soda fountain and placed my five-year-old feet on the spinning stool in front of me. Dad sipped on a Coke and talked to the lady behind the counter with the red-and-white-striped apron tied around her waist.
“This is my little girl,” Daddy said with a smile. “She’s a little monkey.”
“Why, Allan, she’s just as cute as she can be.”
For a moment, I thought I was.
I stood in the front yard waiting for the screaming to stop before I went back inside. Dad was drunk again, and Mom was screaming at the top of her lungs. Why couldn’t he see how afraid I was? Why did he drink? Why did Mom yell? After 17 years of these volcanic outbursts, you’d think I’d be used to it. But they always took me by surprise.
The next day came with many tears and promises. “I’ll never do it again,” Dad cried. “I am so sorry.”
But there was always a next time. I couldn’t trust him.
When I became a Christian, I understood God’s amazing love for me. But I wondered, can I trust Him? Can I trust God with my hopes and fears, days and years? When you understand the depth of His love, the answer is always yes.
Perfect love drives away all fear, kicks it out the door, gives it the boot.
I love how one translation expands on 1 John 4:18:
There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection] (AMPC).
I could relate to the rejected Jesus and easily accept the indescribable gift He gave. I marveled at God’s love. I truly did. But when it came time to trust my heavenly Father with my earthly hopes and dreams? That was a different story.
For the longest time, when conflicts arose, I became that teenage girl looking in the crowd for a daddy who wasn’t there. Could I trust this heavenly Father? I wasn’t so sure.
But one day God spoke to my heart in a poignant way. Take your father’s face off Mine, He seemed to say. I am not like your earthly father. I am your heavenly Father.
God is always good.
God always tells the truth.
God always wants what’s best for you.
You can trust Him.
It’s easy to trust God when life is good. But when a child rebels, the bank account dwindles, or the biopsy comes back saying the tumor is malignant, we wonder. Is God really good? We know in our heads that He is, but the heart struggles to believe. The Enemy peddles the lie that God is not good—that He’s holding out on us. That’s what He told Eve. God is holding out on you. You can’t trust Him. You will not die.
Then disappointment hits and the devil says, “Told you so.”
Life is filled with disappointments. And it’s during those times of disappointment that the Enemy sows seeds of distrust with thoughts of mistrust. Disappointment and discouragement become the breeding ground for Satan’s lies to take root.
I think most of us have heard those lies at one time or another. But the truth is, if God says no in one area of our lives, it’s because He has a greater yes in another.
Can you imagine how the disciples must have felt as the stone rolled in front of Jesus’s tomb? How could this happen? Where is God? We thought He was going to restore Israel? But three days later, when Jesus rose from the grave and appeared to them in all His glory, they knew the answer. God had a greater plan. And God has a plan for you. And you can trust Him.
Heavenly Father, I am so glad I can trust You with my hopes, my dreams, my fears, and my years. I know that You have a good plan for me. Even when I am disappointed and heartbroken, help me trust that Your ways are perfect. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Ponder these words today:
“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” (Psalm 9:10 NIV)
What are you trusting God for today? Leave a comment and let’s share.
Digging Deeper
Do you feel that you need to trust God more? Are there situations in your life that are causing you to doubt? In the Girlfriends in God book, Trusting God, Sharon, Mary, and Gwen take you step by step through a 12-week study that will help you have peace, as you learn to trust the One who loves you most.
And for a list of verses to help you trust God in difficult times, click here.
Comments 40
Trusting God with my health.
I’m trusting God for a better paying job. My only son has been out of my life for years, I haven’t seen him and he recently reached out to me via email and I heard his voice on the phone recently. That was such a Joy! He hated me for so long, but I’m trusting God to bring us back together peacefully in his time. We’ve missed out on so much. That has been the piece of the puzzle that has been missing from my life for so long. I’m also trusting God to continue to lead me in my everyday life and his life. Only God can do it.
Thank you. I really needed this today!!
Thank you, I needed this today! I am trusting God for the total healing of my unborn grandson Alijah. Doctors say he has no kidney function and no amniotic fluid. My daughter is 35 weeks, planning to do C-section in 2 weeks. She lives in NC and I am in MS. I am trusting God to help me be with her and help her with her other 2 sons.
I am also trusting Him for the sell of my home that has been on the market for over a year. This has been difficult after losing my husband to cancer and buying and moving to another home.
Yes, I can trust God❤️
I am praying for you and hope you make it to my State,NC soon to be with your family.
I’m trusting that God will give me the baby that I have been praying for.
I’m trusting in God’s words of truth and provision. My husband recently passed away suddenly from an illness and has left me with a lot of dept. I’m standing on God word to keep me.
My daughter and son who are in their late thirties and early 40’s. Have been not talking for 3years over a falling out. Both seem to want to amend, but want it THIER way. Unforgiveness, stubbornness, and pride are in both of them. I pray for heavenly grace, and intervention from our Lord.
Our son, a faithful follower of Christ, had a little nervous breakdown right before all this happened and walked away from Christ. I know he is fighting with God right now. My daughter has an almighty attitude of being a Christian and will not associate with her brother because he in her opinion, is a non believer and she can’t associate with non believers. So she shows him no mercy. She is being a hypocrite
Praying for God intervention! Mercy and love! And praying for our son to cry out to his Heavenly Father to be redeemed again.
They live in different states, and that makes it hard.
Blessings
Debbie
I am trusting God to heal my marriage and heal my husband from his depression and anxiety with his withdrawal from suboxone. God is good and has a plan for all this but right now it’s really tough! Thank you Lord for all you have provided and seen us though before! In Jesus Name – Amen, 🙏🏼
I am trusting God with my 35 year old daughter in an abusive situation another city 8 hrs away from me. I know he loves her and I am trusting that he will never stop pursuing her. I am trusting He will protect her and lead her to a safe place for shelter from the streets, healing, and where she can hear of the love of her Heavenly Father.
I have been in pain over two weeks and seeking to resolve it but I also want to trust God’s will for my life. Need prayers. Thank you!
Oh Sharon, our backgrounds are so similar. I too grew up with an alcoholic dad and there was lots of fighting in our home. Harsh, hurtful words were common and I lived with fear of my parents physically hurting each other. My response to confrontation is reflected by frightening memories. But, from an early age I sought something bigger than my circumstances and that was God. Thankfully I had a Christian family who took me to church and was a model for me. I’m trusting God to deliver us from a situation that has brought out my fears and insecurities. I want my response to be one of trust and strength
Trusting Him with my job, my son, and a my first granddaughter that lives so far away from me.
Trusting God for healing and restoration and my relationship.
As I sit here in an emergency vet hospital reading this was what I needed. Trusting God to help us make a decision as to whether it’s time to put our best friend doggy down. My heart is broken.
I am trusting God for leaving my job of 7 years and going to a new one. I pray this will be the one I can retire from. Also, trusting GOD for provision for my children, they are all struggling financially and we exchange money until the other one gets paid and we are just back and forth with this and its tiring, I am trusting him for a financial breakthrough.
I am trusting God!
He is the only one I can trust and count on,!
Putting all of my family, my hopes, my dreams in His hands!
God bless you my sisters in Christ!
Praying for you 🙏
I’m trusting God to save my family.
I am trusting God to heal my family and bring my son, daughter in law and grandson back to us. But more importantly I trust that they will find their way back to our Lord. Jesus I trust in You. 🙏❤️🙏
Trusting him, by believing that I can continue in a Spanish class, that makes me feel extremely vulnerable but I can trust in his love and fight my inner fears of self doubt and worth. His love is far greater! This gives me the strength to move forward.
I’m trusting God for a life partner. I’m do lonely. I fear commiting again because of betrayals from past relationships that have left deep wounds.
Trusting God for excellent grades for my daughter who is going to sit her national exams to that will mark the end of her high school cycle.
My son has just been admitted to a university in Germany for an Msc. I’m trusting God for the tuition and hostel fees.
I am trusting God during this season of grief after losing my only daughter. She was 38 years old. She was a missionary. I just don’t understand why she had to go at such a young age.
I’m trusting God to show my eldest daughter, she can trust Him. After He changed her plans from an academic career path teaching Maths to teaching Maths at High School in Australia to students who don’t want to learn Maths. Opened a door f9r a permanent teaching job working with Staff whose values are different to hers & whom recently reported her to Principal so her job is at risk in her 2nd year of teaching. She feels alone, stressed, anxious & suffering bad OCD due to abuse from her earthly & as a result struggles to trust Hod. She feels broken & suicidal.
I’m trusting God to do as he promised me He would in His promise in Isaiah 43:18-19 & I know He keeps His promises. My daughter needs to see He does too!
Trust in the LORD – today I am trusting God for my study permit application to Canada to be approved and granted before the Winter Term begins. God’s blessings to you Sharon
I’m trusting God for clarity of purpose and destiny. I keep having this dreams that seem like people are waiting for me to help or lead them, then I meet an obstacle.
I have no idea what I’m supposed to do or stop doing for God to use me… I’m trusting God for clarity and his help.
I am trusting God to provide provision for the home I own in Raleigh to be sold or to find responsible tenants. I am trusting God to provide resources to maintain the space I’m living in currently. I am trusting God to help me steward my finances better, according to his Word, once and for all. I am trusting God for a Kingdom relationship and marriage. I am trusting God for releasing any resentment and bitterness that has taken root in my heart towards my loved ones. I am trusting God to lead me through what feels like a very long wilderness season. I am trusting God to help me build the business he has placed on my heart, but fear keeps telling me I’m not equipped to do it.
I am trusting God in every aspect of my life, he led me from who I was to who I am now. He delivered me from the depths of unhealthy ways of life. He brought me to a place where I can finally say I have surrendered my old habits . Am I 100% , no, but with Gods grace , guidance and forgiveness I am healed and pray that he continues to rein me in when I begin to falter.
Continue to trust Him indeed Kathy. He who began a good wotk in you is faithful to see it to completion
It’s always so sad to me that SO MANY of us can related to this very same scenario. I too am so thankful for the voice of God spoken directly to me as well, “fear not”.
I am also thankful for the other good and Godly men that were brought into my life as a little girl that were used to show me that I could in fact trust that not all men were beasts and that they could be loving, kind and nurturing. Men that would lead me to my Heavenly Father. Changing the future of my life exponentially.
Praise Him!
I am trusting God to save my house from foreclosure. Most of my family has gone to glory and I have been out of work since July 2024. I don’t bring in enough to cover my mortgage. God has been good thus far. I have interviewed for jobs that I am over qualified for and still nothing. As holiday time is rapidly approaching, I wonder if I should prepare food and enjoy it, because I am so afraid. Your devotionals have really kept me strong, but now, I am doubtful for my future. I love God and I still trust in Him. This last month has been really hard. I welcome all the prayers I can get. I am 65 and for the first time in my life, I cannot afford to take care of my bills. I am not going to lie; I am terrified! Let me get back to applying for jobs.
I too grew up with an alcoholic father who cried and promised to quick but never did My step father remarried after my Mom died and disowned my family My husband couldn’t stop smoking and it.killed him 12 years ago and nothing I did to get him to stop So I too deal with having a hard time believing that God as my father won’t disappoint me too Please pray I might find a peace with this
Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus… oh for Grace to trust him more. I can always use more faith.
I am trusting God for help for my parents. The health care system is hard to navigate and dad is having a hard time understanding and accepting the help. Mom needs full time care now and he is doing his best. I know God has it but every time we are close to help something stops it. Just trusting God to help him understand and accept at least what they have to offer. I try to help but I work too. The fear thing is huge for me too and the amplified version of that verse is so powerful.
I’m praising God that you are back! I have missed your weekly devotions so much!
same here Jamie, am with you on that one
Thank you for this.
I am trusting God for a job for me and my husband. It has been a rough ride for me
Also trust God for mended relationships between my father and siblings, probably me as well. I have respect for my father but recently had a call with him that left me feeling like I don’t care if I never speak to him again. I have forgiven him and I wish he could extend some forgiveness to my siblings too.
Hello Sharon,
Thank you again for this inspiring message!
I trust God as my loving father and will be for us always!! I praise and trust God with my life!! I surrender all of me to the Lord and know he has next steps to take in this journey!!! We are so Blessed!!
I have dealt with fear most of my life . I believe it was over the child abuse I went through as a young child. I want to overcome this fear and have faith instead and I believe God is the one to help me overcome in Jesus Name
Good morning Sharon thank you for your devotion this morning. I too battled with fear, trust and love. Once I took time the to sit with myself and visit the root of conditions of my heart.. God began to heal those broken places and renew my mind, body and Spirit!! God is so Faithful and HIS love for us is real!! ✨
Good morning. Love these beautiful devotionals. My o going prayer has been for our daughter-in-law to open her heart to my husband and I. She has been a part of our lives since 2014. There have been differences between her, and my husband. She was born and raised as a Christian. One thing that has been hard for me to understand full well, is her inability to forgive. She’s closed up in that area. We helped her with our grandchildren for the 5 years they were in California. They moved last year to Washington state. It’s been very hard, as we only have the one child. A son. We leave tomorrow to see our new grandson. Their 4th. But my heart is racing, and even though I know God loves me and wants what’s best for me, I have continued to wait for this prayer to be answered. That she would welcome us, and love us. So very hard, and sad. If you can lift us in prayer for a beautiful visit, and an answer to this prayer, that would be such a gift. Thank you. 🙏❤️