How to Trust God in Difficult Seasons

Have you ever found yourself in a season where everything feels overwhelming, and you wonder, “Where is God in all of this?” Maybe it’s that job or financial miracle that you’ve prayed for but still haven’t gotten. Or perhaps it’s a health diagnosis that’s shaken your family and world.

For some, it’s the heartache and pain that comes after a marriage falls apart, or the deep grief that follows the loss of a loved one. It’s during these times that trusting God can feel the hardest—yet, it’s also in those moments that trusting Him is most vital. Today’s article is about how to trust God in difficult seasons.

The truth is, life is and will always be full of valleys. The Christian life does not make you immune to trials and challenges in life. Men and women in the bible experienced their own fair share of trials. Naomi, the mother-in-law of Ruth lost her husband and two sons. Job lost everything he had in a single day – all of his children and possessions.

The disciples and apostles of faith experienced great persecution, were locked up in prison and even flogged publicly for their belief. Yet, they remained steadfast in their trust in God. We are promised in God’s word to never be left alone or abandoned in the valleys of life and when walking through difficult seasons. God promises to be with you every step of the way.

If you are in a difficult season right now, wondering how to trust God when life feels uncertain, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll explore three simple ways to hold onto God’s promises and trust Him, even when your world feels like it’s crumbling.

15 Powerful Bible Verses About Trusting God in Difficult Seasons

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. – Isaiah 41:10

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. – James 1:2-4

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. – Isaiah 26:3-4

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. – Psalm 62:8

This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. – Psalm 18:30

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. – Deuteronomy 31:8

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. – Isaiah 40:31

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. – Romans 8:18

For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. – Isaiah 54:10

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. – 2 Corinthians 12:9

He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. –Psalm 112:7

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. – 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? – Psalm 56:3-4

How to Trust in God in Difficult Seasons

Even though life feels hard and God seems distant, I want you to know that God can be trusted. Let us take a look at 3 simple ways to keep your trust in God unbroken.

1. Remember God’s Faithfulness in the Past

When the storm is raging, it’s easy to lose sight of God’s goodness. But one of the most powerful things you can do in difficult seasons is to look back and remember how God has been faithful to you before.

Throughout the Bible, we see people who faced impossible situations, only to witness God come through for them. Think of David. He stood before Goliath with nothing but a sling and a few stones, yet he trusted that the same God who had delivered him from the lion and the bear would deliver him from the giant.

He said, “The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:37, NIV). David’s confidence and trust was rooted in his past experiences of God’s faithfulness.

Joshua boldly recounts how God kept his promise as spoken by his servant Moses.

So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.’ Now then, just as the Lord promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! – Joshua 14:9-10

As you navigate your own trials, take a moment to reflect on the times God has brought you through challenges in the past. Remember that he hasn’t forgotten you. Just as he was faithful then, he will be faithful now.

Action step: Keep a journal of answered prayers and testimonies.

Write down moments where God has provided for you and met you at a point of your deepest need. Keep track of when he healed you, saved you from destruction or gave you the needed strength in your weak moments. When you’re in a season of doubt and helplessness, you can go back to these testimonies and remind yourself of God’s unwavering faithfulness.

2. Lean in to God’s many promises in scripture

One of the greatest gifts God has given us in difficult seasons is his Word. The Bible is filled with thousands of promises designed to anchor us when the waves of life threaten to pull us under. These promises speak to different areas of life and challenges that we go through every single day.

Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” This verse is not just poetic in its presentation; it is a promise and assurance that when trouble comes, God is present. He is our shelter, our place of safety.

But it’s not enough to just know that these promises exist. You need to actively hold on to them and speak them out in faith over your life, family and situation. Think about how a ship captain grabs onto the helm during a storm, you need to grip God’s promises and steer your faith through life’s turbulent waters.

God’s word is truth. Whenever doubt whispers, ‘God isn’t with you’, you can counter that doubt and the lies that the enemy throws at you with scripture. Declare out loud – God has said that “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5, ESV).

When fear says, “You’re not going to make it,” proclaim out loud, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13, NKJV). The Word of God is alive and active—it has the power to renew your mind, fill your heart with hope, calm your spirit, and fuel your faith. Lean in to God’s promises today.

Action step: Meditate on a promise from scripture each day.

Choose a verse that speaks to your situation, write it down, and repeat it throughout the day. You can write on sticky notes and paste them in specific areas in your home. Your goal is to keep God’s word constantly before you, say it to yourself and let it take root in your heart.

3. Surrender your situation to God

One of the hardest aspects of trusting God is surrendering control. As women, especially as mothers, we often feel the weight of responsibility for our families, our children, and even our friends. We want to fix things, solve problems, and make everything right. But sometimes, your most powerful act of faith will be to let go and put everything in God’s hands.

Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (NIV). Trusting God means knowing that you don’t have all the answers—but that God does and he is in control of your today and future. It means letting go of the need to control the outcomes, choose the pathway to your answers and embracing the peace that comes from knowing that God is in full control of your life.

Let’s picture Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, about to step into the painful and final chapter of his journey and purpose here on earth. He prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42, NIV). Even in his darkest hour, Jesus surrendered to the Father’s will, trusting in God’s ultimate plan.

Sometimes, the answer to your prayers will not come in the way you expect or in the timeline you most hope for. But know that God’s plan is always perfect. His timing is always right. When you can surrender your situation to him, you open the door for his peace to flood your heart, even in the midst of uncertainty.

Action step: Release your burdens to God in prayer.

Spend time each day giving your worries, fears, and desires to God. You have a heavenly father who listens and wants to hear all that you have to say. Whether you are speaking your prayers out loud, or having a heart-to-heart conversation with God, or simply writing down your prayers. God’s ears are open to hear and help you. Pray also for the strength to trust His plan over your own on all seasons of life.

Conclusion: Trusting God – Even When It’s Hard

Trusting God during difficult seasons isn’t easy. It takes intentionality, faith in God, and a willingness to let go of our need for control. But here’s the beautiful truth: God can be trusted. His faithfulness never wavers, his promises never fail, his kindness will never come to an end and his plans for us are always good, even when we can’t see or feel it.

If you’re walking through a valley right now, I encourage you not to give up. God is with you. He sees your pain, your frustration and your fears. And he is inviting you to trust him anyway, because on the other side of this season, you’ll look back and see how his hand has guided you through it all.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. -1 Peter 5:10

Prayer: Father, I ask that you strengthen the heart of everyone going through a difficult season. I ask that they will see your love and faithfulness in their deepest valleys. Help them to stand strong and never give up and may their trust in you never fail. Amen!

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