It’s inevitable. Tough times will come along during our lives. A pastor friend once told me something along these lines: “You’re either coming out of a time of struggle, in the midst of a difficult time, or heading toward a challenging time.” The Christian life (or any life) is not always a bed of roses—and the Bible doesn’t promise us a life free from trouble. This week, let’s take a Scriptural look at trusting God through difficult circumstances.

When Bad Things Happen

“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

It’s difficult for me to watch the nightly news. So many bad things happen in our world, and it’s overwhelming! I find it especially hard when I hear of a child who is ill or a tragedy that affects an entire family. As I write this, the news is reporting the murder of nine people in a Charleston church.

How do we deal with heartbreaking events such as these? Where is God in the midst of tragedy?

These are really difficult questions, and I’m not prepared or qualified to provide all the answers in this daily devotional piece. However, I think it’s important to know what the Bible tells us about God’s sovereignty. It also helps us know how to respond when our unbelieving friends ask these same questions.

It helps me when I realize that God is not surprised by anything that occurs. He’s not sitting on His throne frustrated because things aren’t working out. In fact, nothing in the universe happens without His oversight and purpose.

Consider these verses that demonstrate God’s complete control at all times:

His rule is everlasting, and his kingdom is eternal. All the people of the earth are nothing compared to him. He does as he pleases among the angels of heaven and among the people of the earth. No one can stop him or say to him, “What do you mean by doing these things?” Daniel 4:34-35, NLT

Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. Psalm 115:3, NIV

We live in a fallen world affected by sin. It’s far less than ideal, but God has a plan. Bad things will happen, and we won’t be able to understand. Today’s verse in Isaiah 55 explains how God’s ways are far beyond our imagination or understanding.

Trusting God means believing that He has everything under His absolute control, even when it seems like the opposite and even when it’s beyond our own understanding. His hands are capable. He is good and loving and worthy of our trust, even when bad things happen.

Learning to trust more fully,

Allison