What Does it Really Mean to Trust God?
Trust sounds simple… until life gets complicated.
Most of us have heard the phrase “Trust God” more times than we can count. It’s written in devotionals, stitched on pillows, and whispered to us when life feels out of control.
But what does that actually mean?
Especially when the pain doesn’t stop.
When prayers go unanswered.
When you’re not sure what to do next.
When trusting God feels like telling your heart something it doesn’t believe.
Trust is not a feeling.
Let’s start here—because it’s one of the most common misunderstandings.
We often assume that trust will feel like peace, clarity, confidence, or joy. And sometimes, it does. But the truth is: trust is not an emotion—it’s a posture.
You can trust God with tears in your eyes, confusion in your mind, and no emotional certainty in your chest.
Trust is choosing to lean on what is true—even when your emotions or circumstances scream otherwise.
“Though the fig tree should not blossom... yet I will rejoice in the Lord.” (Habakkuk 3:17–18)
Trust is placing weight.
The Hebrew word for “trust” in the Old Testament (often batach) carries a sense of placing confidence in, leaning into, or being secure in something or someone.
To trust God is to put your weight—your hope, your fears, your questions, your outcomes—onto Him.
It’s like leaning your full body onto a chair. You can say the chair will hold you, but trust is when you actually sit down.
So what does functional trust look like in the everyday?
Here are some examples of how trust can look not just theologically, but practically—in your Monday-to-Sunday life:
1. Trust is letting God be in charge of outcomes.
Trust says: “God, I can’t control how this turns out—but I believe You are wise, good, and loving. So I will obey You in the process, and let You write the ending.”
Examples:
Choosing not to manipulate or force a relationship conversation, but praying and waiting with honesty.
Saying no to something because of conviction, even if you don’t know what will happen next.
Praying for healing while still going to the doctor—relying on God through means.
2. Trust is doing the next right thing, not waiting for perfect clarity.
We often want to feel certain before we act. But sometimes God invites us to trust Him by moving forward with faithfulness even when the path feels dim.
Examples:
Getting out of bed and opening your Bible, even when you feel numb.
Taking your medication or showing up to your appointment, not because you feel strong, but because you’re relying on the God who is.
Sending the encouraging text or showing up to church even when your heart isn’t fully in it.
Trust is small faithfulness in the fog.
3. Trust is bringing your real emotions to God—not hiding them.
God isn’t asking you to fake peace or perform joy. Functional trust means telling Him the truth and entrusting Him with it.
Example prayer:
“God, I’m scared. I feel forgotten. I’m tired of hoping. But I’m bringing all of it to You instead of pulling away. I want to trust You even here.”
4. Trust is surrendering your understanding, not checking your brain at the door.
You don’t need to throw away your questions to trust God. But you do need to let Him be wiser than you.
“Your thoughts are not My thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. (Isaiah 55:8)
Functional trust looks like:
Choosing to believe that God sees a bigger picture, even when you don’t.
Remembering that your current pain is not the whole story.
Saying, “Lord, I don’t understand this… but I know You do.”
5. Trust is anchoring to what is true when emotions shift.
Your feelings are real—but they’re not always reliable. Trust is letting God’s Word be the anchor when your emotions change hourly.
Example:
When you feel abandoned, remind yourself: “God has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” (Hebrews 13:5)
When you feel overlooked, whisper: “The Lord takes thought for me.” (Psalm 40:17)
Functional trust says: “My feelings are loud—but God’s Word is louder.”
Can I trust God and still wrestle?
Yes. That’s the kind of trust God honors. Think of Job, David, or the man in Mark 9 who cried, “I believe—help my unbelief!” Trusting doesn’t mean the absence of struggle. It means turning toward God in the struggle.
Even Jesus, in Gethsemane, cried out in agony: “If there is any other way… yet not my will but Yours be done.”
That’s the picture of perfect trust: full honesty + full surrender.
Trust Is Relational
You’re not just trusting a plan—you’re trusting a Person. Jesus is not asking you to “feel strong.” He’s not waiting for you to “pull it together.” He’s inviting you to fall into Him. To lean your weight. To whisper, even through tears: “I don’t know what to do, but my eyes are on You.” (2 Chronicles 20:12)
A Prayer for When Trust Feels Hard
“Lord, I don’t know how to trust You in this. I feel worn out, disoriented, and alone. But I believe You are still here—even when I don’t feel it. Help me to trust You in the fog. Help me surrender what I can’t control. Help me choose obedience even when I’m unsure. Hold me when I can’t hold on to You. You are my Shepherd, and I am still Your sheep.”
