Trusting God's Plan in Times of Uncertainty and Doubt
Trusting God's Plan in Times of Uncertainty and Doubt
Trusting God's plan is rooted in biblical teachings that encourage believers to have faith in God's sovereignty and providence. The concept of trust is closely tied to the idea of faith, which is described in Hebrews as "the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see" [3]. This assurance is grounded in God's character and promises.
The biblical basis for trusting God's plan is found in various passages. For instance, Psalms 78:7 encourages setting hope in God and not forgetting His works. The writer of Hebrews notes that God's promises are immutable, providing a strong encouragement to those who have fled to Him for refuge [1]. The Psalmist also exhorts the people to trust in the Lord at all times, emphasizing the importance of relying on Him alone [10].
In times of uncertainty and doubt, Christians are encouraged to look to God's faithfulness and the experiences of others who have trusted in Him. The book of Lamentations teaches that those who are confident in God's plan can wait quietly for Him to grant salvation [6]. The apostle Paul writes that hope is a gift from God, obtained through faith and the work of the Holy Spirit [2].
Theological traditions emphasize the importance of trust in God's plan. According to John Gill, trust in God involves committing all concerns to Him, expecting salvation and other blessings from Him [8]. Matthew Henry notes that trusting in the living God is wisdom, as He is a help and shield to those who trust in Him [7].
The biblical concept of trust is also linked to the idea of assurance, which is produced by faith, made full by hope, and confirmed by love [5]. Assurance is a privilege of saints, who can have confidence in their election, redemption, adoption, and salvation.
In the face of uncertainty and doubt, Christians can find comfort in God's presence and support. Torrey's Topical Textbook notes that God is with the afflicted, comforts them, and preserves them [4]. Jesus' teachings also emphasize the importance of trusting in God, encouraging His disciples to have faith in God's power and plan [9].
Sources
- Hebrews “that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to take hold of the hope set before us. -- Hebrews 6:18”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Hope — In God -- Ps 39:7; 1Pe 1:21. In Christ -- 1Co 15:19; 1Ti 1:1. In God's promises -- Ac 26:6,7; Tit 1:2. In the mercy of God -- Ps 33:18. Is the work of the Holy Spirit -- Ro 15:13; Ga 5:5. Obtained through Grace. -- 2Th 2:16. The word. -- Ps 119:81. Patience and comfort of the Scriptures. -- Ro 15:4. The gospel. -- Col 1:5,23. Faith. -- Ro 5:1,2; Ga 5:5. The result of experience -- Ro 5:4. A better hope brought in by Christ -- Heb 7:19. Described as Good. -- 2Th 2:16. Lively. -- 1Pe 1:3. Sure and steadfast. -- Heb 6:19. Gladdening. -- Pr 10:28. Blessed. -- Tit ”
- Hebrews “Hebrews 11:1 (BSB) — Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflicted Saints — God is with -- Ps 46:5,7; Isa 43:2. God is a refuge and strength to -- Ps 27:5,6; Isa 25:4; Jer 16:19; Na 1:7. God comforts -- Isa 49:13; Jer 31:13; Mt 5:4; 2Co 1:4,5; 7:6. God preserves -- Ps 34:20. God delivers -- Ps 34:4,19; Pr 12:13; Jer 39:17,18. Christ is with -- Joh 14:18. Christ supports -- 2Ti 4:17; Heb 2:18. Christ comforts -- Isa 61:2; Mt 11:28-30; Lu 7:13; Joh 14:1; 16:33. Christ preserves -- Isa 63:9; Lu 21:18. Christ delivers -- Re 3:10. Should praise God -- Ps 13:5,6; 56:8-10; 57:6,7; 71:20-23. Should imitate Christ -- Heb 12:1-3; 1P”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Assurance — Produced by faith -- Eph 3:12; 2Ti 1:12; Heb 10:22. Made full by hope -- Heb 6:11,19. Confirmed by love -- 1Jo 3:14,19; 4:18. Is the effect of righteousness -- Isa 32:17. Is abundant in the understanding of the gospel -- Col 2:2; 1Th 1:5. Saints privileged to have, of Their election. -- Ps 4:3; 1Th 1:4. Their redemption. -- Job 19:25. Their adoption. -- Ro 8:16; 1Jo 3:2. Their salvation. -- Isa 12:2. Eternal life. -- 1Jo 5:13. The unalienable love of God. -- Ro 8:38,39. Union with God and Christ. -- 1Co 6:15; 2Co 13:5; Eph 5:30; 1Jo 2:5; 4:13. Peace with ”
- Lamentations (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Lamentations 3:26: 3:26 Those who are confident of God’s plan can wait quietly for him to grant salvation.”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 115:9: In these verses, I. We are earnestly exhorted, all of us, to repose our confidence in God, and not suffer our confidence in him to be shaken by the heathens' insulting over us upon the account of our present distresses. It is folly to trust in dead images, but it is wisdom to trust in the living God, for he is a help and a shield to those that do trust in them, a help to furnish them with and forward them in that which is good, and a shield to fortify them against and protect them from every thing that is evil. Therefore, 1. Let Israel trust in the Lord; the body”
- Jeremiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Jeremiah 17:7: Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord,.... In the Word of the Lord, as the Targum, in Christ the essential Word of God; see Psa 2:12 who have a spiritual knowledge of him, and so trust in him, Psa 9:10 who have seen the vanity and emptiness of all other objects of trust, there being no salvation in them, only in him; who betake themselves to him as their only refuge; lay hold, rest, and rely upon him, as their Saviour; commit their all unto him; trust him with all their concerns, respecting life and salvation, and with their immortal souls; and expect all fro”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 14:1: 14:1-31 Jesus provided answers to his disciples’ many spoken and unspoken concerns. 14:1 Jesus had himself been troubled (Greek tarassō) on three occasions (11:33; 12:27; 13:21). His confidence in God’s power made it possible for him to face these crises. Faced with the upsetting words of 13:33, the disciples confronted similar feelings. • Trust (or believe, or have faith) in God: Only trusting God would help them through his hour of death.”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 62:8: Trust in him at all times, ye people,.... Of the house of Israel, as the Targum; or of God, as Aben Ezra; all that are Israelites indeed, and are the Lord's covenant people; these are exhorted and encouraged to trust in him; not in a creature, nor in any outward thing, in riches, wisdom, strength, birth, privileges, the law, and the works of it; in their own righteousness, in their hearts, in themselves or in others; but in the Lord only, both for temporal and spiritual blessings: the Targum is, "in his Word"; his essential Word, by whom the world was made, and who, i”