“What if all the hardships and stresses we face aren’t just a result of God looking the other way,

but the result of God doing what’s best for us, even if we don’t understand it at the time?”

~Brittany Ann, Equipping Godly Women

There’s a fundamental truth,

in the Christian life, that trust is the opposite of worry. Although we know that truth deep down, we also know that trusting God, especially in tough seasons, is easier said than done.

Today on the blog, I’d like to introduce Brittany Ann, author of Trusting God’s Plan, and founder of Equipping Godly Women.

I first connected with Brittany in November of 2016, and little did I know that she would become a BIG encouragement to me as a Christian wife and mom.

Today, I’ve asked Brittany to share her heart with us. So, without further delay, here is a beautiful post from my online friend and sister in Christ, Brittany Ann…

How to Trust That God Cares—Even in Tough Seasons

It was just after 6 a.m. on a Tuesday, and I was lying in bed, trying to sneak in a few more moments of rest before a busy day. It was my middle child’s third birthday, and the boys were excitedly playing with birthday balloons in their room, waiting for their baby sister to wake up so we could open presents.

I heard peals of giggles…then a thud…then a scream. Within seconds, my oldest son was at my doorway, a worried expression on his face, looking for help.

Quickly making my way to the boys’ room, I picked up my younger son, thinking he had just fallen (as little boys are known to do), only to realize a minute later that his mouth was full of blood and it was coming out quickly.

I yelled for my husband as I tried to figure out where the blood was coming from, how serious the injury was, and how to make it stop. There was blood on the towel, on his clothes, on mine… and every time I tried to take a peek, more blood just kept right on coming.

It probably goes without saying that we spent much of the rest of the morning at the urgent care clinic. The birthday boy had a split lip—right down the center—and needed a single stitch to patch it up. A quick and relatively simple procedure, they wouldn’t be giving him an anesthetic.

Five minutes later, I was holding one very scared little boy down on the table as still as I could while the nurse readied the needle.

So, why am I telling you about the time my middle child got a stitch in his lip?

Because so many times in life, we find ourselves right there on that table, in the midst of a tough season, wondering why a loving God would allow such suffering.

“This hurts!” we protest.

“This isn’t fair!” we complain.

“Where are You?” we demand.

And “Why don’t You DO something?!” we insist.

After all, surely a God who loves us, who can keep us from harm, would want to keep us from harm, right?

And yet, what if life’s tough seasons aren’t punishments, but blessings in disguise? What if all the hardships and stresses we face aren’t just a result of God looking the other way, but the result of God doing what’s best for us, even if we don’t understand it at the time?

To my three-year-old, getting that stitch was torture! He screamed and kicked and thrashed about as I did my very best to hold him still on the table. It was without a doubt the worst pain he has ever known.

He hated it. He didn’t understand. It was torture.

And yet, I did understand, and I had to make the choice that was best for him in the long run, even if it was painful at the time.

And I believe God does the same thing for us.

Trusting God’s Plan isn’t always easy. In fact, it can be really, really hard sometimes. Especially when God asks you to give something up that you hold dear in order to grow in your relationship with Him.

But the good news is, we really can trust that God cares about us and has our best interests in mind—even when life hurts. Here’s how:

1. Meditate on Scripture

The Bible is chock FULL of encouraging verses to help anyone going through a rough time.

For example, Romans 8:28, which says “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

And Deuteronomy 31:8, which says “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Memorize them and repeat them back to yourself often! You can even download these free printable Scripture cards to help you!

2. Surround Yourself with Truth and Encouragement

Next, you’ll want to surround yourself with plenty of encouragement and positive influences to help you keep your chin up even when it’s hard. This may mean finding more Christian friends that you can really open up and share your struggles with. Or it may mean checking out some really good resources on trusting God.

For example, I have a free video series on trusting God’s plan, here, that’s super encouraging. Or you can check out my book, Trusting God’s Plan!

3. Walk in Faith – Even When It’s Hard

It’s one thing to say that you trust God. It’s another to actually follow Him wherever He leads. But if you want to get out of the tough season you’re going through right now—that’s ultimately what you have to do: Be willing to obey God and walk in that obedience even when it’s hard.

I can tell you from personal experience—it is NOT always easy to trust in the Lord! There are plenty of times when He asks us to do things we’d really rather not. But I can also tell you that it’s always worth it.

God really does have our best interests at heart, and when we follow Him, we can have a sense of peace that everything is going to turn out alright!

~Brittany Ann

*If you enjoyed today’s post from guest blogger Brittany Ann, please share it with the ladies in your life. Also, hop over to Brittany’s site at equippinggodlywomen.com and sign up to receive regular encouragement in your inbox.