C.H. Spurgeon, a highly influential 19th century preacher once said, “To trust God in the light is nothing, but trust Him in the dark – that is faith.” When life gets hard, we sometimes forget that God is right there, listening to us and addressing our needs. Our circumstances can cause us to drift away from God and not trust that His plan is right for us. But God knows and understands the hopes and fears we keep in our hearts. In fact, He’s the best listener. Even when we don’t shout or cry out loud, He hears even our silent prayers. It’s important that we trust Him, especially during our darkest hours. Here are seven things God wants you to remember when life gets hard. Remember these things when you’re feeling lost and alone for He knows exactly where you are and has a good plan for your life.
Our Times of Trial Lead to Strength
God will carry you through the storm. The Bible tells us, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze” (Isaiah 43:2). Every difficult situation you face, whether big or small, is preparing you to be stronger. God will use your trials to produce greater faith and strength if you allow Him to. Your pain has purpose, even when you don’t understand why in this moment.
He Loves You
God loves you immensely. No action you make and no sin that you commit can make Him love you any less. The Bible tells us, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.” When life gets hard, it’s important that you remember that God loves you – no matter how many mistakes you make or how many times you are angry with Him. God doesn’t love us for superficial, earthly reasons. God loves you for you.
Miracles Happen
When you are in a very hard situation, God wants you to remember that miracles happen. These miracles show up in every dream that you have that comes true, in every enlightening moment you have, in every person who has moved or transformed your life, and in every person you love – in these very moments, God’s making miracles happen. These miracles aren’t always going to be big. Sometimes, they are small. He is bringing you small miracles so that you can believe in the bigger ones. Look around you. When you look for the small miracles, you will see that they are everywhere.
God Has a Perfect Plan for Your Life
The Bible tells us, “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). God has a perfect plan for you. Sometimes it seems like His plans are always different from our plans, but His plans are always perfect. He never does it all at once, just step by step because He wants to teach us to walk by faith, not by sight. It’s important that we are patient and trust in His timing.
He Will Never Leave You
God is always present in your life, even in your lonely and broken hours. It’s important that you remain faithful and not lose hope. The Bible tells us, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31). You may feel like you’re alone, but God is right there. Scripture promises that the Lord will fight for us. We only need to be still. Trust that God is a constant presence in your life.
He Is Listening
Talking to God is like talking to a friend on the telephone. You may not see Him on the other end, but You know that He is listening. Every time you speak, God is listening to you, including your concerns and needs. Even when you doubt that God is listening, He always proves that He is. He doesn’t have a dial that he turns up and down when He feels like not tuning in. Sometimes, you need to turn the volume of the world down to hear God’s voice. When life gets hard, allow His voice to speak over your fears.
He Will Heal You
The Lord is the Great Physician. There’s no wonder that there are so many accounts of Jesus healing people during His earthly ministry. The Bible tells us that Jesus was sent to heal the broken-hearted (Luke 4:18), that He will restore our health and heal our wounds (Jeremiah 30:17). Jesus not only carries all of your pain, but also has the power to heal you. Even in times of difficulty and uncertainty, God wants us to know that He is present and able to make us whole again. The beautiful part is that when God heals and restores, our lives are transformed. Trust in His power.
When you need, God knows, when you ask God listens, and when you believe, God works. When life gets hard, trust that God is on your side and that He has a plan bigger for you than you have for yourself. He will never leave or forsake you.