Like all of us, I’ve had times when unwelcome news came, or at least that possibility. Long ago, my husband said his job wanted to transfer us to Connecticut from Texas. We enjoyed our home and friends in Austin; our children were settled in their schools. While much worse news, like a job loss, could have hit us, this word unsettled us and caused anxiety about whether he should take the job. Besides leaving our older parents who lived only 200 miles from us and changing our whole environment, the cost of living was much higher in Connecticut. We finally decided to decline the job offer after prayer.

Perhaps a job loss has hit when few jobs are available, or you don’t have any savings to hold you over until a new position comes. What are you going to do? Will you have to move to find another job? How can you make ends meet without a paycheck? These are serious concerns.

I’d fallen and broken my right arm, after which followed a time of temporarily learning to do things with my left hand, physical therapy, even forsaking touch typing on my computer. Six months later, after a series of cortisone injections in my knee, the doctor said I had to have a replacement. I’d read and heard about this painful surgery and certainly wasn’t happy when I was told I had to have it. I’d had surgeries previously, but none was as painful as my broken bone. I knew the knee would feel about the same way, but I had no choice.

All these things make us anxious or even afraid for the future. What can we do? Who can give us advice? God tells us, “I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not to abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” (Jeremiah 29:11 Message Bible.)

At any time, but especially as we get older, a scary health report can come to us. These are times we must listen to and believe God’s words to us. Otherwise, fear and anxiety make us not only feel worse, but can hamper any positive ideas we may consider. An old expression said someone was “tied up in knots.” These circumstances can make our stomachs feel that way, slow our responses, and cause temporary, simple depression.

At such times, our heavenly Father comes to us and says, Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you. (13) I, your God, have a firm grip on you and I’m not letting go. I’m telling you, “Don’t panic. I’m right here to help you.” (’Isaiah 41:10,13).

To keep our minds centered on these words and not stay awake at night worrying means we must absolutely depend on what God says he will do for us. That’s difficult for most of us to do, even if we go to church regularly. What does trusting God mean? Mariam Webster’s dictionary on my phone defines trust as: assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.

How well do we know God? And for how long? Sometimes that helps because as we know him longer, we hopefully get to know him better. Do we understand God as a loving heavenly Father or as a harsh judge?1John 4:8 tells us, God is love, so we can’t hope for any better character.

The Bible teaches, and we believe, God created the universe. Since he has this ability, he certainly can do for us what we need. How strong is God? This Son [Jesus] perfectly mirrors God and is stamped with God’s nature. He holds everything together by what he says—powerful words! (Hebrews 1:3).

Finally, how truthful is God? Hebrews 6:17-18 states: When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee—God can’t break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable. (Emphasis theirs.)

As I’ve learned to trust God in minor areas, my faith for more complex decisions has grown. For instance, in school I studied hard for all tests so that when I had one, I asked God to help me remember what I had learned. I did the same for my children. Faith grows as we see our Father be faithful in lesser situations so that we can trust more easily (note that I said more easily) in life-changing circumstances.

One time I drove from my home in Austin to visit my parents who lived in a small town near Galveston, on the coast. In a hilly section of a two-lane road, I stayed at the speed limit. Two pickups behind me were impatient, and both started passing, one in the oncoming lane and the other on the shoulder. Neither realized the other was there, but we were going uphill, when suddenly an eighteen-wheeler headed down towards us. Both trucks decided to get in front of me at that moment.

I realized a horrible wreck was coming, and with my foot on the brake, shouted, “LORD!” I saw a brilliant flash which separated the two trucks and pondered if that bright light might be an angel. The two trucks suddenly saw the situation, and the pickup in the oncoming lane scooted in front of me and then the one on the shoulder did the same. In a split-second, God rescued all of us, a quick and direct answer to my instant prayer.

In Judges six we learn about Gideon, whom God called to lead Israel against their enemies the Midianites. Verses 36-39 tell of the test Gideon asked God to prove he heard correctly. Had the Lord really chosen such an unknown to lead his country against one much stronger? Gideon asked God to let there be dew on a fleece when there was none on the ground and vice versa.

I think at times it’s ok for us to ask God for a sign to be sure we’ve heard his voice. Gideon humbly asked God to be sure that such an outrageous command came indeed from him. If I am truly uncertain of an action, I have sometimes asked God to give me a sign, and he has answered. But asking for signs should be done sparingly. Most often, God will lead us by other ways.

Have I learned to trust God always, according to the dictionaries’ definition? Not always. Some aspects are easy, like believing that Jesus is my Savior and that when I die, I’ll go to heaven and be with him. I can believe that my parents are in heaven waiting for me. I can believe the Bible is the true word of God, written by men but inspired by him. I’ve learned to trust God for many years and have seen him answer lots of prayers, but I still struggle with an area.

We may agree this way of trusting God definitely helps in earth-shattering moments of our lives, but how do we get there? First, we must not do the natural thing that comes to mind, usually panic. Other first options may not be wise either. Look at your situation carefully and see if you have alternatives. If so, pray about these and ask God to guide you to the right one. If there are no choices, still pray and ask your heavenly Father to lead you to whatever plan he has for you, trusting that he will. Ask for his wisdom and linger with him long enough to hear what that is.

Even if God’s answer isn’t what we want to hear, we still need to be assured that he still is there with us in the storms of life. That’s when we must depend on our Lord if we’re to overcome fear and anxiety. Our Lord will sustain us, give us courage and endurance, and lovingly hold our hand all the way of our journey. Trust your loving Father to be with you in every hard place. In Hebrews 13:5*, he says, I will never leave you nor forsake you. What a wonderful promise!

* English Standard Version