Trusting God When Things Go Wrong - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) September 1, 2023

When things are going well, it is easy to shower God with praise and more devoted time studying the Bible. However, when things aren't working out, many have a hard time loving Him. Our faith dwindles and it becomes difficult to trust Him.

And yet, we are told to thank Him in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18). We are called to trust Him especially when things go wrong hence His instruction to cast our burdens unto Him (1 Peter 5:7).

But how? How does one, in fact, trust God when things have gone wrong? Especially someone who once had a good rapport with Him?

It all boils down to a choice each of us has to make. A choice to trust and believe in Him through the good times and the bad. Joshua was frustrated when his army went into the City of Ai and was defeated, leaving 2000 of them dead. Keep in mind the Lord had told him in Joshua 1:5 - Joshua, no one will be able to defeat you as long as you live. I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will always be with you; I will never abandon you (GNT).

So how did Joshua react to God when things went wrong?

He went to the Lord and sought understanding on what happened. He went in humility, having torn his clothes and sprinkled ashes upon himself - a sign of deep sadness among his people. He chose to look to God instead of walking away from Him.

Just as Joshua did not abandon his God when things went wrong, so also did God not abandon him. The Lord revealed what caused the defeat - the disobedience of one man, Achan. He'd taken things from Jericho though the Lord commanded the Israelites to leave Jericho with no plunder for themselves.

Following Joshua's example, we can't go before the Creator prideful or even angry but instead with deference recognizing He is the God above all gods. We must also keep in mind that the reason Joshua could continue to walk with the Lord was because God had a track record with him. Joshua had seen God do the incredible and he respected that. He knew that God was still to be trusted despite the disappointing defeat.

Each of us can make a similar choice to trust God in the heat of our disappointment by not abandoning Him. Instead we must go right back to Him who has promised to never abandon us, a commitment that He's made to all His children. After all He promised to never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

It isn't easy but we must all remember our Jericho Moments - those times where God showed up and showed out on our behalf. We must also focus our gaze on God even when things have not happened the way we expected or prayed for. That is the time to not walk away from Him. It is the time to approach Him with praise, acknowledging that He is perfect and we are not. We can then pray for divine understanding and guidance.

May Joshua's experience remind us that we can still trust God when things go wrong. Joshua did just that and after obeying God, him and his army completely destroyed the City of Ai. They went on from there to witness many more of God's miracles. All because they placed themselves at God's mercy, despite a big defeat and trusted Him to be the way to bring redemption and victory.

To learn more, please read

1. When Things Go Wrong

2. Trust God