When Trouble Comes: Reflect on God’s Faithfulness

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess,

for He who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 10:23

My third advice to a younger me would be: When trouble comes, reflect on God’s faithfulness. There will be times when you will question God’s faithfulness in your present circumstance. You might even wonder if He has forgotten you or cast you aside. But I can tell you, I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken (Psalm 37:25).

God is faithful, and He can be no other way. If we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself (2 Timothy 2:13). He may not be working in the way you wanted; but He is faithful, and He is working all things for your good (Romans 8:28).

The Psalmist Asaph questioned God’s faithfulness. He said, Will the Lord reject forever? Will He never show His favor again? Has His unfailing love vanished forever? Has His promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has He in anger withheld His compassion? (Psalm 77:7-9). Then Asaph determined to remember the mighty deeds of the Lord, and his trust in God’s power and redemption returned.

If you can’t see God’s faithfulness now, then reflect on His faithfulness in your past. How has God shown Himself to be your Deliverer, your Refuge and your help? I the Lord do not change (Malachi 3:6). Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He who has been your Deliverer and Provider in the past will be your help in your present difficulty.

I encourage you to begin journaling while young, at least occasionally. As you grow older, you will become frustrated because you can’t remember. So record those times of seeing God’s faithfulness in the midst of difficulty. Record how He delivered you or record how He strengthened you even though the difficulty remained.

So, reflect on God’s faithfulness, for when trouble comes, God’s faithfulness will be your shield and defense! (Psalm 91:4)

Lord, with my mouth I will make Your faithfulness known through all generations. You are mighty O Lord and Your faithfulness surrounds You (Psalm 89:1, 8).

Jan Burkhart