Trusting God When You Do Not Understand - iBelieve Truth - January 26, 2024
"Jesus replied, 'You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.'” John 13:7 NIV
Many people say “God is always working behind the scenes.” This is important to remember when we feel like our prayers are bouncing off the ceiling, not making it past the sky through the galaxies to reach God’s ears. It’s also vital to remember this when we don’t know what’s next in life and we’re worried about the future. But what does this phrase mean, exactly?
According to Cambridge Dictionary, the English definition of “behind the scenes” is, “If something happens behind the scenes, it happens without most people knowing about it, especially when something else is happening publicly: A lot of hard work has been going on behind the scenes.”
Last year, I thought that while I was worried and hurrying to figure everything out on my own, God, our Heavenly Father who knows best, was simply shaking His head and saying something like, “My Child, if you only knew what I am doing for you.”
Often, God works behind the scenes where we cannot see Him. We also can’t see the outcome of His work until the time is right. As frail humans this can cause us to worry more and trust God less—depending on our situation or the problem we’re experiencing. But God tells us in His Word to not worry! He encourages us to, instead, pray. God tells us in Philippians 4:6-7 NLT, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
I’ve learned to turn my worries into prayers. When I’m fretting about something, I’ll go to Google and type in keywords for what I’m facing to find answers in the Bible. For example, I may search “What does the Bible say about worry?” The answer includes quotes from Scripture that are very helpful.
I can learn more from notable sources like Open Bible Info and read an article from Ramsey Solutions (a popular company that helps people budget their money and become debt-free) that says, “21 Bible Verses to Calm Anxiety.” There are countless in-depth resources. It’s a good way to use technology to point us to timeless truths found in God’s Word. After I collect Bible verses on the topic, I’ll pray those Scriptures aloud and then share my heart with God about the situation. Then I grow quiet and listen for Him to speak. He may not always speak immediately, but He always answers!
We may not always know what God is doing, nor may we understand it. But someday, He promises us we will (John 13:7). People often say that we may not understand why we go through hardship, but after we get through it, we can look back with new eyes of wisdom and see why God allowed it to happen. We might even praise Him because those trying times helped us experience God’s goodness and become closer to Him.
I’ve found this to be true in my career path. Ever since graduating from college more than a decade ago, the path to my career dreams has been filled with mountain highs, valley lows, and many detours that had me questioning God. But looking back on those years, I can see how God enriched my life through those experiences. He taught me more about His character and His plan. He encouraged my heart and made me a stronger, more versatile person. And He helped me understand different personalities of people while really getting to know their stories.
God developed within me a deeper compassion for people and He’s still increasing my patience—especially as I wait for everything else He’s working on behind the scenes. Through it all, I learned to trust God as I grew stronger in my faith. What I didn’t understand then, I understand now, and I wouldn’t change a thing.
A song that encourages my heart when God is working behind the scenes is “Through It All” by Andrae Crouch. Listen here.
Let’s Pray: Dear God, Thank You for being trustworthy and true. Thank You for always working everything together for the good of those who love You. Help us to gain a deeper faith in Your plan as you work out the details behind the scenes. Continue to lead us, guide us, protect us, and provide for us. In Jesus’s Name, I pray. Amen.
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Related Resource: Jesus Calling - Stories of Faith
Kerry Washington, Andrea Bocelli, Reba McEntire, Mark Wahlberg, Tony Dungy, and Matthew McConaughey—what do all of these people have in common? They are all people of faith who have leaned on God in both the good and challenging times—and they’ve shown up to tell their stories of faith on The Jesus Calling Podcast. The Jesus Calling Podcast provides a place for people from all walks of life to share the heartaches, joys, and divine moments that keep them going.
Inspired by Sarah Young's classic devotional book, the Jesus Calling podcast has brought encouragement and peace to millions. New episodes drop every Thursday! Listen today on LifeAudio.com or wherever you find your podcasts.
