25 Bible Verses to Revive Trust When You Secretly Feel Let Down by God
- Annette Griffin Contributing Writer
- Updated Feb 10, 2021
“In God we trust” is not just a motto printed on American currency or the lyrics contained in the national anthem. Believers trust their very souls to the care of God when we accept His Son as our savior. We sing songs about how sweet that trust is. We commit to memory the most popular Bible verses about trust. And Grannies throughout history have embroidered gentle reminders of that trust on family heirlooms. But there are moments, gut-wrenching moments, when the raw pain of suffering, the shock of grief, or the agony of prolonged testing tempts the most trusting believer to wonder—does God hear me? Does He care? Can God be trusted?
When horrifying circumstances invade the hallowed ground of trust, we’re tempted to doubt what we believe about God. We doubt ourselves. We become skeptical of others around us. And why not? Trust is hard to come by in a world that operates on shifting sand. Where can a child of God turn when the treacherous storms of life threaten to wash away the groundwork of trust built on our salvation?
There is solid ground. “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock” (Matthew 7:24-25).
God’s word is a life preserver that can keep our heads above water until we can once again feel the solid ground beneath us. In this article, we’ll explore some life-giving scripture that will help revive trust, but before we can do that, we need to shine the light of truth on trust’s enemy—doubt.
Is it OK for Christians to Doubt?
“I think that we sometimes have the idea that questioning God is an act of spiritual treason or betrayal. We may feel that to have any skepticism or doubt is an unpardonable sin. But that is not the case.” Says Pastor Greg Laurie in As a Christian, How Do I Deal with My Doubts?
Times of doubt lead us to a fork in the road on our spiritual journey. We can either be honest about our doubts and use them to seek a deeper understanding of who God is, or we can allow the disillusionment that often accompanies doubt to carry us down the road that leads to unbelief.
When we take our doubts to Jesus, we’re placing those doubts into the only hands capable of adequately dealing with them. He knows the depth and source of our doubts even better than do.
He knows when we need strong exhortation about doubt—like Peter after he sunk beneath the waves (Matthew 4:31). He knows when to urge us to take up our spiritual armor to resist doubt—as Jesus did in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11), and He knows when our doubts can only be eradicated with a dose of pure truth; He allowed Thomas to touch His hands and side before commanding him to, “Stop doubting and believe" (John 29:27).
He also knows when nagging doubt has burrowed itself inside deep hurt and can only be rooted out through a revelation of who He is. Jesus answered John the Baptist’s doubts this way: “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor” (Matthew 11:4-5).
Just like it’s never “OK” for believers to sin, we are warned repeatedly in Scripture to handle doubt as a disease that needs to be remedied (James 1:6, Matthew 20:21, Matthew 14:31, Romans 14:23). The good news is that our Great Physician is ready, willing, and able to take our doubts, excise them, and use the divine surgical process to grow our faith and deepen our trust in Him.
What Does the Bible Say about Trust?
The Bible is full of Scripture that instructs believers to trust God. We cherish these—and other passages that show us vivid examples of Godly trust. The Bible Study Tools staff has compiled a list of these encouraging scriptures here in Trust Bible Verses. We use these verses as building blocks of our faith, and who hasn’t longed to know God better as a result of basking in David’s trust-filled Psalms?
But when the storms of life hit so hard that it leaves our faith wavering, the scriptural commands to trust God can sometimes land like a ton of bricks on our already heavy hearts. We know we should trust God during our trials, and we hate ourselves for not being able to follow in the godly footsteps of those who trusted before us. But we’re stuck, wondering how we can possibly trust God to sustain us—when He is the one who allowed the storm?
“It’s easy to blame God when life goes wrong. He can do anything. Stop anything. Change anything. But sometimes He doesn’t. People have free will. The world is full of death and disease and sin. Bad things happen to good people—even good Christian people … And that’s where the disappointment comes in, hitting the hardest when I confuse what I think God owes me with what He actually told me.” explains Lori Freeland, in How to See God’s Purpose in Your Disappointment.
When we turn our thoughts away from our own expectations and direct them to the truth about who God is, what He has done, and what He has promised to do something miraculous happens. Our trust in Him is revived.
Trust Building Verses about Who God Is:
Job experienced more tragedy in his life than most of us can imagine. When God addressed Job’s suffering, he didn’t give a spiritual pep talk. He provided the precise remedy for Job’s malady—a powerful reminder of who God is (Job 38:1-18). Here are some scriptural reminders of the character and nature of our God:
“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them” 1 John 4:16.
“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him” Colossians 1:16.
“For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath” Deuteronomy 4:31.
“God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he: should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” Numbers 23:19.
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” 1 Corinthians 10:13.
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” 2 Peter 3:9.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” James 1:17.
“For this is what the high and exalted One says-- he who lives forever, whose name is holy: ‘I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite’” Isaiah 57:15.
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom” Isaiah 40:28.
“God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you” 2 Thessalonians 1:6.
Trust Building Verses about What God Has Done:
“In the Old Testament, the Israelites would set up a pile of stones in a place where God did something big, where He answered prayer in a monumental way. These monuments were called stones of remembrance,” explains Catherine Segars in How to Remember God's Faithfulness When Reality Hurts Those stones became a visual reminder of the great things God did. It can be hard to see God’s goodness during trials, but when we look back and remember all His past works it strengthens our heart to press on and believe He can and will do it again. Here are some scriptural reminders of what God has done—and continues to do:
“Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” Psalm 139:16.
“He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us” 2 Corinthians 1:10.
“I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” Isaiah 41:9-10.
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8.
“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” Philippians 2:13 (NLT).
“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death” Psalm 68:19-20.
“Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory” Psalm 73:23-24.
Trust Building Verses about What God Promises to Do:
In Praying God’s Promises, Pastor Rick Warren tells us, “there are over 7,000 promises in the Bible.” These promises are ours for the keeping. When life seems too difficult to bear, these promises point us to God’s provision and remind us that we’re not alone. Here are just a few scriptural promises that will help build trust in God:
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God” Revelation 21:3.
“For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory” Deuteronomy 20:4.
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” Matthew 11:28-29.
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away"Revelation 21:4.
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:19.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” Romans 8:28.
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” 1 Peter 5:10.
“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged”Deuteronomy 31:8.
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