“Oh that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.” Hosea 6:3 NLT
When we look toward the unknown, we have a choice. We can let dreading what’s ahead lead to fear, or we can press on in faith.
So why do we let doubt take over when we know God is faithful to guide us according to His plan?
Trading Doubt for Trusting God’s Faithfulness
The above verse in Hosea reminds us that God’s promises are as certain as the sun rising in the morning. We can count on it. And by pressing through doubt and fear, we learn to trust Him more.
Did Lot’s Wife Struggle to Trust?
Lot’s wife in the Bible gives us a glimpse of how God wants us to trust Him with our future. Following God’s direction, Lot gathered his family and left home. The place they lived was corrupt, but God is faithful to His children. Lot had a good heart, and God made a way for them to escape before destroying the city.
God instructed them not to do one thing. He told them not to look back.
“But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt,” (Genesis 19:26).
How to Trust God’s Direction: Resist the Urge to Look Back
I can relate to her urge to turn back, to hang on to what she left behind. Early in our marriage, my husband and I moved several times. Each time we relocated, a pattern emerged. I would overthink, second-guess, and question our decision.
I compared the newness of the now to the familiarity of the past, which would once again trigger fear of the future.
In times of change, I struggle to trust God’s direction. Perhaps Lot’s wife had the same questions as her family embarked on the unknown. Scripture does not reveal why Lot’s wife looked back, only that she disobeyed God’s command.
Many times, we don’t know the why, but we must keep our eyes forward as we take the next step in faith. If we dwell on the past, we risk missing out on God’s blessings ahead.
If you’re in that place today, struggling to trust God’s direction, here is a prayer for you: a gentle prayer for those of us afraid to trust God. May we find strength and courage as we keep our eyes forward in faith!
A portion of this devotion is an excerpt from an article by Kristine Brown, “10 Women in the bible Who Struggled to Trust God’s Plan,” originally published on Crosswalk.com.