Devotionals for the Heart: How I learned to trust God through life trials

Unlocking the Mystery of How to Trust God
A devotional by Christine Monteiro

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

—Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

Being a Christian for two decades doesn’t mean I understand and know how things work regarding believing or trusting God.

I’ve been through troubled times that made me wiser, but when I am experiencing a time of comfort and peace, I forget all the lessons learned. We are human and are easily shifted. In times of suffering, we come to God, begging Him to help us. But when we are out of the trials, we quickly forget how God works in our lives.

Ever since I had to be a caretaker for my sick husband, it was an unforgettable lesson. After he passed away, God redeemed me when I was scared for my finances. From time to time, I treated God as a transactional relationship. When another trial in life hit me, I realized I had been wrong in how I treated God. He never was a transactional God. In fact, in any circumstance, He is there to help me. I just didn’t know how to maintain that mindset that I had to trust God.

One day, this thought came to me after I had failed to pay my son’s school tuition. “How could I trust God?” I was worried along the way. I couldn’t even sleep at night. I turned and tossed in my bed, worried about how to find a way to pay for my son’s education. However, I held on to Philippians 4:6 (NIV), which says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

I didn’t know how to apply that Bible verse. How could I not be anxious when all the financial needs for my family fall on me? And then I read another verse in Matthew 6:25 (NIV), that says, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life.” I still don’t know how to train my mind not to worry. I keep looking for the answers. What does the Bible teach us about how to fully trust God? According to Matthew 6:33 (NIV), we are to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

The answer is to seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness. When I fill my mind with God’s words from The Holy Bible as I read it, spend time with people who faithfully follow Jesus Christ, and listen to Bible-based sermons, I feel my spirit is lifted higher and God-given peace floods my soul. I can feel that fears and anxiety melt away and I stop thinking about my worries. I start to think about more significant things in my life and I let God take care of my problems.

As I cast my cares on God (1 Peter 5:7), things began to change, and I can see things clearly. Does it solve my problems completely every time? Not really, but at least it gives me some peace. I have confidence that God will send help in my time of need. He will listen to my requests when I fix my eyes on Him. This is how I finally unlocked the mystery of how to trust God.

Let’s Pray:

Dear Father in Heaven, 

Thank You so much for your promise to take good care of me. You will never forsake me. The Bible says You care for the birds in the sky, and you’ll also care for me as I am worth more than birds. I pray that I will never forget how to draw myself closer to You and fix my eyes on you only. Let me trust You every second of my life. Don’t let me doubt. Please meet my every need. I trust You and I love you, Lord. Please continue to work in my life.

In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “Trust in You” by Anthony Brown & Group Therapy. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: "Cast Chorus" by Psalty, Ernie Rettino & Debby Kerner Rettino. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “You Are My Hiding Place,” conducted by Selah. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Christine Monteiro is a certified transformative coach, writer, and keynote speaker who is passionate about helping others navigate the complexities of purpose, personal growth, and resilience. 

Christine’s journey to becoming a coach started four years ago, following the loss of her husband to brain cancer. That experience left her feeling as though she had lost her purpose—a feeling she deeply understands in clients who she works with now. Through self-discovery and training, Christine found the missing pieces in her life and regained her purpose and drive that now motivates her to help others.

Christine coaches her clients from all walks of life—from young adults to retirees—helping them to embrace change, set meaningful goals, and confidently pursue their dreams. She has received training through Creative Results Management and holds credentials from the International Coaching Federation (ICF). Christine also has certifications in Positive Psychology and Mental Health Coaching from Yale and Light University. Her diverse approach to coaching her clients combines empathy with strategic insight, helping them to navigate every stage of life.

When she writes, Christine likes to focus on topics like finding purpose, coping with grief, and achieving personal transformation. As she writes, Christine draws from her own experiences as a single mom and empty nester. She enjoys sharing these insights on various platforms to reach a wider audience and foster community support.

When not coaching or writing, Christine spends her time sipping black coffee and swimming in the pool. She has found that having three independent children gives her a privilege to have a lot of “me time” that she didn’t have when they were growing up.