Trusting God While the Storm Is Still Raging

It’s easier to recognize God’s faithfulness after a difficult season has passed. Trusting Him in the middle of it is another matter.

In this episode of FaithFuel, Bob Shaw shares a painful season from his radio career and how God taught him to trust His presence even before the outcome was clear.

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Transcript

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I find that it's a lot easier to trust God when you know how the story ends. Problem is we rarely do. Aye, there's the rub. I'm Bob Shaw, and this is Faith Fuel. After the storm has passed, we can usually see things we couldn't see at the time. God's provision, how he carried us through, lessons we learned along the way. The hard part is the middle, the part where you don't know how the story ends. About a decade ago, I went through one of the hardest seasons of my life. I was working at a radio station I loved. I'd spent years there, worked my way up, eventually became co-host of the morning show. Then things changed. People I had good relationships with started treating me differently. I knew things were happening behind the scenes, but I didn't know exactly what. And more than once, I wanted to step in and take control of the situation. You know, defend myself, fix it, do something. Instead, I kept sensing God telling me to do nothing. I hated that. Doing nothing felt weak and irresponsible. It felt like losing, but somehow I did it. And at the time I couldn't understand why. Well eventually I lost that job. I was hurt. I was confused because I did what God told me, and I still lost my job. I was ready to walk away from radio altogether. What I couldn't see at the time was that God was not finished writing the story. A month later, I was offered a job at the station where I still work today. And of course now I can see things I couldn't see then, but while I was living through it, none of it made sense. That's when I learned that trusting God and understanding God are not always the same thing. The disciples learned that lesson in Mark chapter four. Jesus told them to get into a boat and cross the lake. Then a violent storm hit. The disciples were terrified. Jesus was asleep. That tells us a lot, doesn't it? The storm that convinced the disciples they might die didn't change who Jesus was. And the storms we face don't change who he is either. Isaiah 41 10. So do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. God doesn't promise an immediate explanation. He promises his presence. So if you're in the middle of a storm right now, maybe you can't see what God is doing. Maybe none of it makes sense. I've been there. But don't assume that because you can't see the ending, God doesn't have one. Father, help us trust you when we don't understand what you're doing. Remind us that your presence doesn't depend on our circumstances. Give us strength for today and confidence that you're still at work, even when we can't see it. In Jesus' name, Amen. If you're walking through a difficult season right now, don't give up. The story is not over yet. And if you could use more encouragement like this throughout the week, follow Faith Fuel and I'll see you next time. I'm Bob Shaw. Peace and joy.