Jesus and his disciples faced challenges, including governmental roadblocks and persecution, physical needs, dangerous situations, false accusations, personal betrayal, sickness, and death. Consistent with all of Scripture, Jesus demonstrated that God is never overwhelmed, never wringing His hands. Jesus showed us that God knows what He will do, and when and how He will do it. 

Jesus showed us that those who belong to God can and need to trust in God’s power and faithfulness. Even as followers of Jesus, we get overwhelmed and distracted by worry. Fear that God will not help, for whatever reason, may tempt us to give up or make us vulnerable to pressure to act on our own to solve a problem. Neither giving up nor trusting in our own strength is the way to spiritual peace or abundant life. Instead, either of these paths may result in collateral damage. Sometimes the hardest part is trusting in God’s timing, even though we have such witnesses as Job, Joseph, and Daniel.

Jesus demonstrated that God knows our thoughts, so pretending we trust Him when we do not is not helpful. Scripture shows us how to bring our challenges to God and ask for His action with an attitude of trust. David, a man after God’s own heart, gave us examples of this in the Psalms. Jesus himself, on the night he was betrayed, prayed and cried that he might be spared going to the cross, but he resolved to go if it was the Father’s will. We are told that the souls of those who have been killed for the word of God and their faith cry out to God, asking when justice will be served (Revelation 6:9-11). We are shown, time and again, that God’s love and faithfulness are sure. God can handle the biggest challenges. He knows what He will do, and the means and timing are in His hands.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You that we see Your image and Your glory in Jesus. Thank You that in Jesus we can truly know You. I confess that I am not as eager to say, as Jesus said, “Not my will, but Your will be done.” So I plead the blood of Jesus for the healing of my own will. Did Jesus not bleed for the healing of my will? Help me, I pray, to no longer be conformed to the pattern of this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of my mind, so that I can test and approve what Your will is: your good, pleasing, and perfect will. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Think of a challenge you are facing, or a challenge you have been praying about for someone else. Read or sing Psalm 13 out loud over that challenge, bringing it to God honestly and with trust. Be open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance regarding your path forward. When the answer comes, whether in short time or long, remember to return with thanksgiving to God.