What’s your first reaction when trouble appears on your horizon? Where do you turn when the challenges before you seem too big to solve on your own? Do you allow the ‘what-ifs’ to run wild in your mind? Do you call your friends to complain and vent your frustrations? Do you turn to the internet for solutions? Or, do you turn to prayer for trust in God’s answers to your situation?
What is your first reaction when life gets hard? Do you turn to prayer for trust in God?
When I’m feeling weak, wondering if I’ll get past the obstacles before me, I turn to the story of Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah in 2 Chronicles 20. After many years of peace and prosperity, word came that three large armies were marching toward Judah. Although Jehoshaphat had a strong army himself, they were no match for these three nations who had banded together against Judah. Jehoshaphat was alarmed and knew he couldn’t face down these armies on his own.
As three armies marched toward his borders, Jehoshaphat turned first to prayer for trust in God. His first move wasn’t to gather his military leaders to draw up battle plans. He didn’t begin to worry or complain. He didn’t send out envoys to request assistance from other nations. Instead, he gathered the nation together in prayer.
Jehoshaphat placed his trust in God completely. He trusted God to lead them into battle and to provide the battle plan. He submitted his worry and anxiety to God, freeing his own heart to worship and praise God.
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Jehoshaphat’s Prayer to Trust God
2 Chronicles 20:5-12 (NIV)
Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard and said:“Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’
“But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
Jehoshaphat’s prayer for trust provides an outline for us to pray when troubles loom large on our own horizon. You can model your own prayer for trust in God using the TRUST acronym.
A Prayer for TRUST in God
T – THANKSGIVING for Who God Is
Begin by giving thanks for who God is. Call upon his attributes and names, his greatness. Honor his power and might.
“Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you.” (2 Chronicles 20:6 NIV)
R – REMEMBER God’s Faithfulness
Next, remember great things God has done in your own life, in the life of someone else, or examples from the Bible. Remind yourself of God’s faithfulness and glorify the great things God does for us.
“Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?” (2 Chronicles 20:7 NIV)
U – UNBURDEN Your Heart, Asking God for Help
Unload your concerns and unburden your heart. Pour out your needs and requests to God. Share the challenges you’re facing and ask for God’s help.
“But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. Our God, will you not judge them?” (2 Chronicles 20:10-12a NIV)
S – SURRENDER to God’s Plans
As you ask God for help, you’ll need to prepare your heart to accept his answers. Pray for surrender to God’s plans
“They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’” (2 Chronicles 20:8-9 NIV)
T – TRUST In God’s Power
Place your trust in God. Commit to fix your eyes on him, telling your heart and mind that God is big enough to handle whatever you’re facing. Know that his power is enough. Certainly more than your own power, definitely more than the trials in your life. So, come before God in your prayer and place your trust in him.
“For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” (2 Chronicles 20:12b NIV)
Will you turn to prayer for trust in God when troubles loom large in your life?
When you turn your eyes to God and trust him with your burdens and trials, you’ll discover peace and strength to sustain you through any storm life brings. Pray for trust in God and submit your heart to him. Lean into God’s power and strength, allowing him to carry you through.
Trusting God – 4 Weeks to Find Peace & Strength in the Storm
Learning to trust God with your life is no easy feat. Yet, it may be the best thing you can do for your life. If you’re struggling to trust God in the storms of your life, not sure God can really help with your troubles or don’t know where to even begin, I invite you to join the Trusting God study.
Trusting God is a 4-week online course to help you learn to trust God through the storms of your life. Through these 4 weeks, you’ll learn to trust God and discover his peace and strength through the storms in your life.
Click here to learn more about the Trusting God online study!
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Sunshyne says
Kathy…This is awesome! I am sharing the trust acronym on social media now. Trusting what we can’t see is so hard, yet will set us free. Thank you for sharing this encouragement to trust the power of God!