How to trust God when life becomes difficult: a Catholic perspective

When life is going well, and when there aren’t many challenges or roadblocks along the way, it may seem or appear to be easier to live a life of faith and trust in God. Everyone has challenges and difficulties in some form daily, but then there are those times of life where crisis comes into play. Crises can come at anytime for most of us. For some, the trials never seem to end, and life becomes harder than ever. This is when trusting God can become even more difficult when there is little outward support and God seems to be absent. This has happened to the best of us. Here are four ways to trust God when live becomes difficult or unmanageable.

Seek the right support

Seeking the right kind of support is key to being able to find God in the messiness of life. Whatever your situation is, seek a trusted family member or friend who may be able to help you find the right resources to find answers. Many times, God works through those closest to us to help us to find the right help. In addition, try to find various options when it comes to finding help whether through counseling or through another outreach. Ask questions and make a list of the things you like or do not like about the services provided so that you can compare to make decisions.

Self-care

When you are in the middle of a trauma, self-care is crucial for your well-being. It is also crucial for your relationship with God. When we are tired, scared, panicked, depressed, and anxious, it will be challenging to be able to see the Lord at work in your life even when he is by your side. When you take the time to eat right and take care of yourself including getting enough sleep, you will be able to feel a sense of calm that can help you to keep going during adversities. The Lord desires your peace, and he wishes for you to find healing and restoration. Self-care will help to accomplish this.

Friendship and trust

When life becomes traumatic daily, having one or two friends or relatives to help to support and guide you is very important. Support is mentioned above. In addition to finding the right support, having a trusted friend or mentor will provide you with the love and support you need at a closer level. Perhaps this is a spouse, a parent, or good friend. Whoever it is, be sure you communicate to your friend how you are feeling. Take the time to talk and to pray together about the issues in your life that have challenged you.

Prayer and reflection

The most important of all these ways to trust God when life becomes difficult is to make time for prayer and reflection. Take the time each day to offer your prayers and concerns to Jesus in full trust of his will. This is not easy to do when you are in the middle of a family crisis, but the time that you take to be with the Lord will help to restore your trust in his plan for your life. In addition, when able spend time in Eucharistic Adoration and/or attend Mass including Daily Mass when you are able. There is no question that the healing power of the Eucharist and the presence of Christ in your life will help to retore your trust in God especially in uncertain times. Take the time to read Holy Scripture, and be guided by it in order to find peace and the presence of the Lord in your life.

Practicing the ideas above will help you to regain your trust in God to a greater level. Not only will thedr ideas help for you to trust God more, but you will also begin to love him even more. Loving God is a wonderful goal of life coupled with serving God through loving and caring for others. May God bless you as you navigate through difficult waters to find peace and to trust God with all of you heart and soul.