If you were asked what you wanted for your life in the next five years, I’m sure you would come up with a detailed list of plans. While having well-structured plans for our lives is a good thing, God’s plans are way better and more reliable.
God’s plans for His children come in different forms and dimensions because He deals with each of us differently. But, the intention of His plans for us remains the same.
According to Jeremiah 29:11, God’s plans are to prosper you and give you hope and a future.
Knowing the intentions of God’s plans for you is one thing; truly believing and trusting in them is another. This is why this article has been designed with steps that will help you build up your faith and trust in God’s plans.
7 Steps to Developing Faith and Trusting God’s Plan.
Here are 7 practical steps to grow your faith and trust in God.
#1. Pray.
Aside from being a significant tool for communication with God, a consistent prayer habit strengthens our faith in God.
You’ll be able to trust in the promises of God when prayer becomes your lifestyle. And with time, prayer makes it easier for you to submit completely to the will of God.
Most Christians find it hard to surrender to God’s plan. The fear that God’s plan may not align with the visions we have for our lives is often a big cause.
While it is true that God has plans with our best interests in mind, sometimes His plans are difficult to understand. However, giving in to prayers makes His plans clearer and easier for us to accept. So, pray.
#2. Understand That Life Is Unpredictable.
Life is unpredictable, and yes, this is a sad fact. One minute it feels like everything is going as you planned and the next minute, it is as though nothing is working out.
There are certain things that are beyond our human control. But God knows everything; nothing catches Him by surprise. This is why you need to have complete faith and trust in Him.
Proverbs 27:1 says “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.”
This does not mean we should stop dreaming and expecting the best out of life. It simply means that our dreams and expectations should be rooted in God and not in our abilities.
#3. Strengthen Your Faith With The Truth Of God’s Word.
Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans. 10:17).
The verse above says it all. The more you read and spend time with God’s word, the more your trust and faith in Him grow.
Remember Matthew 4, when Jesus was tempted by the devil, he began each statement with “it is written.” The devil showed up with his lies, but Jesus was armed with the truth of God’s Word and crushed all of the devil’s lies.
Trusting God’s plan will not be easy all the time. The devil will tell you a lot of lies, just as he did with Jesus. But when you’re rooted in the truth of God’s Word, you will build your faith and bring down every lie of the devil.
#4. Surrender Control To God.
You will not always have control over how your life will turn out. Yes, God’s plan will not always align with your expectations.
So, instead of dwelling on things you can’t change, give them to God. Let go of your hold on people, situations, and their outcomes. Allow God to take the front seat in your life.
Psalm 55:22 says “Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.”
Trying to handle situations you have no control over is not faith; faith is turning those things over to God – and leaving them at His feet.
#5. Make a Journal of How God Showed Up For You In The Past.
Sometimes, trusting in God’s plan may require you to wait. And this waiting period is not a fun time. Your faith will waver at times because the longer you wait the harder it becomes to trust God.
When we go through hard times, we have a tendency to forget what God has done in the past. But writing down all God does for you can help you remember His unfailing goodness when it appears like He is silent or when trusting Him becomes challenging.
Psalm 77:11 is a go-to verse for this, it says, “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old.” God does a lot for us every day. All you have to do is think about what He has done.
Remember those times He provided for you, protected you, and helped you get through difficult times. Think about these good things and write them down.
Now, don’t just list your testimony, write down the entire process. Try not to leave anything out. Ensure you capture how you felt at the time, your fears, and how God’s plan finally made a lot of sense at the end.
Going over your testimony journals in difficult times will boost your faith in God and remind you of His goodness.
#6. Praise All The Way.
Praise can come in handy when you are in a place where you can’t easily process things. Singing songs of praise reassures us that God is in control.
Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
“Psalm 34:1 is another verse that inspires us to pray. It says, “I will extol the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.”
Make a playlist of inspiring worship songs and hymns.
Some songs to consider include;
- Oceans – Hillsong
- Walk by Faith – Jeremy
- CampYou Lead – Jamie Grace
- Praise – Elevation Worship
- Sovereign – Chris Tomlin
Find more worship songs when you download the “Fasting for Beginners toolkit“
#7. Share your Burdens With Other Believers.
One of the beauties of being a Christian is that you are not alone. You have a family in Christ, so you should not deal with your problems alone.
Paul tells us in Galatians 6.2 to bear each other’s burdens. Allow your Christian brothers and sisters to bear your burdens by sharing them.
Sharing your problems with fellow believers may not fix them but it will definitely give you peace. Having a community of people who can listen to you, encourage you, and hold your hands to pray with you is a huge blessing.
Conclusion on Trusting God’s Plan.
Because we live in an uncertain world, trusting in God’s plan is best. It gives you peace and a positive approach to life. God’s plans are perfect and always in your best interest.
So what are you waiting for? Start practicing these steps right away and watch as your faith will grow over time.
