Struggling to trust God in difficult times? Learn how stepping out of your comfort zone in faith leads to spiritual growth through challenges. Learn biblical insights and practical ways to embrace challenges with hope and confidence.
Life is full of challenges—big and small—that test our faith, patience, and resilience. As Christians, we often hear the encouragement to “trust God” during tough times, but what does that really mean? How do we navigate life’s trials while holding on to our faith? What are the benefits of embracing discomfort instead of avoiding it?
The Power of Perspective to Trust God in Difficult Times
One of the foundational truths of navigating trials and discomfort is recognizing that how we think is a choice. We often forget that we have the power to choose our thoughts, which can either bring us closer to joy and faith or pull us into fear and anxiety.
“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4 NASB 1995).
Habit of Hope: We grow in faith when we trust God enough to step out of our comfort zones, embrace discomfort, and walk forward in obedience, knowing He is with us.
When faced with difficulties, it’s easy to let negative thoughts dominate. But choosing joy during trials isn’t about denying the difficulty or putting on a fake smile—it’s about recognizing that God is with us and will use every challenge for our good. Our thoughts shape our responses. When we align them with God’s truth, we build spiritual endurance.
Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone in Faith
Discomfort is something we naturally try to avoid (at least I do!), yet it’s often the very thing God uses to stretch and grow us. In every trial, we can learn more about Jesus because He’s with us. When we embrace discomfort rather than run from it, we open ourselves to the work that God wants to do in and through us.
If we’ve got a bad attitude, if we’re resisting, or if we’ve moved into control or fix-it mode, we can block the Holy Spirit from working. One of the most impactful shifts you can make in your spiritual journey is to view trials from God’s perspective. Instead of seeing challenges as obstacles, start seeing them as opportunities for growth. This mindset shift allows you to approach difficulties with faith, knowing that God is using them to mature and strengthen you.
What Happened When I Stepped Out of My Comfort Zone
Whether it’s a trial, taking a risk, or starting something new, there are many times in life where we need to step out of our comfort zones. When I went to my first writer’s conference in 2012, I hesitated at the door. The room buzzed with the conversations of 400 people.
Feeling like an imposter, it was stressful to step into the discomfort and silence the voice in my head saying, “You don’t belong here. Who do you think you are?”
But when I think about how much I’ve grown as a writer, content creator, and speaker since that day, I’m blown away by what God has done. What would I have missed if I’d allowed discomfort to keep me from stepping into something new?
In other seasons of life, hardships and challenges have required me to press through discomfort, trusting God for answers and help I couldn’t see at the time. James reminds us that trials come in many varieties, but there can be joy when we realize God is at work.
Spiritual Growth Through Challenges: Processing Emotions with God
Our emotions play a significant role in how we navigate trials. They can either derail us or become powerful tools for growth if we bring them to God.
When you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or frustrated, take your emotions to Him. Spend time in prayer, journaling, or talking with a trusted friend to process what you’re going through. By doing so, you allow God to bring healing and insight, helping you move forward with a renewed sense of hope and purpose.
Seeking God’s Guidance: The Key to Spiritual Resilience
In moments of uncertainty, it’s crucial to seek God’s guidance. When we’re unsure of what to do, we can pray for wisdom and strength. God promises to give us wisdom if we ask for it (James 1:5).
One practical way to seek God’s guidance is through consistent prayer and reflection on His Word. By staying connected to God, you’ll be better equipped to handle life’s challenges with grace and confidence.
Steps to Trust God in Difficult Times
Consider the following action steps to empower you to step out of your comfort zone and embrace growth through your challenges.
- Acknowledge the discomfort – Don’t ignore your feelings. Recognize and name the discomfort you’re experiencing. Trust that God is working. Process your emotions with Him so you can move forward rather than get stuck in your feelings.
- Identify the root cause of reactions – Ask God, “Lord, why is this upsetting me so much?” Dig deep to uncover the thoughts, responses, and beliefs shaping your reaction.
- Seek God’s perspective – Ask Him to help you see the situation through His eyes, focusing on the growth and blessings that can come from it.
- Be willing – Think about Peter walking on water. His willingness to step out of the boat and trust Jesus led to a miraculous experience that strengthened his faith.
- Seek God’s guidance – Pray for wisdom and strength to navigate the trial, trusting that God will guide you in His timing (James 1:5-8).
- Pray and watch for God’s answers – Simple prayers like “Jesus, help me” or “Lord, provide what I need in this moment” can keep you anchored in His presence.
- Take small steps – Breaking down challenges into manageable actions helps decrease overwhelm, allowing you to build confidence and momentum.
- Embrace the journey – Growth is a process. Be patient with yourself, keep your attention on God, and celebrate progress along the way.
- Believe God is with you – Remember that He is with you in every step, providing support and strength.
- Trust in God’s timing – Quick resolutions may not come, but trust that God is working behind the scenes, even when you can’t see it.
Building Faith Habits: Small Steps Lead to Big Spiritual Growth
Growth doesn’t happen overnight. Keep taking small steps in the right direction. One of the most effective ways to build faith is by establishing daily habits that keep you connected to God—prayer, Bible reading, journaling, or reflecting on how God is working in your life.
Build the Habit of Trusting God in Your Difficult Times
What area of your life are you avoiding because it’s uncomfortable? How can you shift your mindset to see your trials as opportunities for growth? This week, take one small step outside your comfort zone. Process your emotions with God, seek His guidance, and trust Him with the next step—one day at a time.
If this post has encouraged you, I invite you to listen to our podcast, Habits of Hope: Cultivating a Deeper Life with God. Each episode offers deeper discussions and practical tips to help you navigate life’s challenges with faith, hope, and joy. Tune in and take the next step in your spiritual journey!
Recent Podcast Episodes
23. Five Loving Ways to Strengthen Your Relationships with Grace Over Grievance Discover five biblical habits to strengthen relationships through humility, patience, and gentleness. Learn practical steps to build unity, extend grace, and reflect Christ’s love in your daily interactions. This episode is packed with relatable stories and actionable insights to cultivate thriving relationships.
24.How to Unlock More Hope Through the Forgiveness Habit Forgiveness is one of the hardest but most freeing habits in the Christian life. In this episode of Habits of Hope, we explore why forgiveness is essential for healing, hope, and spiritual growth. If you’ve ever struggled to forgive or wondered where to start, this episode will encourage and equip you to walk in the freedom that comes with grace-filled forgiveness.
25.How to Hear God’s Voice: Simple Habits to Deepen Faith and Restore Hope Using Habakkuk 2:1-2 as our guide, learn how spiritual disciplines like journaling, scripture meditation, and creating space helps us hear God’s voice more clearly. Whether you’re in a dry season or just starting your spiritual growth journey, this episode offers hope and practical encouragement.
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- 6 Healthy Ways to Process Your Feelings with Faith
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- 5 Things You Need to Know About God’s Guidance
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So glad you're here. I help busy women—gals like you— build healthy habits for living well with biblical wisdom and practical steps to deepen your faith, increase your hope, and thrive in your purpose.
