What steps can we take to strengthen our trust in God during trials? Step 1 – Face the Facts Without Letting Them Define You “Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the other lands, destroying them completely. So will you be delivered?” (2 Kings 19:11) • Trials shout the same taunt: “No one survives this.” • Acknowledge the reality—Hezekiah didn’t deny the threat—but refuse to accept the conclusion. • Psalm 56:3 reminds, “When I am afraid, I trust in You.” Admit fear, then redirect it to faith. Step 2 – Spread Every Fear Before the Lord “Hezekiah…went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD.” (2 Kings 19:14) • Pray specifically; name each worry. • Lamentations 3:21-23: rehearse God’s mercies while you lay out the problem. • Turning concerns into prayer moves them from your shoulders to God’s. Step 3 – Magnify God’s Sovereignty “O LORD…You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth.” (2 Kings 19:15) • Start prayers with worship; it re-sizes the problem. • Isaiah 46:9-10 and Romans 8:28 declare He rules history and details. • Worship shifts focus: from “How big is this trial?” to “How big is my God?” Step 4 – Remember Past Deliverances “I will remember the works of the LORD.” (Psalm 77:11) • Keep a journal of answered prayers. • Share testimonies with family and friends. • Gratitude breaks the spell of present fear; what He has done proves what He will do. Step 5 – Receive a Fresh Word from Scripture “Because you have prayed to Me… I have heard you.” (2 Kings 19:20) • Daily Bible intake supplies promises for the present crisis. • Key anchors: Isaiah 41:10; Joshua 1:8; Romans 8:28. • Speak verses aloud; faith grows by hearing (Romans 10:17). Step 6 – Surround Yourself with Godly Voices “Hezekiah sent Eliakim… to Isaiah the prophet.” (2 Kings 19:2) • Seek counsel from mature believers. • Proverbs 13:20 warns that wrong company fuels doubt. • Corporate worship and small groups reinforce confidence when personal strength falters. Step 7 – Act in Obedience While Waiting “The surviving remnant… will again take root below and bear fruit above.” (2 Kings 19:30) • Keep doing the last clear command God gave. • Practical obedience perfects faith (James 2:22). • Serve others; ministry shifts the gaze from self to God’s purposes. Step 8 – Praise Expectantly and Watch God Work “That night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men.” (2 Kings 19:35) • Worship before the answer arrives—Psalm 34:1; Habakkuk 3:17-19. • Stand still and see His salvation (Exodus 14:13). • God’s deliverance may be sudden or gradual, but it is certain for those who trust Him (2 Kings 19:34). These steps—facing facts, praying honestly, magnifying God, remembering His works, feeding on Scripture, seeking godly support, obeying daily, and praising expectantly—build unshakeable trust in the One who always keeps His word. |
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