“But the person who trusts in the LORD will be blessed. The LORD will show him that he can be trusted.”

Jeremiah 17:7 NCV

How do we trust God completely in hard times?

God wants us to trust him, and he promises great blessings when we do. But it’s hard to do when we are overcome by stress, pain, or grief.

None of us is exempt from facing difficulties in life. Ecclesiastes 9:11 teaches us that “time and chance” happen to us all—in other words, everyone will, at some point or another, experience adversity. This, combined with sin’s destructive impact on the world, means that life can feel painful and unfair.

Fortunately, God can always be trusted to bring good through difficult times. We can find great encouragement and hope by reading stories in the Bible that show him coming through for his people.

Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. [7] For we live by faith, not by sight.

2 Corinthians 5:6-7 NIV

When we go through difficulties and hardships, we must examine and strengthen our faith in God. Living “by faith, not by sight” means we can look past the challenges before us, knowing that God loves us and is actively orchestrating everything to work toward something good and beautiful (Romans 8:28 Voice).

How do I trust God through difficult times?

And the Scriptures were written to teach and encourage us by giving us hope.

Romans 15:4 CEV

We can trust God in difficult times by reading the Bible to find encouragement and hope. The Scriptures give us hope because they teach us who God is—he goes ahead of us, he answers prayer, he has a plan for us, and he wants to bless our lives.

The men and women in the Bible were far from perfect; even the people on this list struggled through fear, unbelief, and sin. But we can find great encouragement in their stories because they were human, just like we are, and God still came through for them. We can find comfort and reassurance in how God responded to them. He showed them that he can be trusted, and he wants us to know that as we navigate our own tests and trials.

Let’s look at ten examples of trusting God in the Bible to inspire us to believe in difficult circumstances.

How do I trust God when I’m overwhelmed by life?

Deborah was a strong leader in the Bible, and she was described as “a mother” to Israel. She can teach us to trust God when the many demands and responsibilities of life feel overwhelming.

There were no warriors in Israel until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose to be a mother to Israel.

Judges 5:7 NCV

Difficulty comes in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes it isn’t a drastic tragedy, but the stress of our everyday responsibilities. It can be hard to trust God when our to-do list is long, we work demanding jobs, or we are trying to care for our families. We might not have the title Deborah did, but life can demand a lot from us each day.

Deborah was one of those amazingly talented people who seemed to be able to do it all. She was a leader, a judge, a prophetess, a wife, and a mother. And along with that, she courageously led her people into battle. Though phenomenally inspirational, her life can leave us feeling like we can’t relate. How did she do it all?

The answer is that she didn’t do it all. She trusted God, and he brought victories into her life and family that she couldn’t have achieved on her own.

Then Deborah said to Barak, “Go! This is the day the LORD has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the LORD gone ahead of you?” So Barak went down Mount Tabor, with ten thousand men following him. [15] At Barak’s advance, the LORD routed Sisera and all his chariots and army by the sword, and Sisera got down from his chariot and fled on foot.

Judges 4:14-15 NIV

Deborah believed and trusted God in a way that can be hard for us to do. God was real and present in her life. She believed that victory was already hers through God.

How different would our lives be if we had a strong belief that God’s hand was in every effort of our day? That he was going ahead of us in every task? When we trust God like Deborah did, we will feel less overwhelmed with the busy schedule of our lives. We will believe that we can handle and even conquer every challenge that comes because God is on our side.

How do I trust God when my prayers are unanswered?

Zechariah and Elizabeth were a couple in the Bible who experienced the heartbreaking difficulty of infertility, yet they continued to trust God. We can learn from them to trust God when our hearts ache with disappointment.

In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. [6] Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. [7] But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old …

[13] But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. [14] He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, [16] He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.

[17] And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Luke 1:5-7,13-14,16-17 NIV

A longing unfulfilled can be disheartening. Imagine being unable to have children in a culture that viewed children as a sign of God’s favor and blessing. Imagine watching other people get the blessing you long for, year after year. This is the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth.

Zechariah had been praying for a child, perhaps for decades. He and his wife understood the heartache of being denied something they longed for without knowing why.

Have you been denied something you’ve longed for? Have your prayers for something gone unanswered? Maybe it’s a lingering health situation that won’t go away, a child who rejects your influence, a character weakness you cannot overcome, or a sin that plagues you and your relationships.

Zechariah and Elizabeth understand. They also understand how to remain faithful while waiting on God. We know they trusted God because they continued to serve God, and God described them as righteous.

And while Zechariah and Elizabeth waited, God was working. Although they couldn’t see it, they had a crucial purpose in God’s story. This is why we need to keep trusting God in difficult times; he is working in ways we can’t see.

When our prayers seem unanswered or we endure adversity for any length of time, it can be easy to lose faith and turn to self-pity and unbelief. Even Zechariah went through periods of doubt (Luke 1:18-20), but he didn’t give up.

When we experience periods of waiting or longings unfulfilled, we can trust God by remembering Zechariah and Elizabeth and deciding we won’t give up.

How do I trust God when I get bad news?

Isaiah was a prophet who had to trust God even when he got bad news. His life teaches us that God can always be trusted, even when circumstances look gloomy.

My stomach sinks. My gut churns with pain. As a woman in labor wrenches and writhes, I can hardly bear the news. I cannot hear because I’m bent over with agony. I cannot see because I’m deep in the fog of depression.

Isaiah 21:3 Voice

Isaiah was chosen by God to deliver an important message to the Israelites. But this job was far from glamorous. It involved telling God’s people the difficult truths they needed to hear. God’s long-term plan was redemption and hope for his people, but before that, his people would suffer great pain as a consequence of their own sins.

This is what Isaiah saw. It was bad news. But it was also a crucial moment for him to trust in God’s plan and faithfulness.

Trusting God in difficult times means being able to see past bad news, to trust God no matter how awful things seem right now.

To do that, like Isaiah did, we need to learn to pray in a new way.

The overwhelming emotions that come with bad news can make it difficult to pray. Often, our instinct is to numb our pain by minimizing or hiding it.

Isaiah is inspiring because he didn’t hold back in his conversations with God. He expressed his deep pain and how hard it was to hear and see God in the midst of it all, then he decided to trust God anyway.

[3] He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, and you will bring me glory.” [4] I replied, “But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose. Yet I leave it all in the LORD’s hand; I will trust God for my reward.”

Isaiah 49:3-4 NLT

Isaiah’s faith stayed strong despite bad news because he was honest about his doubt and frustration and he decided he would trust God anyway. We can’t say we trust God if we aren’t willing to trust him with our confused and vulnerable feelings. But we also can’t leave it at that; once we express our feelings, we also need to decide to trust God more than our emotions.

How do I trust God when I’ve suffered for a long time?

An unnamed woman in Mark 5 gives us a great example of trusting God in difficult times. After 12 years of suffering and discouragement, she still dared to believe that God would move in her life.

[27] When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, [28] because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” [29] Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. [30] At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”

[31] “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” [32] But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. [33] Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. [34] He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

Mark 5:27-34 NIV

In Mark 5, we find a scene that is prevalent throughout the Gospels: a large crowd has gathered around Jesus. People from all over the region rushed to him and pressed against him. In the crowd was a woman who had been suffering from chronic bleeding for 12 years.

She had visited many doctors and had spent all she had on treatments (Luke 8:43). But no one could help her. Because of the nature of her condition, she was considered unclean according to the laws and traditions of the time. She was suffering, broken, and alone.

Yet because of her confident faith in Jesus, she saw past her pain for a moment, just long enough to reach out and try something new. And that’s all Jesus needed.

When we have suffered for a long time, it’s hard to keep trusting that God cares about our pain or will act on our behalf. We can get cynical and resistant to trying new things.

Although the woman in this passage was unnamed, her story of faith is unforgettable and inspires us to never give up. She didn’t settle into unbelief or discouragement. She took a bold risk to believe in Jesus and his power. She reminds us that we can’t allow our suffering or the things we have tried in the past to steal our faith today.

How do I trust God in an impossible situation?

Moses led the people of Israel through the desert to the promised land. But it was a tough journey; along the way, they ran into many seemingly impossible situations that made it difficult to trust God. Reading about how God came through for them every time can help us trust him when we find ourselves in a seemingly impossible situation.

Trusting God is difficult when we feel like we are stuck in an impossible situation. Maybe we are stuck in a job we don’t like, or we are overwhelmed by responsibilities and have nowhere to turn for help.

Moses experienced that same feeling when he and the Israelites found themselves stuck between the Red Sea and an angry Egyptian army. But what seemed like as setback was actually a setup for God to move.

For Pharaoh will say of the Israelites, ‘They are wandering aimlessly in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’ [4] I will harden (make stubborn, defiant) Pharaoh’s heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will be glorified and honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians shall know [without any doubt] and acknowledge that I am the LORD.” And they did so.

For Pharaoh will say of the Israelites, ‘They are wandering aimlessly in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’ [4] I will harden (make stubborn, defiant) Pharaoh’s heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will be glorified and honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians shall know [without any doubt] and acknowledge that I am the LORD.” And they did so.

[9] The Egyptians chased them with all the horses and war-chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and they overtook them as they camped by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.

[13] Then Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid! Take your stand [be firm and confident and undismayed] and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today; for those Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see again. [14] The LORD will fight for you while you [only need to] keep silent and remain calm.”

[15] The LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to move forward [toward the sea]. [16] As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, so that the sons of Israel may go through the middle of the sea on dry land.

[17] As for Me, hear this: I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will go in [the sea] after them; and I will be glorified and honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and his war-chariots and his horsemen. [18] And the Egyptians shall know [without any doubt] and acknowledge that I am the LORD, when I am glorified and honored through Pharaoh, through his war-chariots and his charioteers.”

Exodus 14:3-4,9,13-18 AMP

God guided the Israelites to the exact place he wanted them to be, right on the edge of the Red Sea. With the water at their backs, and Pharaoh and the Egyptians bearing down on them, it was only God who could provide a way out.

This experience can occur in our lives from time to time. We feel as if we are in an impossible situation, just for God to show us how powerful he is.

God is an “outside-the-box” thinker. Everyone felt backed up against a wall with no way out, but that’s because no one would have predicted that he would part the Red Sea for the Israelites to walk through on solid ground.

Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people! [6] He made a dry path through the Red Sea, and his people went across on foot. There we rejoiced in him

Psalm 66:5-6 NLT

Though it is easy to get afraid of having nowhere to turn, these are the moments we can see God work at his best.

How do I trust God when life doesn’t go the way I thought?

David was Israel’s most celebrated king and a faithful friend of God. But still, life didn’t go the way he thought. His story teaches us that God’s destiny for our lives is not determined by other people or by our circumstances but by God’s plan.

[1] So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there. [2] Then others began coming-men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented-until David was the captain of about 400 men.

1 Samuel 22:1-2 NLT

“This is not how I pictured it.”

Have you ever said this about your life?  We all have a picture of how we want our lives to play out. So how do we trust God in periods of life that look nothing like we imagined?

David was hailed a hero for conquering Goliath, led numerous successful military campaigns, became head of military operations for Israel, and married the king’s daughter. He had a lot going for him.

Watch: 3 Examples of Trusting God When Times Are Hard

Then suddenly, because of a jealous king, David spent the next ten or more years on the run. In 1 Samuel 22, we find David in a cave with a motley crew of misfits. It would be safe to say this is not how David imagined his life would go.

When life doesn’t go the way we thought, we may be tempted to believe that God has abandoned us or lost vision for us.

In these moments, we must decide whether our faith will be in our circumstances or in God.

Putting our faith in God means we will not quit in hard times. We’ll keep learning, growing, and looking for God even when life doesn’t go the way we want.

As the story of David illustrates, God’s destiny for our lives does not change because of our circumstances. David’s destiny was fulfilled; he became king of Israel, and we can all find inspiration in his journey. His road was not always smooth. He sinned, and other people sinned against him. But we can learn from David that our destiny was not determined by difficult moments. Our destiny is determined by God.

Though our circumstances change, our destiny does not (Ephesians 1:11). David stayed faithful during difficult times because he believed his future was in the hands of a God who loved him. We, too, need to believe that our future is in the hands of a God who loves us.

How do I trust God when the outcome is uncertain?

The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is in the book of Daniel. These three men famously faced the threat of being thrown into a blazing furnace, declaring that they would trust God whether he saved them from the furnace or not. They show us that God is worthy of our trust, even when we face a situation with an uncertain or negative outcome.

[12] But there are some Jews-Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego-whom you have put in charge of the province of Babylon. They pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They refuse to serve your gods and do not worship the gold statue you have set up.”

[13] Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him. When they were brought in, [14] Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up?

[15] I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?”

[16] Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. [17] If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty.

Daniel 3:12-17 NLT

At this time in history, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon was influenced by those around him to set up an image of gold and require everyone in the land to bow down and worship it.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego respectfully declined. When the whole kingdom was following along, they stood their ground, with faith that God would take care of them no matter the result.

[18] But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” [19] Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual.

[20] Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. [21] So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments. [22] And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in.

[24] But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?” “Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied. [25] “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!”

Daniel 3:18-22,24-25 NLT

Trusting God is difficult when there might be consequences for doing the right thing. Thankfully, most of us are not threatened with a blazing furnace as a consequence for being faithful to God. But we might face people’s ridicule, rejection, or anger. At times, doing the right thing is hard, and it’s a risk.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego remained calm and confident in the face of the king’s life-threatening anger at them. They had faith that God would save them because they trusted that God would take care of them.

But the most astonishing part is their trust in God even if he didn’t save them from the flames. Their faith allowed for contentment, whatever the outcome. They trusted God completely.

This story teaches us that God is more powerful than people or any force of nature. His plans can be completely trusted, whether we see them as good or bad. We don’t need to control or predict outcomes; all we need to do is keep trusting in God and his goodness.

How do I trust God when I am grieving?

Naomi and Ruth were two incredibly faithful women who were also brokenhearted; both of them had lost husbands, and Naomi had lost two sons. Yet they helped each other trust God in the most painful time of their lives, which he wove into a powerful story of destiny.

[14] At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her. [15] “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.” [16] But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. [17] Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” [18] When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.

Ruth 1:14-18 NIV

So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?” [20] “Don’t call me Naomi, ” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. [21] I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.” [22] So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning.

Ruth 1:19-22 NIV

Naomi’s loss made her feel bitter. She was heartbroken; she questioned God’s love for her and didn’t see how anyone could understand or help her through her pain.

Even though Naomi tried to push both of her daughters-in-law away, Ruth refused to be shut out. No matter how many tactics Naomi used to keep her at a distance, Ruth stood her ground. She loved and believed in her. She also believed in the God of the Israelites, a faith she undoubtedly learned from Naomi. Though Naomi was wrestling with pain, bitterness, and heartbreak, she was a woman of faith. She was just struggling through a low point. Trusting God in difficult times doesn’t mean being perfect; it just means being honest and never giving up.

Ruth and Naomi’s relationship was not one-sided. Ruth stuck by Naomi when she felt bitter and alone, but then Naomi decided to help Ruth too:

One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home for you, where you will be well provided for.”

Ruth 3:1 NIV

The rest of the book of Ruth shows us an inspiring end to the story of these two women. God moved through their loyal friendship to help them find healing, hope, and an incredible future.

When we are overwhelmed by pain or grief, God’s way of encouraging us often involves bringing other people into our lives. Sometimes they help us, and other times we encourage them. When we let them in rather than pushing them away, our trust in God will grow. These friendships don’t take away the pain or difficulty of what we’re going through, but they can help us both see and be light in the midst of darkness.

How do I trust God when I’ve messed up?

Jacob is a perfect example of someone in the Bible whose difficulty was of his own making. But despite his many flaws, God still chose him for something special. Jacob teaches us to trust God even when we feel unworthy. 

When he was young, Jacob had a relationship with his brother Esau that was complicated at best. He stole Esau’s birthright (Genesis 25:27-32 NLT) and deceived their father into giving him the blessing that was meant for Esau (Genesis 27:14-27,30-38,41 NLT). Then he ran away.

After being away from home for years, Jacob finally headed back in Genesis 32. Then he heard that his brother Esau was coming to meet him, he got afraid. Though Jacob had grown and matured in many ways over the years, he was now forced to face the consequences of his sinful choices. 

Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my grandfather Abraham, and God of my father, Isaac— O LORD, you told me, ‘Return to your own land and to your relatives.’ And you promised me, ‘I will treat you kindly.’ [10] I am not worthy of all the unfailing love and faithfulness you have shown to me, your servant. When I left home and crossed the Jordan River, I owned nothing except a walking stick. Now my household fills two large camps! [11] O LORD, please rescue me from the hand of my brother, Esau. I am afraid that he is coming to attack me, along with my wives and children. [12] But you promised me, ‘I will surely treat you kindly, and I will multiply your descendants until they become as numerous as the sands along the seashore— too many to count.’”

Genesis 32:9-12 NLT

Throughout his life, Jacob had dealt with his problems by running away from them. But now he had a choice to make. Would he continue running, or trust that God would pull through for him despite his many mistakes?

He chose to turn to God, but this decision wasn’t an easy one. It took fighting and literally wrestling with God to submit to and trust him:

During the night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two servant wives, and his eleven sons and crossed the Jabbok River with them. [23] After taking them to the other side, he sent over all his possessions. [24] This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. [25] When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. [26] Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” [27] “What is your name?” the man asked. He replied, “Jacob.” [28] “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.” [29] “Please tell me your name,” Jacob said. “Why do you want to know my name?” the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there. [30] Jacob named the place Peniel (which means “face of God”), for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.”

Genesis 32:22-30 NLT

God doesn’t want us to be held back by our past. He wants to help us move forward. He’s willing to help us work through our pain and defenses to transform us into someone new. 

Jacob eventually reconciles with his brother after wrestling with God. Our relationships can completely change for the better when we are willing to trust God with our mistakes and sins.

How do I trust God when I’m afraid?

Esther was a courageous queen who saved her people from destruction. But she wasn’t always so courageous; she had to learn to trust God when she was afraid.

Have you ever been in a position where you had the opportunity or responsibility to act, but were too afraid? Maybe it was expressing what you felt, speaking up for a friend, or even speaking up to a friend. In these moments, our fear of failure, rejection, and humiliation are very real, and so is the dilemma of choosing to either face that fear or freeze up or run away.

Someone in the Bible who understands this dilemma is Esther. She was just a young woman who suddenly found herself in a very difficult position. Her people were threatened with death. She could use her royal position to speak up to the king and save them, but that would put her own life at risk.

Esther’s cousin and adopted father, Mordecai, asked her to stand up for her people. This was her response:

How am I supposed to see the king? It’s known throughout the land, from the greatest of the king’s officials to the common folk who live in the provinces, that any person who approaches the king in the inner chamber without being invited is sentenced to death. That’s the law! There’s only one exception, and that’s if the king were to hold out the gold scepter to that person and spare his or her life. It’s been 30 days since the king last summoned me!

Esther 4:11 Voice

When given the opportunity to step up and lead, Esther said, “No way!” 

How do you respond when given the chance to step up? Do you freeze up and run away? Maybe you come up with a lot of reasons or excuses for why you shouldn’t be the one to act. The excuse Esther gave was valid—she could die! But Mordecai wanted to help her see that the impact she was capable of having was greater than the risk.

“If you stay silent during this time, deliverance for the Jews will come from somewhere, but you, my child, and all of your father’s family will die. And who knows? Perhaps you have been made queen for such a time as this.”

Esther 4:14 Voice

Mordecai believed in Esther even when she didn’t believe in herself. He helped her see the purpose and vision God had for her, challenging her to take that leap of faith. This motivated her to take action.

“In preparation for my audience with the king, do this: gather together all the Jews in Susa, and fast and pray for me. Intercede for me. For three days and nights, abstain from all food and drink. My maids and I will join you in this time. And after the three days, I will go in to the king and plead my people’s case, even though it means breaking the law. And if I die, then I die!”

Esther 4:16 Voice

Esther didn’t stop being afraid. Instead, she chose to act despite her fear, and rallied her friends and family around her to pray for her as she spoke to the king. If you keep reading her story, you’ll see that Esther did in fact speak to the king and save her people. Even though she kept being afraid, she learned to trust that the purpose for which God had chosen her was worth the risk.

Further study

1. Paul – 2 Corinthians 11:21-33 NASB
2. Job – Job 13:13-28 NASB
3. Hannah – 1 Samuel 1:3-7 NLT, 1 Samuel 1:9-18 NLT