Trust Me!

by Rik Danielsen, D.Min.

At some point, all of us wonder when it will happen, whatever it is. It might be our prodigal child returning home or to the faith. It might be that person who hurt us getting what they deserve. It might be that corrupt politician finally facing a judge for their crimes. It might be our loved one receiving the healing we have been praying for. Whatever it is, we wonder “how much longer, Lord?” We’ve prayed and prayed. We’ve appealed to the police or the courts, but nothing has come of it. We’ve complained, petitioned, and protested, but it seems it’s all to no avail. The doctors have done their best, but nothing is getting better.

Today I was reminded that the Prophet Habakkuk seemed to have run out of patience with the Lord. He saw the corruption of the Chaldeans who were persecuting the Hebrews and wondered when they were finally going to get what they deserved.

God told Habakkuk that he was going to bring judgment upon the evil doers, but it would come in God’s time, not the prophet’s. Then he gives this powerful statement:

but the righteous shall live by his faith. (Habakkuk 2:4b, ESV)

This verse spells out a central truth in the word of God. It is quoted three times in the New Testament, twice by the Apostle Paul. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul understood this verse to speak to how all people everywhere are genuinely saved. It’s by faith, period. Nothing can be added. Many years later, Martin Luther read this quotation in Romans 1:17 and came to realize that none of his good works would save him; it was putting his faith in Jesus Christ alone that would save him. The Latin phrase “Sola Fide” (Faith Alone) became one of the five foundational truths of the Protestant Reformation that changed the world in the sixteenth century.

But what does that have to do with our prodigal children, or the landlord that is mistreating us, or… whatever the trial is that we are facing?

God’s message to Habakkuk was: I’m going to deal with sin and injustice in my time. Until then you are going to have to trust me.

There are things we can and should address. We should report it when someone commits a crime against us. Being cheated by our employer or a company we are doing business with needs to be dealt with. But things are going on that may not be criminal, things the courts can’t resolve for us. What are we to do with those things?

Pray, plead your case with the Judge of the Universe. Seek mediation or arbitration if that is appropriate, but even then things might not work out. What then? You wait upon the Lord and trust him to have your back.

The righteous are to live by faith, but faith in what? It should be obvious that we are to put our faith in the Lord, and we must also put our trust in what God has said to us in his word.

What are some of the promises of God that we are to trust in when nothing seems to be going our way or the way we think it should be going?

Jesus said, “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20b, ESV)

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16, ESV)

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2, ESV) (The word “advocate” means that Jesus is our defense attorney, and “propitiation” is a big word that means “the atoning sacrifice”. Jesus pleads our case and has already made atonement for us when he went to the cross.)

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10, ESV)

What other promises have you read in the Bible? Trust God to keep his word. Live by faith.

There are times that I wish God would work instantly in response to my prayers. Let’s be honest, I pretty much always wish God would work instantly in response to my prayers, but I have to trust God to do what he knows is best at just the right time. That’s why Jesus said this:

Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, (Luke 18:1, NASB)

Until God answers our prayers, his message to us is, “Keep praying and trust me.”

© 2026 Rik Danielsen