How to Trust God When You Struggle With Worry And Control

Of late, the Holy Spirit has been revealing to me that I need to trust God.

The other day, I was looking out on my back porch, and the sun was shining so brightly that I could see the most beautiful cobweb.

It reminded me of the famous saying, “Oh, what a tangled web we weave…”

And it got me thinking about how I can make such a tangled web for myself through worrying, fretting, thinking I know best, trying to control things, micromanaging others—and the list could go on and on.

In my mind, I believe I trust God wholeheartedly. And then something happens, and my control side comes out.

I want to fix the problem.

I want to get to the bottom of it.

I want to make something right.

I want to figure out what needs to be done.

For me personally, this happens most often when things are going on in my family.

What about you?

We live in a world that is so busy, and it is so easy to worry and become consumed by what is happening all around us.

But the Bible is clear that we are not to worry. Jesus even tells us that worrying cannot add a single hour to our lives.

Jesus speaks about this in the Sermon on the Mount. He not only tells us not to be anxious—He tells us what to do instead.

Matthew 6:33–34 says:

“But seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

What Does It Really Mean to Trust God?

To me, trust means totally relying on the truth of who God is and what He has said in His Word.

Trust is not just a passive belief. It is an active choice to lean on God rather than on my own understanding.

This reminds me of the verse the Lord gave me years ago when I was deciding whether my husband and I should get married.

Proverbs 3:5–6 says:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

As I have told you before, I struggle with thinking I know best. I struggle with wanting to be in control.

After all, I can “see the situation around me,” right?

But how often I forget that God sees the bigger picture—the whole picture.

He sees the past, the present, and the future.

So why is it so hard for me to trust God?

What the Israelites Taught Me About Trusting God

As I read through the Old Testament and read about the Israelites, I often find myself thinking, “Why could they not get it?”

Why did they have to wander in the wilderness for 40 years?

They had seen miracles, signs, and wonders. They had watched God work powerfully on their behalf and bring them out of Egypt.

Yet they still struggled to trust Him.

They wove a web that became so tangled, and they made such a mess of things.

And yet, God in His mercy continued to be faithful to them.

Then the Holy Spirit reminded me how much I am like them.

How many miracles have I seen Him do in my own life and in the lives of others?

How many times have I seen His faithfulness?

He saved me from my sins.

He has answered prayers.

He has provided when I didn't know how things would work out.

He has led me, protected me, and shown Himself faithful over and over again.

And yet I still find myself wanting my own way.

Wanting to call the shots.

Wanting to believe I know the correct answer.

Wanting to fix things myself.

And the truth is, He is right and I am not always right.

Far too often, I rely on me rather than on God.

Not necessarily because God isn't answering my prayer, but because I think I know best.

Because I believe my answer is right.

Yet this is not trust.

Faith and Trust: What Is the Difference?

The Hebrew word often translated “trust” is batach, which carries the idea of placing confidence or security in something or someone.

The New Testament word pisteuo is often translated “believe” and carries the idea of believing, trusting, and placing confidence in someone.

And I find this distinction helpful.

I can say that I have faith that God can do something.

I can say that I believe He will answer my prayers.

But biblical trust calls me to take the next step.

Faith is accepting what God has revealed.

Trust is the practical, daily action of living out that faith.

I think of it like this:

Faith is believing a chair can hold you. Trust is actually sitting down in it.

Biblical trust is rooted in who God has proven Himself to be—steady, faithful, trustworthy, and reliable.

And honestly, this is a real struggle for me.

So, I want to share a few things I am going to start implementing in my own life.

5 Ways I Am Learning to Trust God

1. When I feel myself beginning to worry, I will say out loud, “I trust You, Father.”

Sometimes I need to speak truth to my own heart.

I may not feel like I trust Him in that moment, but I can choose to remind myself of what is true.

“Father, I trust You.”

2. I will seek first the kingdom of God.

Jesus told us to seek first the kingdom of God.

If my mind is focused on God and His kingdom, it cannot be consumed by everything happening around me.

That doesn't mean I won't notice what is happening.

It means I don't have to let it rule my thoughts.

3. I will set my mind on things above.

Colossians 3:2 tells us:

“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

Sometimes this may look like taking a deep breath and intentionally turning my thoughts toward God.

It might mean reading His Word.

Going outside and noticing something He created.

Praying.

Sitting quietly before Him.

Or reading a passage of Scripture that reminds me who God is.

Revelation 4 is one of my favorite passages to turn to when I need to remember the greatness and majesty of the God who is sitting on His throne.

4. Most importantly, I will ask the Holy Spirit to help me.

I don't have to figure this out on my own.

The Holy Spirit is the One who is revealing these things to me in the first place.

So, I can simply pray,

“Holy Spirit, help me trust God. Help me surrender what I am trying to control. Help me believe that God's way is better than mine.”

5. I will meditate on and memorize Scripture.

When I am worrying or becoming anxious about something, I want to have God's Word ready in my heart.

When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus responded by quoting Scripture. He didn't try to argue with Satan or rely on His own human reasoning. He stood firmly on what

God had already said.

I want to do the same.

I want God's Word to be what comes to my mind when fear, worry, or the desire to control begins to take over.

What About You?

These are just a few things I am going to begin implementing in my own life.

Because apparently, I still have a few tangled webs to untangle. 😊

But maybe you do too.

What about you?

Where do you find yourself struggling to trust God?

What is that one situation, relationship, or circumstance where you find yourself wanting to take control instead of placing it in His hands?

And what is one thing you could begin doing today to remind yourself:

“I trust You, Father.”

Until next time,

Beth