Trust Issues: Building A Foundation Of Trust In God For A Lifetime Of Peace, Joy, And Freedom

By Jodi L. Aiken

Ask the average Christian how to get through a difficult place in life and you are likely to hear the person say, “Just trust Jesus,” but what does that mean? What does it look like to trust an unseen being? Also, what if you have trusted a friend or loved one only to have that trust shattered? Can you ever trust again?

Every unknown in life presents the opportunity for trust to be affirmed or lost. In Trust Issues, author Jodi Aiken shares her unique take on building confidence in the power of an unseen God. From examples from the life of Israel’s most famous and beloved king to the personal application of her own journey, you will discover how to gain confidence in God’s trustworthiness, the positive purpose of difficult times in your life, and that God can mend your heart if you’ve been hurt before.

If you desire to break the cycle of skepticism and long for the security of a trusting relationship, pack up your boxes of doubt and move them out of the way so you can experience a surrendered life filled with Christ. As you build upon your foundation of trusting God, you will cultivate invaluable intimacy with your Creator and discover an everlasting love you can count on from a truly trustworthy God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Apr 16, 2024
• ISBN: 9798385022144

Jodi L. Aiken

Jodi L. Aiken is an inspirational speaker, author, podcaster, and Bible teacher who passionately loves the Lord. With more than twenty years of ministry experience, Jodi points others to the empowering freedom that comes from trusting Jesus in all of life. Through her writing, speaking, and teaching, Jodi helps others experience the transforming power of God’s love and grace. Learn more at JodiAiken.com.

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ISBN: 979-8-3850-2213-7 (sc)

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WestBow Press rev. date: 04/15/2024

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To my husband, Chris, who has always been my biggest cheerleader and continues to believe in me more than I believe in myself. Your love for the Lord is beautifully displayed by the way you love me as Christ loved the church. For that and infinite other reasons, I am grateful to have you by my side, and I would choose us all over again.

To my sons Dillon and Hayden, thank you for encouraging me as I’ve struggled with trust issues. You both have listened to numerous stories of how God worked in my life. You have followed your father’s example by loving me well and cheering me on. As a proud mom of two incredible men, I couldn’t be more grateful for your unwavering love and support.

To my grandchildren, you have motivated me to write this book for you to read one day in hopes of inspiring you to establish a strong foundation of trust in God, your Creator.

CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter 1 Giving God a Chance

Chapter 2 Trusting God’s Character and Friendship

Chapter 3 Trusting the Right Voice

Chapter 4 Breaking Through Doubts That God Hears You

Chapter 5 Making Room for God to Mend Your Heart

Chapter 6 Seeing God in the Simple Things in Order to Refocus

Chapter 7 Trusting God is Enough

Chapter 8 Recovering from Doubting God Again

Chapter 9 Trusting God with Your Eternity

Chapter 10 Discovering A Resilient Faith

Appendix A

Appendix B

Appendix C

Appendix D

Appendix E

Acknowledgments

About the Author

INTRODUCTION

Is it just me? Do you struggle to trust God? I have had more than my share of disappointing relationships. At times, this left me with little to no faith in people. As a result, I have trust issues. I have struggled to trust God partly because I have looked at Him through the same lens that I see other people. I tried and tested God. I doubted Him and questioned Him. I raised my clenched fist to Him and have fallen to my knees before Him. He has never walked away.

I know I am not alone on this journey. Through the pages of this book, I invite you to join me in learning to embrace secure faith in God and take steps to enrich your present faith or create a new foundation, ultimately leading to a trusting relationship with Him.

As you read this book, you will discover it is okay to ask God questions and to wrestle with uncomfortable answers. Trusting God is a decision requiring a daily, and sometimes moment-by-moment, commitment.

The Bible provides real-life accounts of people who trust God, question Him, doubt His faithfulness, and wonder if He even cares. David is one of them (Psalm 13). At the start of each chapter, I will share a window into some aspects of David’s life. By walking you through some of his journeys, I believe you will grow even more comfortable reading and studying the Bible in general for yourself.

David is known as a brother, friend, shepherd, skillful musician, servant, warrior, and king (1 Samuel 16:1, 10–13, and 18; 17:31–52; and 18:1). He also receives perhaps the highest praise: being a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). Even in David’s struggles, he always concludes with greater confidence in God (Psalm 31:14). That is precisely where I want you to be. I want you to finish this book and find that you have a newfound trust in God. I want you to reflect on the life of David and realize he is not all that different than you and me. I want you to become someone after God’s own heart. While learning more about David, I anticipate you will relate to many of his struggles while realizing at the same time how relevant the Bible is today in your life.

In addition to sharing about David, I will share, with transparency, what it has taken a lifetime to build: a secure foundation of confidence in God. You will witness how God filled my longing for more through a series of experiences and circumstances that only He could have orchestrated.

Consider me your mentor. Think of these pages as me taking your hand and walking this journey with you as I open my heart for you to experience God’s gentle mercy, grace, faithfulness, and trustworthiness.

I will guide you through

–a longing to be loved;

–knowing God better;

–taking God at His Word;

–talking freely with God;

–making room for God to mend your heart;

–cultivating a new mindset;

–living with an undivided heart;

–knowing what to do when doubt returns;

–trusting God with your eternity; and

–trusting God through it all.

I also hope reading this book will create a desire for you to read and study the events of David’s life in its entirety in 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Chronicles, and Psalms. That way, you can grasp the complete picture of God’s grace, love, faithfulness, and trustworthiness.

My heart craves for you to experience more consistent peace, joy, and freedom as you read and work through this book. Each chapter ends with a section entitled, Cultivating Trust, which includes action steps to grow your confidence in God. Don’t rush through these. Give your heart an opportunity to process what God is saying. Listen to His voice as He speaks. Consider inviting someone to read this book with you and discuss the action steps together, enabling you both to finish strong while cultivating a more secure faith.

I pray Psalm 37:3–7 (NASB) over you as you join me in taking steps to build a more secure and trusting foundation with God.

Trust in the LORD and do good; live in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it. He will bring out your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him.

CHAPTER 1

GIVING GOD A CHANCE

Your emptiness is but the preparation for your being filled, and your casting down is but the making ready for your lifting up.

—Charles H. Spurgeon

REJECTING GOD

B efore we become deeply familiar with this shepherd boy turned king, we will do well to consider what preceded our first introduction to David in Scrip ture.

God chose Moses to lead the nation of Israel out of slavery in Egypt. Through the leadership of Joshua, God brought them into the land He promised their forefathers long ago: Canaan. Once the Israelites were established in the land and Joshua died, God appointed judges to lead them and be His voice to the people (Judges 2:16). In other words, God used the judges as a medium to communicate His will to the nation of Israel.

Fast-forward to Samuel, a prophet who emerged as the last judge (1 Samuel 1:20; 3). Samuel had journeyed with the people for many years, encouraging them to live for the Lord. During the last years of Samuel’s life as judge, the Israelites became covetous over other nations ruled by kings. They lost sight that God was their true King and Judge (1 Samuel 8:7). God faithfully went before them, fighting their battles. However, Scripture tells us in 1 Samuel 8:19–20, But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, ‘No! But there shall be a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.’ No matter how much Samuel advised the people to trust God not human leadership, the people still rejected God as their king.