Remember God's Words and Pray

God filled the Bible with reassuring messages.

• Matthew 10:29: He always sees you.
• John 14:18: You'll never be alone.
• Philippians 1:6: He's working in your life.
• Philippians 4:13: You can do all things through his strength.
• James 1:17: He's good and never changes.

God promises seniors of faith that he's carried them their whole lives, and even now, when they're older, he'll continue to carry them (Isaiah 46:3-4). Jesus reaffirms this promise in John 10:28 by stating nothing can snatch believers from his protective hand.

When change occurs in your life, you can rest assured God is aware of your circumstances and walking beside you in them. One way to combat worry in the face of change is to pray about every detail that comes to mind or troubles you.

It doesn't matter how small the requests may seem. God knows the thoughts and hearts of his children. Talking freely with him allows you to transform each of your worries into prayers.

Take Comfort in God's Past Actions

Words have a great deal of power, but it's often actions that earn trust because they prove the words spoken were true. God doesn't expect blind faith. Instead, he shows his trustworthiness through fulfilled promises in the Bible and the testimony of believers.

During major life changes, think back to the moments God has worked in your life before. Whether you've followed Christ for years or you just became a believer recently, you no doubt have testimony showing God's work in your life.

Spend some time writing down these memories when you feel overwhelmed. You don't have to record them all at once, but keep a journal and make a point of adding to it when you need a reminder of God's faithfulness.

Recording God's past actions can help you trust he's working in your current situation. If you're in the middle of a transition, such as moving into a senior living community here in Omaha, Nebraska, remember God uses all things to bring good to those who love him (Romans 8:28).

While this move may feel overwhelming currently, it offers the opportunity to meet new friends, try new hobbies and grow as a believer.

Focus on God's Character

One reason trusting God is so difficult is that life doesn't always go well. Many believers experience health issues, financial hardships and the loss of their loved ones.

Trusting in God doesn't erase the potential for trials and pain. What it does is provide an anchor of hope for the soul based on God's many promises to believers and the fact that he never lies (Hebrews 6:17-20).

His character is what you place your trust in as a believer. To lay a firm foundation of faith, believers must study God himself. As you read your Bible, slow down and meditate on the passages describing God's character and then think of stories that confirm these traits.

For example, Jesus encourages us to follow him because he's gentle and easy to approach (Matthew 11:29). He showed this very trait a few chapters earlier when he reached out and touched the leper instead of simply healing him by speaking (Matthew 8:2).

Knowing God intimately allows you to build your trust in him. Use this knowledge to go to him in prayer about your feelings during times of transition and ask for his help every step of the way.

Let God Take Control

"Let go and let God" has become a common expression among believers. It conveys the need for Christians to stop trying to control their circumstances and trust God to take care of them.

And yet, control is one of the hardest things for individuals to give up. The desire for control might cause you to think endlessly about ways to make things turn out the way you want them to.

Meanwhile, the lack of control can lead to sleepless nights and constant worry as your mind imagines every potential problem or danger. Whether planning or worrying, the result is that you stop focusing on God and trusting him, which robs you of your peace.

This is why it's so important to remember God's words, past actions and strength of character. Ultimately, trust happens when believers believe what God has said and let go of the rest.

There are many ways you can put this into practice today.

Worship

Music is uplifting, and singing along to your favorite hymns and worship songs can help put your focus back on God instead of your circumstances.

Fellowship

One benefit of joining a faith-based assisted living community is the opportunity to find like-minded individuals. Surrounding yourself with fellow believers gives you the chance to encourage one another.

Counseling

God provides compassionate leaders to guide his people. One-on-one time with your pastor or the chaplain here in Hickory Villa can let you talk through your circumstances and receive counsel and prayer.