Unshakeable Confidence in God

by Carol Ellison

Honestly, if I were in the desert with the Israelites, I’d probably be the one complaining that the manna needed more seasoning. We give them a hard time for doubting after the Red Sea, but how many times has God parted the waters for us — given us that job, healed that hurt, or provided at the last second — only for us to panic the next time life gets difficult?

We find ourselves on that same spiritual rollercoaster. One day we’re on the mountain shouting about His goodness, and the next we’re in the valley asking, "God, did You forget about me?"

The Israelites had a memory problem. And we do, too. We tend to treat God’s past faithfulness like yesterday’s news instead of today’s foundation.

When we start spiraling into what I call, "stinkin’ thinkin’," it’s usually because we’ve taken our eyes off His track record and glued them to our current circumstances. Our hearts only find rest when we realize that His sovereignty doesn't depend on our situation. He is a big God when things are great, and He is the exact same big God when things feel like they’re falling apart.

The hardest part of trusting Him is simply letting go. We want to see the path ahead. We want to know the "how" and the "when" because we think that if we can see it, we can manage it. But His Word tells us that His ways are better than ours, even when they make no sense to us.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) says:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.

Our "own understanding" is so limited. It’s like looking through a keyhole while God is looking at the whole map. When we stop trying to be the ones in charge of the outcome, we finally step into an unshakeable confidence. This isn't about our own ability to handle the desert; it is about remembering the character of the One leading us through it.

So, how do we stop the rollercoaster? We anchor. An anchor only works if it’s hooked into something that doesn't move. Our feelings move. Our circumstances move. Our "what ifs" move constantly.

But His Word? It’s solid ground.

Hebrews 13:8 (NLT) reminds us:

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

The same God who was faithful to rescue you then is fully capable of sustaining you now. His power hasn't diminished and His love hasn't wavered. That is where our peace comes from — the fact that He hasn't changed.

Instead of asking, “Where are You, God?”, we can choose to fill our minds with the specific ways He has come through—both the miracles and the quiet, daily mercies—the noise of our doubt is drowned out by the reality of His character. 

He loves you. He has a plan that outshines your best-case scenario. Today, let’s just breathe and remember: He hasn't failed us yet, and He isn't about to start now.