31 Days Toward Trusting God

It’s easy to trust God when everything is going well. But when adversity strikes—a school shooting, a cancer diagnosis, a financial setback—do you wonder if God cares or if He’s even there at all? In this 31-day devotional, author Jerry Bridges tackles the doctrine of God’s sovereignty. These daily readings set the biblical foundation for the essential goodness of His character. In a clear and warm manner, Bridges explains how you can and should choose to trust God no matter what happens in life.

Over 500,000 copies sold “Why is God allowing this? What have I done wrong?” Many of us have asked these questions when life hits us hard. When our circumstances defy explanation, it is difficult to untangle our emotions from the truth. Before long, we feel confused and frustrated. We doubt His care for us. We wonder how He could allow these circumstances at all, or if He is really in control. During a time of darkness and adversity in his own life, Jerry Bridges dug deep into the Bible for answers on God’s sovereignty. What he learned changed his life—and it will change yours too. Find the answers to some of your most heartfelt questions, such as: Is God in control? Can I trust God? What is our responsibility when things are hard? How can I grow through adversity? And more Explore the scope of God’s care and control over nations, nature, and the tiny details of your life. You’ll find yourself trusting Him more completely―even when life hurts. Now with an added study guide for personal use or group discussion so you can dive deeper into this staple of Jerry Bridges’s classic collection. “The writings of Jerry Bridges are a gift to the church. He addresses a relevant topic with the wisdom of a scholar and the heart of a servant.” —Max Lucado, pastor and bestselling author

What are the three basic things we need to know about God in order to trust Him when life gets rough?

Do you want your daily devotional to have more substance? Then you will appreciate this one-year devotional from Navigator author Jerry Bridges. Each entry has been carefully selected from his best writings, connecting with you on a deeper level and encouraging personal discovery. This quick daily read is full of inspiration, commitment, and transformation for men and women to grow in spiritual maturity.

As believers, we were made for intimacy with God. The Lord Jesus gave His life for us so that we might have intimacy with Him. God knows that the more we get to know Him, the more we will know of life—the life we were created to experience. By focusing our thoughts on Him, we will grasp more fully His goodness and be all the better for it. We’ll come to see how much we really do depend on Him for everything—from salvation, to strength for each new day, to the next breath we draw into our lungs. To know God intimately, trust in Him faithfully, and depend on Him consistently. You want this immediately. So you must seek Him passionately! Journey now along the pathway following the sweet, enticing fragrance of heaven. But don’t expect a walk in the park. In every life there are times when the road narrows and the skies grow dark. Seasons of suffering are as certain as the glorious destination before you. Yet you are called to go, and the Source of your spirit’s restoration promises to never leave your side. Daily inspiration from Joni Eareckson Tada gently guides your steps to a closer, more intimate walk with your Savior. And as you travel, new life—His life!—is freely yours as a gift. Story Behind the Book “In the thirty-seven years I’ve lived as a quadriplegic, I have been forced time and again into the arms of Jesus. Sometimes my paralysis has pushed me down the road to Calvary, like a sheepdog snapping at my heels. Sometimes suffering is like jackhammer, breaking apart my rocks of resistance and pride. Most often, my wheelchair has dumped me at the foot of the cross, and I have rested there by the overwhelming conviction that I have nowhere else to turn. But that’s okay. In fact, it’s a blessing. It’s all a bruising-of-a-blessing. Because near the cross, in the arms of Jesus, I have discovered deep, sweet, peaceable intimacy with the Savior. It’s an intimacy worth sharing!”

You don’t have to understand God to trust him. “Just trust me.” Those are the words we often hear in movies just before something bad happens. And yet, we are told to trust God. In a culture where we tend to take control of our own lives, trusting God has become a religious platitude rather than a life-changing attitude. We say it, but do we really mean it? And what does trusting God really look like? Sharon, Mary, and Gwen—the Girlfriends in God ministry team—have been there. They’ve traveled the tough roads of life to discover the peace and power that comes from grabbing the hand of God and trusting his plan. The life stories they share bring laughter and sometimes tears, but always spiritual growth. Each of the 12-week sections concludes with a Bible study guide and journal page, inviting you to lock arms with Sharon, Mary, and Gwen and share with other women in a small group setting or to use individually in your own quiet time.

What if the next big step God wants you to take is actually small? Stepping into the assignments the Lord has for us and pursuing the dreams He's placed in our hearts can feel overwhelming and exhilarating all at the same time. But walking in His will begins with our daily obedience to Him. Lysa TerKeurst knows what it means to walk by faith and encourages you to discover the deeply personal truths of God's Word for your calling. What Happens When Women Walk in Faith is filled with stories and Scripture that will help you apply practical, Biblical truths to your life and equip you to: Discover 5 phases of your faith walk and embrace the direction that the Lord is leading you. Identify one area where you can draw a line in the sand and take a step toward something new. Be prepared for God to use your small steps of faith to unleash His work and wonder in your life. No matter what God has called you to, you can take this first step!

What if God has purposed your marriage for something so much more than "happily ever after?" Since the very beginning, God's design for marriage has been for husbands and wives to be ambassadors of holy love to a hurting world. Still, too many couples stop short at happy and wonder why they feel unsatisfied. Rather than "you and me against the world," God calls each couple to the rich and meaningful mission of "you and me for the world." In Marriage After God, Aaron and Jennifer Smith, popular marriage bloggers at HusbandRevolution.com and UnveiledWife.com, transparently share their own journey of turning a marriage in crisis into a marriage built on Christ's redemptive love. With fresh biblical insight and intimate stories of their own struggles and victories, this book will guide you toward a God-centered, ministry-minded, and thriving marriage. Throughout Marriage After God, you'll learn to: Discover the signature marks of a marriage after God Find principles for building an unshakable marriage foundation Let God's story take the lead in your love story Recognize the tools God has already equipped you with for a missional life together Filled with timeless wisdom, this thorough and practical book will empower you and your spouse to dream, decide, and do as you step hand in hand into God's ultimate purpose for your marriage. God has created your remarkable, romantic, and redemptive relationship to be a powerful light to a dark and hurting world. Let Marriage After God be your invitation to marriage as God intended--a life-saving, hope-inspiring, and transforming force of God's love. Praise for Marriage After God: "This book is an incredible resource for anyone trying to grow or step into a healthier and more life-giving marriage. Aaron and Jen pull no punches; are honest, raw, and authentic; and show that a marriage in pursuit of Jesus can change the world." --Jefferson Bethke, New York Times bestselling author of Jesus > Religion "There is a short list of books I'm stashing away for my three small kiddos to read when they are older--Marriage After God is one of them. Dear couples of the world, you have picked up a treasure! This book will give you clear direction to live out God's will for your marriage. There is no greater gift you can give yourselves than to run after Him together. Marriage After God will show you how!" --Lara Casey, author of Cultivate and Make It Happen