We all know the story of Moses and the amazing miracles God performed through him as he faced the mighty Pharoah and demanded “Let my people go.” But have you ever thought of his mother and the crazy circumstances she was forced to live in as she learned to trust God in difficult times?

Welcome to the sixth edition of our series on mothers of the Bible! We are studying the life of the mother of Moses and how she learned to trust God in difficult times. Bible stories about trusting God are not only encouraging but remind us that we are not that different from the men and women God worked through thousands of years ago and are recorded specifically for us.

Bible Stories about Trusting God

Of course, scripture is full of Bible stories about trusting God, but since this is part of my Mothers of the Bible Series, we are going to begin with the story of the mother of Moses. We will discuss one other story about trust in the Bible at the end to give you a little more encouragement.

The Story of the Mother of Moses

There really isn’t much written about the mother of Moses, but we know that she lived in dangerous times. Her name was Jochebed and she was of the house of Levi.

The book of Exodus begins with the descendants of Jacob growing and multiplying in the land provided for them by Joseph. They are safe through the seven years of drought and Joseph, as well as Pharoah, dies.

There arises a Pharoah that does not know Joseph and he begins to worry that the Hebrews are becoming too large in number. His own people may be threatened by these strangers.

His first plan of action is to turn them into slaves.

Next, he instructs the midwives to kill all the baby boys that are born. The midwives refuse to. This annoys Pharoah and he declares that all newborn boys must be thrown into the river.

It is during this time that Jochebed gives birth to a son. She hides him for three months, obviously terrified he is going to be found and thrown into the river.

The Bible provides very little information about what this sweet mother of Moses was thinking nor what her reasoning is for her next action.

She makes a basket and waterproofs it. She lays her beautiful baby boy into it, puts a lid on it, and sends him off into the Nile River. She has no idea what will happen to her son.

She instructs her daughter, Miriam to follow the basket.

Baby Moses floats along the river and ends up at the palace. He is found by Pharoah’s daughter. She decides to take the child as her own and after hiring Jochebed to nurse her own child, she raises him in the palace as an Egyptian prince.

Pin to reference later!

Trusting God in Difficult Times Means Letting Go of Our Own Control

Talk about trusting God in difficult times. I have pondered over and over why Jochebed chose to put Moses into the river. She really couldn’t think of any other way to keep him safe? Did she feel that was her only option?

If he remained with her, the Egyptian taskmasters would have surely discovered him as his cries became louder.

Jochebed chooses to let go of her own control and place Moses completely in God’s hands. Are you in a season of learning to trust God in difficult times? Floating your child down a river is the farthest thing from your mind, but I imagine you have that same helpless feeling.

How Do You Trust God In Hard Times?

Letting go of your own control is key to trusting God in hard times. Sometimes that means simply waiting on God’s timing and others it means actively letting go.

Our brave mother of Moses could not keep her own child safe. She had to hand him over to God and trust that He would take care of him.

And God does!

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command. (Hebrews 11:23)

Moses’s parents are listed in the famous faith chapter in Hebrews 11. Paul could’ve skipped over them and focused on the mighty prophet, but he doesn’t. He makes a point that it was their faith that saved their son.

So the first step to trusting God in hard times is letting go of your own control over the situation. You can read more on letting go and trusting in God in this post “How to Let God Fight Your Battles: The Story of Jehoshaphat”

The second step would be to pray, trust God, and see what happens. Your answer might not come immediately. Your heart may burn for years before your hopes are realized, but do not doubt. God is in control.

For more encouragement on faith check out these Bible stories about trusting God.

Why it is Important to Have Childlike Faith

Your Faith has Made You Well: Touching the Hem of His Garment

Even If: Lessons from the Book of Daniel

Verses About Trusting God in Difficult Times

Ok! Now for a few verses about trusting God in difficult times. What does the Bible say about trusting God in hard times? I could quote verse after verse about how God is with us and loves us but I want to take a different route this time (I already have a dozen posts like that).

These verses focus on faith because without faith is is impossible to trust God in hard times.

Let’s hop back over to Hebrews 11 for a few verses.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (verse 1)

Basically, faith is believing that what you pray has happened. You see it as if it has already come to pass.

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (verse 6)

God doesn’t want wishy-washy. You can’t believe in an all-powerful God and then constantly worry about hard times. James has good verses about trusting in God and leaving it there.

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:6-8)

I don’t know about you, but I do NOT want to be double-minded and unstable! That will not bring us peace and help us trust God in difficult times!

So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. ²³ For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. ²⁴ Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. (Mark 11:22-24)

Those things include both peace during hard times as well as deliverance from them. We must keep in mind that sometimes it is God’s will that we stay in our hard times. It is not always meant for us to be delivered from them.

This then brings up another point. Learning to be content in your hard times, trusting that God is in control and is working all things for your good, just as He promised.

Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;  (Romans 12:12)

Paul instructs us to be patient in tribulation. Learning to trust God in difficult times includes being patient with His timing and His will.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

I love how Paul tells us here to not be anxious. Why not? Because we are bringing our fears to the Lord and He will guard our hearts and minds.

Isn’t that amazing? So then, why do we not feel better after we pray?

We are taking control back. We are not leaving it in God’s hands.

Bible Stories about Trusting God

For a deeper study on the topic of Bible stories about trusting God, I want to include one more example. Abraham’s obedience is something we bring up time and again and Paul devotes a lot of time to writing about his faith and righteousness. He is a perfect example of trusting God in difficult times.

Abraham’s Obedience Leaves Him in a Famine

Yes, you read that correctly. We all marvel at Abraham, at his courage to leave his family and move to where God instructed him. We marvel at his patience in waiting for God to fulfill His promise. But there is a point in the story which I’d like to draw your attention to.

Genesis 12 tells us that Abraham went to the land that God showed him and there was a famine so he continues onto Egypt. Scripture doesn’t tell us if that is what God instructed him to do, but there is no doubt that a famine would be considered a difficult time.

Abraham’s faith had to carry him even further than simply leaving his family. God brought him to a place that was in the middle of a famine. Is that where Abraham’s obedience had gotten him? A wasteland?

We can smile at that idea because we know the rest of the story and we see how God’s plan played out, but Abraham didn’t. Abraham blindly trusted God when times were difficult and as a result, many great nations can be traced back to him.

Abraham Trusts God in Battle

Two chapters later we read about Lot being kidnapped by powerful rulers during a battle. We see Abraham rising to the challenge, gathering an army, and rescuing his nephew. Scripture doesn’t say, but I have no doubt that Abraham knew God was with him.

He was learning that God was faithful during difficult times and he had no reason not to trust Him.

Think about that for one second. We have NO reason NOT to trust Him.

A Few More Thoughts on Trusting God in Difficult Times

I feel as if this is a heavy subject that applies to all of us in various ways throughout our lives. Learning to trust God in difficult times does not happen overnight and I can bet Jochebed struggled as she placed her beautiful baby boy in that basket.

If you enjoyed these three Bible stories about trust and want to dive deeper into this subject, I’ve rounded up several resources from other bloggers. My prayer is for God to continue to speak to your heart.

Downpour: Learning from Life’s Storms by Cheyenne Hasty

10 Ways to Learn How to Trust God Completely by One Expectant Life

36 Bible Verses about Trusting God by Rock Solid Faith

Check out the other mothers in our Mothers of the Bible Series for more Bible stories about trusting God.

The Story of a Mother’s Sacrifice

Does God Test Our Faith: The Story of Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath

The Bible Story of Rebekah and Her Courage to Follow God’s Perfect Plan

Lessons from Hannah in the Bible and the Pain of Infertility

Persistence in the Bible: A Mother’s Faith