Last week my older brother and his beautiful wife celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary. For the first time in a very long time (can I get an “amen” from the ministry wives?) they were able to take a few days off for a romantic getaway. While they explored Texas and rode horses on the beach (yes, I’m a tiny bit jealous) I watched their son Jordan and toddler Lila.

It was the first time two-year-old Lila had been away from mommy overnight, and I was interested to see how the four days and three nights would progress. Thankfully, she was just fine. (To mommy’s relief!) 🙂

There were a lot of things Lila didn’t understand. She didn’t know why or where her parents had gone, but she knew I would take care of her until they came back.

Lila doesn’t know I’ve changed thousands of diapers raising my own boys and then in my career as a daycare mama, but she came to me every time she needed a change, knowing I would take care of the problem.

Lila doesn’t understand the fact that I’ve prepared thousands of meals in my lifetime or how food came to be in my pantry and fridge, but she toddled up to me every time she was hungry, knowing that I could make the empty feeling in her little tummy go away.

Lila didn’t understand where mommy was the night she woke up crying, but she knew I would keep her safe. She climbed into my bed, wrapped her chubby arm around me, and fell back to sleep.

No, Lila didn’t understand much of what was happening those four days and three nights. But she trusted me regardless, because she knows I love her and will keep her safe.

My friend, we too can trust God without understanding all that’s happening.

Oh, I know it’s not easy to trust God when the days are veiled in mist and we can’t see through the darkness. I realize it’s hard to take your hand off the wheel and let God steer when you don’t know where He’s taking you.

There are so many things we don’t understand. We don’t understand why God has taken a loved one away from us, but we can trust that His grace will carry us through.

We certainly don’t understand how God can take our messy, sinful souls and make us clean and pure before Him, but we trust in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for us. We believe in His atoning work and know we have an eternal home in Heaven.

We may not know how the bills or the mortgage are going to be paid. We may not understand how groceries are going to get on the table. But we can trust the God Who has faithfully supplied our needs to come through for us once again.

And when we’re crying alone in the dark, we may not understand why God hasn’t given us the human comfort we so desperately long for. But we can find true comfort just like little Lila did—by climbing up to One who is there.

My friend, if you’re facing a situation you don’t understand today, you can still trust. As the familiar saying goes, “When you can’t trace God’s hand, trust His heart.”

We can rest in peace, not because we understand, but because He is with us.

“From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” (Psalm 61:2)

If you found encouragement from the above devotional, you may also enjoy my devotional book, Tales from Toddlers. Each day includes a true story like Lila’s, accompanied by Scriptural applications and Bible study. For ordering information, click HERE.