Years ago, when my husband was pastoring, a couple called and asked if they could come by to share how they were overcome with a severe crisis forcing a simultaneous strain on their marriage. It broke our hearts for several reasons, with the main one being we were soon to move to another ministry and would not be alongside assisting. We feared for their immediate future but entrusted them to God.

When devastating times come, what is your typical operating behavior? In his little book, The Red Sea Rules, Robert J. Morgan calls these crisis times, “Treadmills for the Soul.”

He explains through the seasons of life, our trust grows stronger and is stored for future times. Also, he encourages to “view [our] current crisis as a faith builder for the future.”

The Bible is ripe with trust cultivating examples. Consider Abraham and Mary, the mother of Jesus:

• Abraham – “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering my son.” Genesis 22:8, NASB

• Mary – “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”  Luke 1:45, NIV

• Abraham – “he was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” Romans 4:20-21, NIV

Morgan goes on to explain:

For Christians, faith is making reasonable assumptions about God’s care and control over our lives, based on His scriptural promises. We may not understand every circumstance or appreciate every event. Sometimes we’re backed up to the Red Sea with the Egyptians in pursuit. But God has given us promises, and we disappoint Him when we question His ability to keep His Word.

When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Mark 4:39-40, NLT

Are you known for a trusting faith no matter how dark it gets?

Our friends were able to cultivate trust in God through their extended trial becoming a treadmill for their souls.

I know He tries me only to increase my faith. –J. Hudson Taylor