When You Wrestle with God: Learning to Trust His Sovereignty
There are seasons when trusting God feels natural—and others when it feels nearly impossible.
I wanted to trust God, but I didn’t. Everything in my life crumbled. Was this an action movie where everything explodes—or my real life?
Many of us want to trust God, but if we’re honest, we don’t. Not fully.
When We Try to Take Control
We try to control when distrust is hiding in our hearts. God doesn’t intervene when we expect Him to. We wait longer than we think we should. We grow restless. We decide to take matters into our own hands—so we step in.
The problem? Wrestling God for control doesn’t bring peace. It only leads to more anxiety, fear, and distrust.
If you’ve been wrestling with fear, anxiety, and a tight grip on control, you’re not alone. The Bible is full of people who struggled in the same way—and God’s response to them is full of hope.
Biblical Examples of Wrestling with God’s Plan
Sarah
Sarah forced a pregnancy on Hagar instead of waiting for God’s promise of a son through her (Genesis 16).
Jonah
Jonah ran in the opposite direction from Nineveh, resisting God’s call to preach against their wickedness (Jonah 1).
Thomas
Thomas refused to believe in Jesus’ resurrection without seeing and touching Him first (John 20:24–29).
Despite their distrust, God remained present, patient, and still brought redemption.
God’s Sovereignty Isn’t Shaken by Our Struggles
God isn’t intimidated or shaken by your fear, doubt, or grasp for control. Your wrestling doesn’t change His sovereignty. He is still in control—always.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.” — Proverbs 3:5–6, CSB
Trusting God Through the Struggle
Trust doesn’t mean the absence of struggle. Instead, trust often grows through struggle.
More trust = less need to control
Less trust = greater urge to control
If you’re clinging to control and trust feels impossible—pause. Breathe. Loosen your grip.
A Prayer to Surrender Control
God, if I’m honest, my trust feels small right now—but my desire to trust You is great. Loosen my grip on my life. Open my hands and teach me to release control. By the power of Your gentle, comforting Spirit, guide me to surrender my will each day and take faithful, steady steps toward You. Search my heart and lovingly reveal the places I’ve kept from You. I long to give You my whole heart. I believe—help my unbelief.
Resting in God’s Presence
When we wrestle with control, we can remember this truth:
“Stop fighting, and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.” — Psalm 46:10
Even when we resist, run, or demand proof—God remains unshaken. His plan is still unfolding. And His control is never threatened.
Meet the Author
Kelley Spencer
Kelley is a Christian author, mental health advocate, and the mother of two boys (and one in Heaven) living in Minnesota. She loves tacos, pizza, walks on the beach, and staying active. Kelley is most at peace outside in nature, digging her hands in the dirt, hiking a trail, or exploring a new area. Kelley graduated from Concordia University - St. Paul with a Bachelor's in Communication Studies and Journalism. Kelley’s writing appears in The Mighty, Her View From Home, Dayspring, Living by Design Ministries, and Focus on the Family. She has God-sized dreams of publishing multiple books and bible studies. Connect with her on kelleyspencer.com or Substack.
Kelley's mission is to shine God's light in the darkness of mental health struggles, talk about the stigmas that exist in the Church, bring awareness to difficult topics of trauma, self-harm, and suicide, and show others who God is and how to run towards Him when hardship arises.
