How I Learned to Actually Trust God (Not Just Say It)

Jordan Anthony Pugh

If you've been in church for any amount of time, you’ve probably heard (or said),

“I’m just trusting God through this…”

It sounds good. It feels spiritual. But let me be real with you—I used to say that while secretly panicking inside.

It wasn’t until life got real, and I ran out of control, that I realized: I wasn’t trusting God at all—I was trusting my plan.

This post is about what changed, how Scripture reshaped my mindset, and how you can start truly walking in faith.

My Wake-Up Call: When My Plans Fell Apart

I was in a season where everything I thought I had figured out—relationships, opportunities, even finances—completely fell apart.

I remember praying, “God, why aren’t You coming through?”

But deep down, I realized:

I wasn’t trusting Him. I was trying to manipulate the outcome and call it “faith.”

That’s when I landed on this verse:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”
— Proverbs 3:5–6 

And suddenly, that verse became real.

3 Things I Learned About Trusting God (For Real)

1. Trust Starts When Control Ends

God can’t guide us if we’re always grabbing the steering wheel.
I had to surrender—not halfway, but fully. Trust is an action, not a cliché.

Ask yourself:
Are you praying and then still stressing? That might be a sign you're still holding on.

2. God's Track Record Is Flawless

When I looked back over my life, I realized: God had never failed me.
Even in moments I didn’t understand, He protected, redirected, and provided.

Your faith grows when you remember His faithfulness.

3. Trust Doesn’t Always Feel Good—But It’s Always Worth It

Trusting God doesn’t mean it always makes sense or feels peaceful at first.
Sometimes it's scary. But peace often comes after obedience, not before.

“Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
— Hebrews 11:1

What Does Trust Look Like Today?

It looks like:

• Praying before reacting

• Letting go of what I can’t control

• Saying “yes” to God even when I don’t have all the details

• And sometimes… just being still and waiting even though it hurts 

It’s not perfect. I still wrestle. But now, I know what it looks like to actually trust Him—and I’m seeing the fruit of it in ways I couldn’t imagine.

Listen to the Full Episode

🎙️ In the latest episode of the When the Scriptures Become Real podcast, I dive deeper into this topic and share:

• The specific situation that broke my trust in my own plan

• How God used Scripture to reshape my mindset

• Practical ways to start trusting God daily—even when it’s hard

👉 Click here to listen now: When the scriptures Become Real 
Final Thoughts

If you’re in a season where you keep saying “I’m trusting God” but your heart is full of fear, I get it. I’ve been there.

But let me encourage you: God is trustworthy. His plans are better than ours—even when we don’t see it yet.

Let’s stop just saying it. Let’s start living it.

Want more real-life faith content?
visit www.whenthescripturesbecomereal.com