What Does It Really Mean to Trust God Through Life’s Highs and Lows?

I’m a Christian because I love Jesus. It's really that simple. I don't have a profound, exciting, or dramatic story, but I do have a journey of faith.

I can say that, probably around the age of six, I started questioning God and Christ. I wanted to get to know Him, but at the time, I saw Him more as a distant being in the sky, ready to rain down judgment when I didn’t do the right thing. Then, one night, God met me in a dream. In the dream, He held me in His hands—along with two of my best friends, who are still great friends today. He looked at me and said, Alicia, I love you. That moment changed everything. I realized that maybe God was compassionate and wanted to know me personally. I believe that’s when my faith journey truly began.

But I wish I could say that was it—that from that point forward, I was a faithful Christian. The reality is, like all of us, I stumbled. I fell to the ways of the world more than once. I grew up, made mistakes, went to college, and explored different religions and faiths, still searching for answers. Who are You, God? What do You want from me? What is my life about? I kept asking these questions, digging into the Word, trying to make sense of it all. Then, in a completely unexpected way, God intervened. I met my husband—at a bar, of all places! I like to joke that it was BC—Before Christ and Before Children. We were both a mess. But now? We’re a beautiful mess together.

Ever since then, God has been building us up, drawing us closer to Him, and shaping our marriage into something truly beautiful. He has given us the gift of being one flesh under Him. After saying I do and making that covenant with God, we faced our own battles—infertility, parenting teenagers, the ups and downs of life. But through it all, He has been faithful. He has surrounded us with wonderful relationships, mentors, and growth opportunities. And we are so grateful.

Even in the hardest moments, God has always reminded my husband and me that He is with us. The last few years have been especially bumpy and filled with loss. We’ve lost pillar family members, including my mom, almost two years ago. I had hoped to have her in my life for another 15 to 20 years, but that wasn’t God’s plan. I won’t pretend it’s been easy. I’ve struggled. But in my grief, God has met me. He has comforted me in prayer and through His Word. One verse that He has continually placed on my heart is Proverbs 3:5-6:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

I don’t always understand why God does what He does, but I’ve learned to trust Him anyway. He is still good. He is still faithful. He is still righteous and just. And even in the midst of hardship, He is still there—drawing close to those who seek Him. Writing is one of the greatest gifts He has given me this season. I don’t know why He put me here, but whenever I sit at my computer, He meets me. The words just come, and I know it’s Him. Writing has been a deeply spiritual and healing experience, and I pray that, in some small way, these words touch your heart, too.

That’s my story—nothing flashy or powerful—just real. But if there’s one thing I know, it’s that God is present in your story too. 

Photo Credit: SWN Design