“For anyone out there who doesn’t know where you’re going, anyone groping in the dark, here’s what: Trust in GOD. Lean on your God!” (Isaiah 50:10 MSG).

Following God will often require us to relinquish control and to trust Him to direct our path. This is similar to what a pilot experiences when flying through dark or foggy conditions. Inside every airplane are instruments that are critical to flying the aircraft. These instruments will give a true reading of how the aircraft is flying, even if a pilot’s mind or senses may tell him differently.

On a clear, sunny day, a pilot may not need some of these instruments, but at night or in poor visibility, these instruments become vital to his survival. Many planes have crashed because the pilot became disoriented and failed to trust his instruments. Likewise, when we feel like we’re in the dark concerning God’s plan and path for our life, it’s easy to become confused and disoriented.

In these types of situations, we are required to lean on God and trust Him, just like a pilot trusts his navigation instruments. Scripture clearly states, “Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track” (Proverbs 3:5 MSG).

God will keep you on track—if you listen for His directives and trust Him. He will tell you what you need to know when you need to know it. God is capable of leading us in the dark, because the dark is the same as the light to Him: “Even the darkness hides nothing from You, but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to You” (Psalm 139:12 AMPC). We may be in the dark about what is going on in our lives, but God isn’t.

Can you trust God while you’re in the dark and have no understanding concerning your current situation? Maybe you’ve been shaken by the unexpected and it seems like your life is falling apart. Perhaps your spouse walked out on you, your child has turned away from God, or someone else was given the promotion you had been sure belonged to you. Blinded and shocked by these unforeseen circumstances, you cry out, “God, what is happening?”

As humans, we crave security. We love predictability—that sense of being in control. Unfortunately, this posture produces presumption and unrealistic expectations. When life takes an unforeseen turn, we can be left bewildered and scratching our heads. When you’re facing something extremely difficult, it’s easy to become weary and discouraged. Fear will consume and cripple us if we allow ourselves to believe there is no way out. God will always make a way, even if it looks different than what we planned.

As the landscape of our lives shifts and changes, He remains the same—yesterday, today, and forever. You may not always have answers or understand why certain things happen, but you can trust that God is good and that nothing takes Him by surprise. He will work all things out for good and can use whatever happens to you for your benefit—if you allow Him to by trusting Him.

Joseph found himself in unexpected places throughout his life, but God used each of those times in his life to prepare him for what was planned for him. Regardless of how much he was left in the dark, Joseph trusted God and God didn’t disappoint. Suddenly, he was promoted to second in charge of Egypt.

If we can remain stable and continue trusting God, even through the darkest valley, then we exhibit the character that God can trust with great responsibility and great blessing. The psalmist encouraged, “Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning” (Psalm 30:5 NLT).

A new day will dawn!

Lisa Bevere's authentic, passionate, and witty teachings weave profound biblical truths with practical application. A New York Times best-selling author, her books are in the hands of millions worldwide. Lisa and her husband John, who’s also a best-selling author and teacher, are the founders of Messenger International.