"The battle with anxiety and depression may rage, but through God's Word, we find strength to stand firm and victory in every storm. His promises are our shield, and His truth is our sword."

Trusting Beyond the Visible

We’ve all faced moments where life doesn’t make sense—when the path forward is unclear, and every step feels like a leap of faith. It’s in these moments that our trust in God is truly tested. Will we cling to our fears and doubts, or will we choose to trust Him, even when the road ahead is filled with uncertainty?

In the Bible, we find two powerful examples of trust in action—Ruth, who walked into the unknown with Naomi, and Peter, who stepped out onto the water toward Jesus. Their stories show us what it means to trust God when life doesn’t go as planned. Ruth, a widow with no guarantee of security, trusted Naomi’s guidance and God’s provision. Peter, a disciple caught between faith and fear, took a bold step onto the water, only to falter when he allowed doubt to cloud his vision. Both stories teach us something profound about trusting God in the unseen.

And then, there’s baptism—the powerful symbol of dying to our old selves and rising into new life. Just as the heavens opened over Jesus when He was baptized, baptism opens the heavens over our lives. It is a profound act of surrender, a declaration that we are God’s beloved daughters, chosen to reign in His Kingdom.

In this post, we’ll explore these themes—trust, doubt, and baptism—and discover how they apply to our lives today as women of faith.

Ruth’s Faith and God’s Provision

Ruth’s story is one of profound trust. Imagine being in her position—widowed in a foreign land, with no husband to provide for her and no certainty of what the future holds. She could have turned back like Orpah, her sister-in-law, returning to her people and her gods. But Ruth chose a different path. She chose to follow Naomi, not because the road was easy, but because her faith in God was stronger than her fear of the unknown.

Ruth’s declaration to Naomi, “Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16), is a testament to her trust in God’s provision. Ruth had no assurance that following Naomi would lead to a better life, but she trusted that God would take care of them both.

This kind of faith—faith that moves us forward even when we can’t see the end of the road—is what God asks of us. When we trust Him, even in the uncertainty, He provides in ways we could never have imagined. For Ruth, this provision came in the form of Boaz, a kinsman redeemer who would ensure her safety, provide for her needs, and ultimately restore her lineage. Her faith led her to redemption, just as our faith leads us to God’s blessings when we trust Him with our lives.

Peter’s Doubt and God’s Mercy

While Ruth’s story is one of unwavering trust, Peter’s story gives us a glimpse of the internal struggle between faith and doubt. When Jesus called Peter to walk on water, Peter’s initial response was one of boldness and confidence. He stepped out of the boat and began walking toward Jesus, eyes fixed on his Savior. But as soon as Peter noticed the wind and the waves, fear crept in. His doubt began to overshadow his faith, and he started to sink.

Peter’s story is so relatable because we’ve all been there. We start out with great faith, believing that God will carry us through, but then life’s storms hit. The waves of doubt crash in, and suddenly, we’re sinking under the weight of our own fear. But just like Peter, when we cry out to Jesus, He reaches down and pulls us back up.

Peter’s experience teaches us that even in moments of doubt, God’s mercy is greater. Jesus did rebuke Peter for his lack of faith; but He also, extended His hand and lifted Peter out of the water. Jesus will not correct us without helping us. We need to remember that God’s grace covers us even when our faith falters. He is always there, ready to catch us when we fall.

The Power of Baptism

Baptism is often seen as a symbolic act—a public declaration of faith and a cleansing ritual. But the reality of baptism goes much deeper than just a dip in the water. In Matthew 3:16, when Jesus was baptized, the heavens opened, and God’s voice declared, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” This wasn’t just a moment of affirmation; it was a divine proclamation of Jesus’ identity and mission.

Baptism is more than water cleansing the body—it is a spiritual gateway, a profound act of surrender where we leave behind the world and step into the Kingdom of God. It is a declaration of our identity as God’s beloved daughters, chosen to reign with Him.

When we are baptized, we are participating in an ancient and sacred act of transformation. The water symbolizes the washing away of the old self, the past, the pain, and the shame. And just as Jesus rose from the waters to begin His ministry, we rise from the waters of baptism into our true identity—beloved, redeemed, and empowered to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives.

Baptism opens the heavens over our lives. It’s a moment when we step from surviving into thriving. We step into the fullness of what God has for us, leaving behind the weight of the world and embracing our place in His Kingdom. Through baptism, we are no longer bound by the chains of our past. We are free—free to live as God intended, free to walk in His love, and free to reign as His daughters.

Trusting God When the Path Is Unclear

Both Ruth and Peter were faced with uncertainty. Ruth had to trust Naomi’s guidance and God’s provision as they walked together into an unknown future. Peter had to trust Jesus’ voice, calling him out onto the water in the midst of a storm. Both faced moments where the path ahead was unclear, and fear could have easily overtaken them.

For Ruth, the stakes were high. She had no guarantees. She didn’t know if her decision to follow Naomi would lead to blessing or more hardship. Yet, she chose to trust God’s provision. For Peter, the storm was real. The wind was fierce, the waves were high, and fear was a natural response. Yet, Jesus asked him to take that first step of trust, to walk on water despite the danger around him.

Life is filled with these moments—times when God asks us to trust Him without knowing what lies ahead. He asks us to take a step of faith, even when the storm is raging. Trusting God when the path is unclear is not easy, but it is where the greatest growth happens. When we trust Him with the unknown, we grow in our faith, our resilience, and our ability to hear His voice.

The beauty of Ruth’s story is that her trust in God’s provision led her to redemption. The beauty of Peter’s story is that, even though his faith faltered, Jesus was there to pull him up. Trusting God when the way forward is unclear may feel risky, but it’s in those moments that we experience His power in the deepest ways.

Lessons for Today’s Christian Women

Ruth’s faith and Peter’s doubt aren’t just ancient stories—they’re living examples of the struggles we face today. As Christian women, we juggle countless responsibilities—family, work, personal goals—and the weight of those responsibilities can often leave us feeling overwhelmed, unsure, and even paralyzed by fear. It’s in these moments that we need to remember the stories of Ruth and Peter.

Ruth faced unimaginable loss and uncertainty, yet she chose to trust in God’s provision. Peter faced a literal storm, yet he stepped out of the boat and walked toward Jesus. Their stories remind us that faith isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about trusting the One who does.

For today’s Christian woman, trusting God means surrendering control, even when the world tells us we need to hold on tighter. It means letting go of the need for perfection and embracing God’s grace. It means acknowledging our doubts but choosing faith anyway. It means stepping out of the boat, even when the waves are high, and trusting that Jesus will be there to catch us.

In a world that often tries to define us by our achievements, appearance, or success, we are called to be defined by something far greater—our identity in Christ. Ruth was not defined by her widowhood or her status as a foreigner; she was defined by her faith in God. Peter was not defined by his moment of doubt; he was defined by his relationship with Jesus. Likewise, we are not defined by our circumstances, our failures, or even our doubts. We are defined by who we are in Christ—beloved daughters of the King.

How to Cultivate Trust in Everyday Life

So, how do we cultivate this kind of trust in our daily lives? How do we live out the lessons of Ruth and Peter in a way that strengthens our faith and brings us closer to God?

Here are some practical steps to help you cultivate trust in God, even when the way forward is unclear:

• Daily Surrender: Begin each day by surrendering your plans, worries, and fears to God. Pray for His guidance and ask for the strength to trust Him, no matter what the day brings. Trust is built over time, one day at a time. Start small and let it grow.

• Scripture Meditation: Dive into the Word of God and meditate on scriptures that affirm His promises. Carry these verses with you throughout the day as reminders of His faithfulness. Scriptures like Proverbs 3:5-6, which say, "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," serve as a constant reminder to lean into God’s wisdom.

• Stepping Out in Faith: Identify areas in your life where you’ve been hesitant to trust God fully. What steps of faith can you take today, even if they feel uncomfortable? Whether it’s a small decision or a significant life change, commit to trusting God with the outcome.

• Surround Yourself with Community: We were never meant to walk this journey alone. Surround yourself with a community of believers who will encourage you, pray with you, and remind you to trust God in all circumstances. There is strength in numbers, and we all need people who will point us back to Jesus when our faith wavers.

• Practice Gratitude: Trust grows when we focus on what God has already done in our lives. Make a habit of gratitude, thanking God for the ways He has provided for you in the past and trusting that He will continue to do so in the future. Gratitude shifts our perspective and reminds us of God’s faithfulness.

Conclusion: Stepping Into Your Identity

Ruth stepped into her identity as a beloved daughter of God, trusting His provision and redemption. Peter learned to trust again after his moment of doubt, knowing that Jesus would always be there to lift him up. Baptism symbolizes the ultimate act of trust—stepping into the water, leaving behind the old self, and rising into the new life God has for us.

As women of faith, we are called to trust in the redemptive power of God’s love, even when life’s storms are raging. We are called to step into our identity as God’s beloved daughters, knowing that He has chosen us to reign in His Kingdom. The journey may not always be easy, but we are never alone. Just as Ruth and Peter experienced God’s provision, protection, and grace, so too will we when we trust Him with our lives.

So, take the step. Trust Him with the unseen, the unknown, and the unclear. You are His daughter, beloved and chosen, and He is ready to lead you into the fullness of your calling.