Trusting God When the World Feels Out of Control
Last week, I took a deep breath and posted a thread about one of the hardest truths I wrestle with: I trust God as my protector, yet I still feel very anxious, at times, about the evil and corruption in this country. As a Black woman, I think it’s important, even healing, to speak truthfully about both my faith and my fears out loud.
I feel the anxiety in my stomach as I’m writing this, so there is no denying it. A few troubling things have happened recently. The assassination of a White Christian influencer and activist who has allegedly made many controversial statements about Black people over the years. His death has stirred up even more racial and political division in this country. Many Christian Nationalists are staunch supporters of this influencer. They call themselves Christians, but their brand of Christianity has nothing to do with Jesus. It has everything to do with control, fear, and separatism, particularly against Black people or anyone who does not look like them. Jesus Christ brings people together in unity, not division.
Then there’s the repeated refusal of this country to move forward with gun regulations. How many more mass shootings need to happen before enough is enough?
And to make matters worse, last week, two Black men were found dead hanging from trees in two different incidents in Mississippi, with authorities quickly suggesting “no foul play”—possibly suicides.
That is a ridiculous notion!
It’s indisputable that racism is a huge part of America’s DNA, and here we are in 2025, still having these conversations, still seeing these headlines, and still feeling like people who look like me aren’t safe.
But here’s what I know for sure, even with that knot tightening in my stomach: despite everything happening in not only this country, but in this world, the Lord God is in control.
Finding Peace in God’s Promises
I realize that I had a choice to make. I could perpetuate that fear by letting what I see happening in the world overshadow my understanding of God and who He is. Or I can do what I’ve learned to do over the years, draw near to the One who sees it all.
James 4:8 came to my mind: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” This is yet another promise from God we can rely on.
So, in my prayers, I talk to God not just about my fears, but I also talk to Him about how great He is. “Lord, You see everything and You know about it all. You see the whole puzzle when all I can see are these awful pieces. You are sovereign. You are in control.”
And you know what? With these ‘conversations’, something shifted. His peace becomes bigger than my anxiety. His truth becomes louder than all the craziness I’ve been witnessing in America.
This isn’t toxic positivity, sis. When you have a real relationship with Jesus, you already know how great He is based on what He’s done for you before, and how He’s worked through you before. I can think of countless times He’s shown up and shown out, and even a myriad of ways He’s protected, provided, made a way when I didn’t see the way. I know for sure, if He did it before, He will do it again. We serve a mighty God!
Trusting The Greatest Orchestrator
Here’s another thing I know: I will never understand why it seems evil, hate, and corruption are allowed to flourish. Never. And I won’t ever be able to make sense of senseless things. But I don’t need to. God doesn’t need me to understand how all of this will work in His plan; He just needs me to trust Him.
God is the great orchestrator. He is Sovereign. That means He has the ultimate authority, power, and control over everything that happens in the entire universe. Nothing happens without His permission and outside His will. So, while I’m looking at these few terrible puzzle pieces and feeling overwhelmed, He’s conducting a symphony I can’t even begin to imagine. God’s justice will ultimately prevail, even when human systems repeatedly fail us.
When life feels overwhelming, and with everything going on in the world right now, it does—I intentionally remind myself: I can’t, but God can.
Focusing on who God is and drawing close to Him will bring you peace. That is not speculation; that is His promise to us. You just have to believe it and do it!
The Practical Stuff That Actually Helps
Now, while spiritual truths is essential on our life journey of faith, we are embodied beings, and sometimes our bodies need help catching up to where our spirits are trying to go.
When my anxiety begins to get the better of me, I do a few things:
First, I pray, but instead of just dumping all my fears on God (though He can handle that, too), I begin by talking to Him about His greatness. His control over all things. His perfect justice will ultimately prevail, whether we see it yet or not.
Second, I breathe—deliberately. Anxiety can keep us trapped in fear, making it hard to focus on God’s greatness because our bodies are in panic mode. Science supports this: certain types of deep breathing exercises activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps manage anxiety more effectively. So I breathe slowly and deeply until my mind clears. These breathing exercises create space for us to focus on God’s greatness instead of being overwhelmed by stress.
Third (and I’ve talked about this often lately), I walk the nature trail. This might sound simple, but it’s also a special time when I speak to God about all the things I’m struggling with. Again, there’s real science showing that walking has a powerful effect on the nervous system, helping to regulate stress and anxiety. Today, as I walked, I thanked God for the healing power of His marvelous creation and for the chance to take time to walk and talk with Him, delighting in His beauty. I get to walk along the path under those beautiful, green, leafy trees!
And now that it’s autumn, the path is sprinkled with some fallen leaves. And guess what? Some leaves are just starting to show off their beautiful fall colors. Today, I thanked God for the little dopamine boost I got after walking more than five miles and for that amazing reset my nervous system felt from just moving my body. It’s really another chance to choose to focus on His blessings instead of all the burdens and disappointments around us.
Fourth, and this is a work in progress, I put an even stricter limit on my social media use. It’s important to be informed, but not consumed. I actually have a time limit set on my phone for social media, but I keep overriding it when that notification pops up. That will stop. I need to keep my word to myself and honor the boundaries I set for my own peace.
The Promises That Hold Me
When I choose to believe God’s promises over what I see, I need specific truths to hold on to. These two verses have helped me tremendously:
John 16:33: “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world. [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]” Jesus doesn’t promise we won’t see awful things. He promises He’s already won.
Psalm 46:1-3: “God is our refuge and strength [mighty and impenetrable], A very present and well-proved help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains be shaken and slip into the heart of the seas, Though its waters roar and foam…” Even when everything feels like it’s falling apart, God is our refuge right there in the middle of it.
Walking Forward Together
Sisters, I’m not pretending the threats of this world aren’t real or that we shouldn’t be concerned about injustice. I see what you see. I feel what you feel. However, I choose to believe that God’s control is more real than any earthly chaos. His promises are more trustworthy than the evening news. His justice is more certain than any human system.
This is what it means to walk boldly in faith, not walking without concern or even anxiety, but walking forward despite of them because we believe God’s promises more than we believe our circumstances.
Life is a faith journey, and we can walk boldly even when the world feels out of control. We can support each other in making choices—faith over fear, God’s promises over what we see—and in remembering together that there is nothing our great God can’t do.
The anxiety in my stomach when I started writing this? It doesn’t have to have the final word.
God’s promises do.
What helps you move from anxiety to peace when the world feels chaotic? I’d love to hear your story—how are you learning to believe God’s promises more than what you see?
