How to Trust God When Life Feels Scary and Uncertain

There’s a kind of transition no one really talks about.

It’s not the dramatic moment when everything changes overnight — it’s the slow, uncertain kind. The kind that can sometimes take years (or at least it feels that way!). The kind where you sense something is shifting, but nothing has actually shifted yet.

You can’t make plans, but you also can’t pretend everything’s the same. You’re just… waiting. Watching. Wondering.

That’s where I’ve been lately. Maybe you have too.

The Slow Kind of Change

I’m in a season where I feel transition happening beneath the surface. I can sense God preparing me for something new, but I don’t know what it is, when it will start, what it will look like, or how it will unfold. I’m trying to be faithful with what’s in front of me while also preparing for something that hasn’t yet arrived.

It’s a strange tension — honoring what is, while making space for what could be.

Some days I feel hopeful and ready. Other days I feel overwhelmed by all the unknowns. And in it all, I just keep asking, “God, what do You want me to do?”

It’s hard to explain what it’s like to live in that space unless you’ve been there. But if you have — if you are — then you know. You know the ache of waiting for something to end while also preparing for something to begin.

Maybe You’re Here Too

Maybe you’re living in the middle of something right now:

• A job that feels safe but no longer fulfilling.
• A relationship that’s changing in ways you didn’t expect.
• A calling stirring inside you that hasn’t taken shape yet.
• A next chapter you can sense, but not yet see clearly.

You’re not stuck — you’re in transition. And transitions are holy ground.

A Word from the Past

Years ago, during a different season of uncertainty, I believe the Lord spoke to me in a dream. He simply said, “This is what I’ve been preparing you for.” He said nothing more. And I knew exactly what he meant.

That word carried me through what was ahead — even though I didn’t fully understand it at the time. And now, as I walk through another uncertain season, I find myself longing to hear Him that clearly again.

But here’s what I’m learning: God doesn’t always repeat Himself. Sometimes He simply invites us to trust what He said then, while staying close enough to hear His whisper now.

You Don’t Have to Know the Timeline

If you’re walking through a long, slow transition, I want to speak this over you like a friend would:

You don’t need to know the timeline to be faithful in this moment.
You don’t need to see the whole path to take the next small step.
You are not behind. You are not missing it. God is not late.

This middle space — as frustrating and foggy as it feels — is forming something in you. Deep roots. Quiet trust. Faith that doesn’t need control to remain steady.

What to Do While You Wait

Here’s what I’m learning to do in this season. Maybe it will help you too:

1. Stay rooted in truth. God’s character hasn’t changed just because your circumstances feel unclear.
2. Journal your journey. You’ll be surprised how much wisdom is hidden within you when you take the time to slow down and process your thoughts.
3. Create margin for stillness. Transitions are loud on the inside. Silence makes space to hear from God.
4. Don’t rush the process. God’s timing isn’t just about when things happen — it’s about who you’re becoming in the meantime.
5. Be okay with not knowing. God doesn’t require clarity — He asks for trust.

A Devotional for the In-Between

Because this season has stretched me in so many ways, I created a simple tool to help guide me through and I want to share it with you in case you are walking through something similar:

Faithful in the Middle: A 7-Day Devotional & Journal for Trusting God Through Uncertainty will help you navigate seasons of uncertainty with peace, purpose, and renewed trust in God.

Whether you’re waiting on direction, grieving what was, or unsure of what’s next, this devotional will guide you day by day with heartfelt encouragement, powerful Scripture, and thoughtful journal prompts.

Related Reading: If you’re a reader and you’re sensing that God is shifting something in your life, I highly recommend two devotionals: The Tension of Transition and The Threshold. Both were written by Craig Cooney. They really helped me see that transition isn’t a detour—it’s often the very place where God prepares us for what’s next.

You’re Not Alone

Friend, I don’t know how long your transition will last. It might take years. Or things might change faster than you expect. But no matter how slow, scary, or sacred this season feels — I want you to remember:

God is not just at the end of your journey.
He’s walking with you through it.
And He’s not wasting a moment of this in-between.

You don’t have to figure it all out.
You just have to stay faithful in the middle.

I’d love to hear from you!
If this post spoke to something you’re walking through, or if you simply want to share what God is showing you in this season, I’d love to hear from you. You can always reach me at stephanie@stephaniestewartcoaching.com. I may not have all the answers, but I’m always here to listen, pray, and cheer you on.

We’re in this together — one faithful step at a time.