27. Trusting God When Life Feels on Hold

Sometimes life comes to a screeching halt. I’ve had moments where I prayed for answers, but instead of green lights, I was met with long, confusing pauses.

A few years ago, I was in Paris and sat at a stoplight that felt broken. It stayed red for what seemed like forever. I almost gave up waiting… until it finally turned green. Just over the hill, hidden from view, was a massive construction site. If I had pushed through, I would have driven straight into danger.

That stoplight has become a powerful metaphor for me. How many times has God placed a “red light” in my life—not to punish me, but to protect me?

I’ve seen this in big and small ways: through divorce, infertility, heartbreak, NICU challenges, the loss of dear friends, and even the sudden halt of my speaking business in 2020. At the time, those delays felt heavy. But looking back, I can see God was working ahead of me in the construction zone of my life, preparing a safer, better path.

Scriptures That Strengthen Me

  • “O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever.” (2 Nephi 4:34)

  • “Whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials and their troubles and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day.” (Alma 36:3)

A Favorite Quote

Richard G. Scott once said: “This life is an experience in profound trust. Trust in Jesus Christ, trust in His teachings, trust in our capacity as led by the Holy Spirit to obey those teachings for a happiness now and for a purposeful, supremely happy, eternal existence.”

My Takeaway

I’ve learned that joy and trust go hand in hand. Trusting God’s timing doesn’t mean life will be easy, but it does mean He is always working for my good, even when I can’t see it.

So if you’re at a “red light” right now, know this: God is not absent. He’s preparing the way. Sometimes the wait is uncomfortable. Sometimes it takes longer than I want. But it always leads to something better than I could have planned for myself.

I invite you to ask yourself: Where do I need to trust God more today? Bring that question to Him in prayer, and let Him show you the beauty in the waiting.

Michelle McCullough