How Do I Trust In Something Bigger?

Trusting a higher power—whether you call it God, Source, Universe, or the wisdom of Nature—is one of the most intimate parts of a spiritual path.

But trust doesn’t always come easy, especially when life feels uncertain or overwhelming… and things aren’t going well.

As a soul coach, and the author of a The Butterfly Silhouette, I understand the question: How do I trust God? I understand it intimately.

You want to know how do I trust in something bigger? How do I trust God? Maybe something is going on that has you pondering this.

I understand.

This article attempts to help you answer that question, so that you may find peace, comfort, and meaning in your life.

How do I trust in something bigger?

I used to ask this question a lot, so I understand it well.

When I began my journey to find deeper meaning in the midst of so much suffering in this world, I found the book Why Bad Things Happen To Good People by Rabbi Harold Kushner.

I love this book.

I felt an immediate kinship with him. And, as I read what he went through with his son, I felt deep sadness.

As we all might ask: How can there be a God that allows so much suffering?

Obviously, there are religious explanations that may serve you as well. But, this article takes a spiritual, non-religious approach.

Here we go… With so much inexplicable suffering, How can we trust in something bigger?

For a complete guide to Self-Love including how to connect with  your soul, shadow work, affirmations, the self-love journey, self-compassion, self-forgiveness, embracing imperfections read: A Complete Guide to Self-love: Make Your Soul Smile.

1. Ask: What does your soul want to learn?

If trusting a higher power feels difficult for you, I understand. I experienced a major loss many years ago where I seriously wondered… What kind of life is this?

Every day we hear what’s happening in other parts of the world, where innocent people are suffering under evil and we can’t help but wonder.

During a time when I was struggling, I picked up Elizabeth Lesser’s Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow.

What an amazing book.

At the beginning, she’s going through a difficult divorce and needs advice. She finds herself in the middle of Santa Fe, New Mexico, far from her home in upstate New York. She’s on her way to meet with a psychic that her friend told her about.

All of this was new for her.

At the beginning of the book, in the chapter called: What Einstein Knew she tells the incredible story of her visit with the psychic.

The psychic distills an hour’s worth of advice about Elizabeth’s dissolving marriage into this one question:

“The soul comes to earth to learn lessons, not to get married, or stay married, or to take this job or that job… what lesson does your soul want to learn? Do you know?”

It takes a long time for most of us to answer that question… but the question itself cements the idea: the soul doesn’t exist in a vacuum.

It’s part of something much bigger.

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People lean on God in many forms

People lean on God in many forms. About six major world religions, 10,000 smaller religions, and many spiritual and non-spiritual belief systems attempt to guide us in human life.

Typically, we’re drawn to the belief system that suits our individual personality, our dualistic existence, and the soul.

Whatever language you use, you’re not meant to walk alone.

My article on the spiritual meaning of deer speaks to the message of trusting yourself more, which can lead to greater trust in the divine.

2. You’re not here to just exist, you’re called here

Spiritual trust deepens as you sense that you’re not just here to exist—you’re called here to contribute something meaningful.

Trust that the universe has your back for what your soul is here to do.

Your life isn’t random. Certainly, accidents happen, but there’s intelligence behind the scenes. And yes, that intelligence is part of something so big that our human mind grapples with it.

We’re called here to this life. The soul is called here to evolve.

Author Gregg Levoy has a non-soul centered way of describing callings in his best selling book, Callings: Finding and Following An Authentic Life.

He writes, “A calling may be to do something (change careers, go back to school, start or leave a relationship, move to the country, have a child) or calls to be something (more creative, less judgmental, more loving).“

To uncover this, ask yourself: What am I being called to give? What am I here to do? What am I here to heal?

Your greatest challenges might reveal your calling

Interestingly, the thing that challenges us most is often tied to our calling.

For example, I was terrified of public speaking, but I had to speak in front of people repeatedly in my career. I’d throw up in the bathroom beforehand when I worked at IBM.

Another example, I’ve always been afraid of rejection (most of us are)… and now in my work as a spiritual blogger and author I’ve had to put myself out there continually.

Waaaay out there:)

It’s crystal clear to me now. Facing my fear of embarrassment and rejection is part of my path.

This is important:

Trust that the Universe doesn’t plant desires in your heart without also planting the means to fulfill them.

If you’re afraid of public speaking, but you’re meant to speak in front of people, you’ll be given the ability to do so.

You can trust that.

3. You’re not alone—even if it feels that way

So many times we’re told… you’re not alone. But in the midst of difficult times, it feels like we are.

I won’t go into the five stages of grief here… but I did them. During that time, I began feeling a large loving Presence.

I wasn’t alone on this journey.

It all started with a dream visit from my deceased husband.

In my book, The Butterfly Silhouette: 12 Principles for Following Your Soul Where it Must Go I write briefly about how he visited me in a dream.

In this dream visitation he shared how expansive this universe is and that only the body dies.

This dream visit forever changed me and invited me to go much deeper in my spiritual journey.

A little later along my path, my mother’s friend who was psychic in life, and had passed, conveyed to me that my husband was also a spirit guide of mine.

As a result, I became very interested in spirit guides and this aspect of spirituality has helped me feel a constant support team in my life. I think of them as God’s helpers. I truly relate with them on every level.

The feeling that we are alone comes from our dualistic thinking, which stems from the ego. This kind of thinking tells us that all things are good or bad, right or wrong.

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4. Listen to your inner roadmap

When I say “inner roadmap”… I’m referring to a small and big part of you affectionately called the soul.

Even when the world feels chaotic, your soul carries a unique blueprint—an inner navigation system that helps you move in alignment with the divine.

I love how the Irish poet and philosopher, John O’Donohue writes about trusting the soul in Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom.

“Your soul knows the geography of your destiny. Your soul alone has the map of your future, therefore you can trust this indirect, oblique side of yourself. If you do, it will take you where you need to go, but more important it will teach you a kindness of rhythm in your journey.” ~ Posted on his Facebook page.

Trusting a higher power often starts with trusting that inner sense of knowing that’s with you 24/7.

5. Nature as spiritual teacher

Nature offers us endless opportunities to see how miraculous life is.

To know God.

And, to see how spiritual nature is.

Many people feel closer to God/Source/Universe when they’re in nature.

And how can we not? As we spend more time in nature, looking closely, listening intently, we expand.

In nature, we connect on a physical level with much something bigger than we are.

6. Trust the non-obvious

Trust in this often insane universe doesn’t always arrive in lightning bolts. Sometimes it’s a feeling, a nudge, intuition… or something not obvious that’s telling you: Trust in this!

Trust the non-obvious.

There’s much more to this life than there appears to be. As we build belief in the idea that there’s a spiritual dimension to life that we don’t fully understand, we trust in something bigger.

7. Tune in to what feels right for you

Tune into what feels true for you.

Whether it’s God, Spirit, the Universe, or the intelligence of nature, the higher power that resonates with you will feel like a language your soul already knows.

Again, your soul will be drawn to the belief system that’s true for you.

8. Understand your true nature

Trust grows through understanding your true nature: you’re a spiritual being.

You came into this life with potential already encoded in you. James Hillman wrote The Soul’s Code: In Search of Character and Calling about this very topic.

I highly recommend his book if you’re interested in spirituality.

Think of your soul as a seed that already holds the design for the tree it will become. Trusting the Universe means trusting that nothing about you is random.

Here’s my article about the tree of life as it symbolizes our spiritual and human natures.

9. Trust grows through daily connection

Spiritual practices help ground your trust in something real.

Whether it’s meditation, prayer, silence, walking in nature, writing, or journaling, the right practice makes your connection to God feel more tangible.

Let your spiritual practice feel like a conversation with yourself and/or the sacred otherness of life.

Choose spiritual practices that resonate.

There’s no one way to build trust in the divine. What matters is that the practice feels authentic to you. It should feel comfortable, not a chore.

Final thoughts: Trust is a relationship

Trusting God, Source, the Universe, or Nature isn’t a one-time choice—it’s a relationship, one you return to again and again.

Some days it feels easy and some days it doesn’t. Over time, with soulful intention and personal reflection, you’ll feel that trust grow like roots beneath your feet.

The path isn’t always clear—but you are never alone. You came into this life with potential already encoded in you.