Trusting God in the small things

I am a Christian. That means I know there is nothing I can do to work my way into heaven.  No amount of confession or going to church or anything I can do for God will earn me a spot in His kingdom.  The bible says that "all have sinned and fall short of God's glorious standard."  How then, does one please the Lord?  The only work that will gain you entrance into Heaven is belief.  John 6:29, Jesus tells us, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” Who did he send?  Jesus himself.  Romans 5:8 says, "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."  Ok.  That's it in a nutshell.  My beautiful Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life to pay the penalty for my sins. 

That said, how can I not trust Him in my daily struggles?  A couple months ago, when I was hospitalized for sixteen days (or maybe it was 17--I forget!) I knew that God was in control.  I didn't understand why I was going through the pain that I was in, but I felt His presence with me in that hospital room.  I knew He had a purpose in it and I wanted to honor Him in my actions and attitudes while I was there.  Of course, I missed the mark sometimes on that goal, but I felt a sense of peace in my spirit, knowing that my very life was in His hand.

I try to remember that when the small things in life pile up to make me stressed. 

Transition issues, stomach bugs, being back to work, doing homework with unwilling kids, etc.  All these things can get my focus on me and why can't my life be simple like other people?  But of course, I know that other people's lives are not simple, either.   God has a plan for every person's life and like the expert craftsman He is, weaves all the different parts of our life together to make something special. 

I will attempt to keep this in mind as the cares of the world threaten to take over. 1 John 4:4 "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." 

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?  Romans 8:31