How to Trust God in Hard Times

Yael Eckstein  |  August 27, 2026

They will lay siege to all the cities throughout your land until the high fortified walls in which you trust fall down. They will besiege all the cities throughout the land the LORD your God is giving you. — Deuteronomy 28:52

Each week in synagogue, Jews read through the Torah from Genesis to Deuteronomy. The Torah portion for this week is Ki Tavo, which means “When You Enter,” from Deuteronomy 26:1–29:8.

In this Scripture, we read about the curses that will come upon the children of Israel if they disobey God, and read this dire warning, “They will lay siege to all the cities throughout your land until the high fortified walls in which you trust fall down.” Should the Israelites become disobedient, they would be attacked and thrown out of their land. The pivotal moment would come when the “walls in which you trust fall down.”

Jeremiah, the prophet who warned of the exile about to overtake the disobedient Israelites said, “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh… But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him” (Jeremiah 17:5-7). Those who trust in man or anything physical are doomed. They will inevitably be let down and defeated. However, one who trusts in the LORD will be secure forever.

Sometimes in life, God makes our walls fall down—He causes everything we rely upon to fall apart. Because it is only when we lose hope in all of our trusted physical defenses, that we truly learn to trust in God. Today, we can choose to trust God fully and stay in peace, knowing that He is the source of our security and holds us in the palm of His hands.

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