In my last post I talked about faith and having childlike faith. Today I want to talk about faith’s sister trait, trust. I must admit that trust is not one of my strong suits. I ponder over it all the time, "Why don’t I trust people?" I can’t think of any devastating instance that should have shaken my trust in humanity, but trusting others is always difficult. Unfortunately, that weakness spills over into my relationship with Christ. Of course I trust in Christ as my Savior, but when it comes to the really hard decisions my lack of trust is always an issue. Then I started thinking, “What is the difference between faith and trust?” I thought, “When I flip on the light switch I have faith that the light will come on,” but “I trust that my annuity payment will be deposited in my bank account each month.” The dictionary has several definitions for trust :
1. reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, of a person or thing;
2. confident expectation of something; hope.
3. confidence in the certainty of future payment for property or goods received;
4. a person on whom or thing on which one relies:
5. the condition of one to whom something has been entrusted.
6. the obligation or responsibility imposed on a person in whom confidence or authority is placed:
7. charge, custody, or care: to leave valuables in someone's trust.
8. something committed or entrusted to one's care for use or safekeeping.
This week I have definitely had to trust in God’s divinity whether I liked it or not. Three family members have had some very serious health scares this week. All three had problems that I could do nothing about, nothing but trust in God and his promises. As I look back over the definitions for trust, God fits each one. He is always reliant. In Matt 28:20b Christ promises "lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." (KJV) Now that’s reliance we can count on. Our hope comes from the Lord, "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. "Ps 62:5 (NIV) Parents who take their children to day care providers or school each day entrust them to the teachers for their safety and well being. We too entrust God with our souls, in 1 Peter 4:19 we read "Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will do right and entrust their souls to a faithful Creator. "(RSV) We as believers can have confidence that God keeps his promises, does what he says he will do now and forever more. Jer 17:7 reminds us that "blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and has made the Lord his hope and confidence." (TLB) So for now it is my prayer that during this trial and trials to come, I will trust in God and stand firm on his promises. God is trust.
1. reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, of a person or thing;
2. confident expectation of something; hope.
3. confidence in the certainty of future payment for property or goods received;
4. a person on whom or thing on which one relies:
5. the condition of one to whom something has been entrusted.
6. the obligation or responsibility imposed on a person in whom confidence or authority is placed:
7. charge, custody, or care: to leave valuables in someone's trust.
8. something committed or entrusted to one's care for use or safekeeping.
This week I have definitely had to trust in God’s divinity whether I liked it or not. Three family members have had some very serious health scares this week. All three had problems that I could do nothing about, nothing but trust in God and his promises. As I look back over the definitions for trust, God fits each one. He is always reliant. In Matt 28:20b Christ promises "lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." (KJV) Now that’s reliance we can count on. Our hope comes from the Lord, "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. "Ps 62:5 (NIV) Parents who take their children to day care providers or school each day entrust them to the teachers for their safety and well being. We too entrust God with our souls, in 1 Peter 4:19 we read "Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will do right and entrust their souls to a faithful Creator. "(RSV) We as believers can have confidence that God keeps his promises, does what he says he will do now and forever more. Jer 17:7 reminds us that "blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and has made the Lord his hope and confidence." (TLB) So for now it is my prayer that during this trial and trials to come, I will trust in God and stand firm on his promises. God is trust.
2 comments:
I needed this one. To trust that HE has a plan...not us. God is trust - I am going to post that on the wall!
I know. That one even surprised me, that God is trust! Maybe we should add another definition for trust and just write the word God!
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