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A Question of Trust Joyce Jamerson ,
After the previous article, A Trusting Heart, this question
was received: “If we struggle to trust God and others, even
those who have given us no reason not to trust them, is this sin?”
, Self examination is always good as we grow as Christians. If we have a problem with trust, we should
ask ourselves “What is the reason? Why do I feel this way?” In our society, where little white
lies are looked upon as acceptable and honesty is often a thing of
the past, it’s easy to lose trust in those around us. After all, if they’ll lie about this or that, they will also lie about other things. Where would trust begin? How do we build trust when the world seems unfair?
How do we live a trusting life – a life that not only glorifies
God but is pleasing to Him? .
When in
Egypt,
the children of Israel were given specific instructions regarding the
10th and last plague that was to come upon Egypt. They were to kill
the Passover lamb and use hyssop to put blood on the lintel and doorposts of their homes; then stay
inside until morning and the LORD would pass over, bringing no harm to them or their children. You can imagine that some may
have stayed up, wringing their hands and wondering if God was really
going to do what He said He would do, or they could sleep through
the night and be refreshed and ready for the trip ahead. How wonderful to have trust and sleep with assurance. This kind of trust
is what we’re looking for. .
Look now at Jeremiah 17: 5-8: In
this passage, we are told that trusting in man and in his strength will be a curse because our heart will turn away from God. The descriptions that follow impress upon us just how bad that can be. We’ll be
like a bush or shrub in the desert, only existing in a desolate place; trying to grow in a land
of salt. Have you ever made homemade ice cream and dumped the salty water outside without thinking? It will leave a big brown
spot in an otherwise green lawn. Lack of trust in God has dire consequences but the following verses give us a beautiful word picture of a man who
trusts in the Lord. He is compared to a tree planted by the water that sends its roots out into the stream without fear. He’s
not even anxious in a year of drought and will bear fruit and have
nice green
leaves (with no brown spots)! Jeremiah credits God as being his strength and refuge in days of trouble, 16:19. If there’s anyone who knewthe blessings of trusting God firsthand, it was Jeremiah. He endured the dishonesty
of his nation, their idolatry and wickedness, yet found God’s words to be a joy and delight. He was virtually alone in his own country, enduring severe
persecution. He tried to warn his country about their fate if they did not return to God.
. The point of sin, I believe, would be in where one is in the process. If we
turn from the Lord, as did Judah, we’re at the point of sin. If we turn to the Lord, as did Jeremiah, we are
going to be blessed. Remember, Jeremiah wasn’t a willing subject as God called him to prophesy but his trust kept building as God fulfilled His promises to him.
, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart And
do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight,” Proverbs 3:5. ,
Since we are looking within – looking into
our hearts, we can realize that a wise Christian will be able to
build trust in themselves and others just by practicing the art of trust. It’s harder for some than for others, depending
on background and experiences. To build trust, you go to all lengths to keep from breaking a trust. Judging the motives of
another is a common element for lack of trust and it’s easy to do without even realizing it. ,
Let’s look at an example from the New Testament. In Matthew 14, when
Jesus was walking on water, Peter stepped out of the boat because of his trust and he also walked on water. His inability to do so wasn’t
even considered until...he took his eyes off of Jesus and lost his trust.
You would think that since he had just seen Jesus feed 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish that his trust would be rather secure but that’s how fickle our trust can be. If we take our
eyes off of Jesus, even for a short while, we’re in danger.
“The LORD also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble; And those who know Your name
will put their trust in You, For You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You,” Psalm 9:9-10. ,
When it comes to trusting our friends, some self examination
may be in order to determine if we have too much pride and too little humility. We may find ourselves lacking in the trust department, but to the converse, can our friends trust us? Being kind and trusting is in order until there is a good reason to end
that trust. Our lives reveal what is in our hearts and if a person is not to be trusted, it will soon be revealed. We can trust others without absolute knowledge of their reliability and we can also trust God without absolute knowledge of Him. Have we seen Him?
No, but the evidence is sufficient for trust. ,
We could fill many pages with reasons to trust our Lord; not so many about trusting others, but when we do develop in
the art of trusting, we will find blessings, not only in that but also in being the object of trust. Among other teachings in the Sermon on
the Mount, Jesus gave us the keys to a good life in Matthew 7:12,
when He said, “In everything, therefore,
treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” , “The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who watches his way preserves his life. Pride goes
before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling. It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly Than to divide the spoil with
the proud. He who gives attention to the word will find good, And blessed is he who trusts in the LORD,” Proverbs 16:17-20.
Response to last article (below):
I enjoyed this very much. I am learning more and more recently to trust my
child to the Lord. I actually think I have failed my children by trying to do God's work in my own foolish, wordly wisdom
(that even Christians are guilty of assuming and giving) I hope to model this trust to them and others' who are also struggling
with letting God be God. Thank you. -Donna
, ,
A Trusting Heart Joyce Jamerson
“All I have seen teaches me to trust the creator
for all I have not seen.”
Ralph Waldo
Emerson
Luke 12 presents a story
about trust, even though the word is never mentioned. Jesus instructs the disciples about how to live; telling them not to
worry about their circumstances. God has provided for sparrows and the disciples are clearly more important. Seems simplistic,
doesn’t it? If all we had were a few feathers and a worm, would we worry any less? Birds can’t even rush to the
grocery for bread and milk (as is the frantic custom in the South) when the weather forecast includes snow.
After these word pictures about birds, lilies and clothes, Jesus says, “Fear
not little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom,” 12:32 ESV. Jesus cautions
them about being overly concerned with physical things and then says, “For where your treasure is, there will your
heart be also.” In Matthew’s account they are cautioned about being anxious for tomorrow. What will tomorrow
bring? “Sufficient for the day is its own trouble,” 6:34. In other words, don’t go there! Don’t
be possessed with what will happen tomorrow.
Jesus, the
loving Shepherd, was helping the disciples to build trust; they were challenged to live one day at a time. Where does trust
begin? Surely it has to be in our homes, as little children. Trust grows in a family when parents love, nurture and provide
for their children, keeping them safe from harm. During a vicious storm, how many children will come to jump in bed with their
parents? They share their fears and look to their parents for protection. When my brother and I were growing up, our dad would
take us for Sunday afternoon walks through a wooded area not far from us. I remember a reservoir in that area, along with
a creek and paths through the woods. When we came to the creek, a tree had fallen across, making it possible to across there
instead of going further down the path. That is, if fear can be conquered. I was skittish about crossing, but daddy was right
behind me – at least I thought he was. Trust builds confidence, so I nervously crossed, hoping not to find a slick place
or a loose piece of bark and go tumbling in the water. When I reached the other side, daddy had been stomping his feet as
though he were right behind me, but there he stood on the opposite bank. Trust is an important element in order to conquer
our fears.
As parents look to God for their daily needs,
trust is then instilled in their children. Trust issues throughout life can arise because these things were lacking as children,
but no matter what our background or how we were raised; the highest level of trust will be found in Jesus.
Jesus establishes trust throughout his ministry. As He concludes the Sermon on
the Mount, Jesus presents the choices. Depend on Him or be anxious every day – live a life of worry or a life of faith.
He builds on that as He goes about His ministry, establishing faith and trust through His works and miracles. After healing
the paralytic (Matthew 9:3-8; Mark 2:6-12; Luke 5:21-26), Scribes questioned His authority. Jesus, however, was already aware
of their thinking and asked, “Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts?” A centurion came to Jesus
asking Him to heal his servant (Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10), and expressed to Jesus how unworthy he was to receive Him in
his home, but if He would just say the word, his servant could be healed. Jesus recognized a heart of faith and trust. In
both cases, Jesus knew what was in their hearts.
In order
to fully appreciate His trust, let your mind briefly think of someone in whom you have a lack of trust. It could be a boss,
co-worker, political figure, spouse or relative. Lies, deceit, and dishonesty cause us not to put our trust in others. There’s
no more painful time than when someone you thought was a trusted friend or companion behaves otherwise. Once a trust is broken,
it is hard to regain.
David, in Psalm 37:3-5, gives three
key words for building this confidence. Trust, delight and
Commit. “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit
your way to the Lord. Trust also in Him and He will do it,” emphasis mine, JJ.
Why would we not want to trust God the Redeemer who planned such a magnificent journey for His children?
He perfectly planned our being and our salvation, saving the upright in heart, Psalm 7:10. He is our refuge. We are to trust
Him at all times and pour our hearts out before Him, Psalm 62:8. The one who trusts in the Lord is blessed, Proverbs 16:20.
Compare Proverbs 28: 25, 26; 29: 25.
Doing so will bring
delight. You will amaze others when your delight doesn’t fade even during times of trouble. Wasn’t it
the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31 who worked with her hands in delight? Jeremiah said God’s Words became a joy and the
delight of his heart, Jeremiah 15:16. God delights in uprightness (1 Chronicles 29:17) and you’ll remember several references
to His lack of delight when sacrifices and ceremony were given precedence over obedience, 1 Samuel 15:22; Hosea 6:6; Micah
6:7. We can be guilty of the same when we take pride in never
missing a Bible class or worship service and go through the motions of worship without involving our hearts. God wants us
to understand and know Him and we can do that by avoiding distraction and being dedicated to knowing Him through His Word.
“Thus says the LORD, ‘Let not
a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but
let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice
and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,’ declares the LORD,” Jeremiah 9:23-24.
This is where we commit. Trust comes by knowing the Word. Delight comes
when study reveals a better understanding; when we bend our daily lives to include time with God and see His marvelous plan
come together in our minds. As Bible study continues, so will our amazement!
“Great are the works of the LORD; They are studied by all who delight in them,” Psalm 111:2.
“Trust in the LORD
with all your heart and do not lean on your
own understanding,” Proverbs 3:5.
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