An Understanding of Trust

Trust is a funny thing. It has the power both to bring people closer and drive people apart. Everybody wants it, but everyone struggles to give it. It's easy to lose, but hard to earn. We're all capable of utilizing trust, but few do. Like many things in life, trust is a give-and-take affair, and nobody is giving.

The problem is that God created us to be creatures of trust, but our sinful nature often prevents us from experiencing both horizontal and vertical accountability. The reason our sinful nature inhibits this crucial feature of human life is because of pride.

The downfall of trust it pride.

When you trust someone, you are giving them power over you. You are giving them control over some aspect of your life. You are sharing your life with them in such a way that they become part of it.

In a sense, trust is humility.

And this is why our prideful selves make trusting people hard. We don't want to give up that area of control. We don't want to give them power. We don't want to let them into our lives because they might discover some humbling secrets. Proverbs 3:5 says:

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will make your paths straight."

God clearly calls us to humble ourselves so that we can trust in Him. In His infinite wisdom, He instructs us on how to both humble ourselves and trust Him at the same time. He tells us that we can't really trust in Him until we let go of ourselves or any other earthly confidence.

Because throughout scripture, God's most important commandment is to love Him, and nobody else. If there's one thing God doesn't like, it's idol worship. The interesting thing is that idolatry and trust are very related issues.

Really.

The reason for idolatry is a lack of trust. Why did the Israelites make the golden calf? They didn't know where God was or what he was doing on the mountain with Moses. They couldn't trust in what they couldn't see. They didn't believe.

It's much easier to place our trust in something tangible. Something nearby. Something we can influence.

Why do people worship money? Titles? Power? Because they have control over it. They put their trust in their money because they have some control over their financial security. Why do they trust in people? Because people are tangible and easier to communicate with.

It's hard to trust in God when He only reveals himself and his plan to us one piece at a time. It's hard to trust Him when we struggle to hear Him.

It's hard to humble ourselves enough to give Him our trust.

It's hard to trust Him enough to submit ourselves completely.

It's hard not to "lean on our own understanding."

But God didn't call us to an easy life.
He called us to faith.