"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 straight your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV
Trust! For a short word, it carries so much power. When something becomes consistently repeatable and reliable, we come to believe in that person, group, or system. It is through these experiences that we build trust. For example, you walk into a dark room and turn on a light switch, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the lights come on. Now, if you walk into that same room and only half the time the light comes on, you start to doubt they system -- something is broken somewhere. If the light never comes on, you lose your trust entirely.
As humans, we are fallible. While most often unintentional, we sometimes do things to break others’ trust. Of course, there are always a few people who misuse and abuse others’ trust for their personal benefit, but fortunately, that is not the usual case. We have all experienced broken trust. And trust once broken, can take a very long time to heal. Sadly, some folks have been hurt and failed, so often, they no longer trust anyone or anything. In response, they erect defenses around them so they can't get hurt again. This absence of this trust in anything or anyone leads to a total reliance on their own abilities.
As Christians, we know there is truly only one person in whom we can place full reliance, God. Whenever we place our trust in our own abilities or others’ abilities, we are likely to be disappointed. In Christ, we find a consistency that is lacking in any other person or source. The world is flawed and unreliable, but God who created the world, placed us in the world, not only knows our names, but the number of hairs on our heads is pure, holy, and reliable. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. (Hebrews 13:8) In trusting God and listening to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, he provides for us an unwavering path. This path will not be without obstacles, but when faced with those stones in our way, we have our loving, compassionate, and consistent God to help us.
God, we give you thanks for the consistency of your love for us. You are indeed the only reliable and repeatable source in our lives. We come to you in prayer today with our whole trust, believing fully with our hearts. Forgive us, those times we have failed to fully trust in you, instead, placing our trust in our own understandings and that of others. Come into our heart’s precious Lord, lead us, and guide us in your righteousness. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Blessings!
Pastor Tim
