Trust

Trust

Trust ... a small, 5-letter word with a much bigger meaning. It can be something we too easily give away, or perhaps something we hold back for fear of being hurt. We may even shy away from the word because of events in our past. But, do we ever stop to think about what it really means? We've all heard of the "trust test" where a person is asked to fall backwards blindly and hope that the individual behind them catches them before they hit the floor. But is that all there is to it? Just believing or hoping for the best? One definition of trust says that it is a "firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of". To understand trust, we must first have a firm belief in something. That is to say, "no clever argument, no persuasive fact or theory could make a dent in conviction". Then, we must apply that belief to four key areas. First, reliability. To be reliable is to be trustworthy and proven. I Kings 8:56 says, "Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant." Not ONE word of His promises fail. Next, conviction must be rooted in truth. Psalm 119:160 says, "Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever". God's Word is truth and can never fail. Next, trust is a firm belief in ability. Jeremiah 10:12 says, "He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion". God has the possession, means, and ability over all. Finally, to trust, we must have a belief in strength. Jeremiah 32:17 says, "Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee". There is absolutely nothing that is outside of the strength and power of God. 

Trust is the firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, and strength of God when the doctors say there isn't a cure. It is the firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, and strength of God when there isn't enough money to cover the bills. It is the firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, and strength of God when the answer is "no" or "wait". It is the firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, and strength of God when people fail or hurt us. Trust is the firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, and strength of God when the world around us is crumbling into pieces. 

So, when the trials come, I choose to look at trust a little differently next time. God, I trust You ... I have a firm belief in which my convictions cannot be persuaded against Your reliability, truth, ability, and strength.

-Written By Laura Barnette