Trust

How Trusting are You?

Drop the ‘ing’ from trusting and the word, ‘trust’ yields synonyms such as belief, reliance, confidence, and faith. These are very positive verbs. We trust our washing machines to clean our clothes so we can dress properly for work. Then we trust we’ll receive a paycheck for going to work. And we trust the bank will keep that deposited check safe until we use it. These examples have been proven consistently, with few exceptions, so we expect them to function as promised.

So, as a verb, to have trust in someone or something means you confidently believe. But as an adjective, a trusting characteristic means you’re easily swindled? Is anyone else confused?

Blind Faith

Scripture tells us to have blind faith, or complete trust, in God even when we can’t verify anything or know all the details.  “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1, ESV). We’re to have a trusting characteristic – for God.

This blind faith is exclusive to God. He doesn’t want us taken advantage of. “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8, ESV). Nor does he want us unguarded or uninformed. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5, ESV).

God asks for our unwavering faith because he has already proven himself over and over as completely pure and trustworthy to his people. He had Noah build an ark to save believers from the flood (Genesis 6-8). God gave Sarah a baby in her old age (Genesis 18-21). He parted the Red Sea for the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt but drowned their pursuers (Exodus 14). The Bible is full of events where God proved himself trustworthy.

Earning Trust

God can ask for blind faith in him because he has earned that trust a bazillion times over. People, on the other hand, need to earn their trustworthy status. Babies are completely vulnerable and helpless. They must trust their parents or caregivers to provide for them. When the caregivers do not consistently meet the child’s needs, the child learns distrust.

Think about your own life. Have you ever had someone you believed in whole-heartedly who betrayed your trust? Even if it only happened once, did you ever trust them again? Second chances are a wonderful thing, but usually not given freely. The second chance person is usually trusted with small things while working their way back up to complete trust, if they ever get it back.

None of us are perfect. We all have the potential to break someone’s trust. Relationships suffer after broken trust. In a marriage when one spouse cheats, the other will always question if they’re still cheating. Broken trust may be forever.

Preparation

How do we learn to trust others? Well, it’s unreasonable to expect someone else to be trustworthy if you are not trustworthy, so begin with yourself. Be an honest and trustworthy person. Take small chances to determine if someone is ready for bigger trust. I didn’t just decide one day to leave my kids home alone all day. They first had to show me they knew how to handle the household, keep the doors locked, know how to answer the phone to strangers. And then I began leaving them alone for short periods of time that turned into longer periods of time.

I prepared for leaving my dog, Baron, at home by himself outside of his kennel the same way. He didn’t learn how to answer the phone. I shut doors and put tempting chewables away. I put a camera on him so I could watch him while hiding outside. Baron had to learn what’s permissible and that I’ll always come back for him.

When I adopted Baron, he was about a year old, and he already had healed scars on his face and neck. He’s a rescue from unknown to me horrors. He had to learn that he can trust me not to hurt him no matter what he does. The other day, he got in the trash and made a big mess. I scolded him when I got home and then took him to the back door to go outside to potty. As he sat there waiting for me to open the door, I swear he was smiling that his punishment for being bad did not include a beating.

Let Go and Trust

At some point, you will either have to decide you do not trust someone or take a chance and let them prove their trustworthiness. I had to take that chance on Baron last week when he tested for the AKC Canine Good Citizen award. Months of training and frustration over his bullheadedness had finally come down to the wire.

No treats are permitted during the test. I had to trust he would obey my commands for ‘free.’ The test included me leaving him with the tester for three minutes while I was out of his sight. I had to trust that he knew what to do without me. Baron of Serenity passed his test, and he was so proud the rest of the night, as was I.

Relax to Linda’s Serenity Christian Meditations podcast.

Find self-hypnosis and meditation mp3s to download in the Serenity Christian Hypnosis Store.

Find self-hypnosis and meditation mp3s to download in the Serenity Christian Hypnosis Store.

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