“Trust me.” We’ve all heard that said, and maybe even said it ourselves, but trusting another person is a frightening prospect for many. Trust involves opening ourselves up emotionally and being vulnerable; considering how others can disappoint us, some people feel it’s best not to rely on anyone. Thankfully, although people may betray the faith we place in them, God never will.
People can pretend to be one way when in reality they’re the complete opposite. Jesus knew all about that. Being God, He knew in advance that Judas would be untrustworthy and betray Him (Luke 22:1-6, 47, 48), nevertheless He allowed him to be one of His disciples. Jesus went through the pain of betrayal on our behalf so that we could place our confidence in Him when everyone else deserts us.
Sometimes we make bad judgment calls when deciding whether to trust someone. Other times, someone we trusted in the past becomes untrustworthy. Trying to determine who to trust without the guidance of the Holy Spirit is an exercise destined to fail. However, letting God lead the way in our relationships and in every situation will always result in the correct decision. “Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths” (Proverbs 3:5, 6, AMPC).
Individuals with good intentions may caution us not to be too trusting, trying to protect us from getting hurt. This can be the case without God’s input, but listening to His Spirit keeps us safe from danger. Peter demonstrated this when he trusted Jesus enough to step out of the boat and walk on the water (Matthew 14:22-32). The world associates trust with being gullible and naïve, but trusting in the right person—Jesus—protects us.
It’s significant that when Peter took his eyes off Jesus and saw the waves crashing around him, he became frightened and started to sink. Trusting God means fully depending on Him for everything; it means having complete confidence that what He said in His Word is true. Regularly studying and meditating on the Word develops our faith and helps us keep our focus on Jesus. “What time I am afraid, I will have confidence in and put my trust and reliance in You. By [the help of] God I will praise His word; on God I lean, rely, and confidently put my trust; I will not fear. What can man, who is flesh, do to me?” (Psalm 56:3, 4, AMPC). We can only reach this level of trust with His assistance.
God loves us and wants only the best for us. His will is to bless us so abundantly that everyone will see His over-the-top exceeding goodness pouring into our lives. All we need is the faith of Jesus Christ that God has already given us. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit” (Jeremiah 17:7, 8, NKJV). Fear and faith don’t mix; fully trusting in and relying on God casts out our fear and lets us relax and enjoy life to the fullest.
