How do you think of God? Is He a hard taskmaster? Do you feel like He is out to get you? That is not the God we worship.
In Exodus 20:6, God describes Himself as “showing loving kindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”
He is a loving God. He tells us in Romans 12:1-2 to renew our mind so we can be transformed.
Chapter 11 of Learning How to Trust describes a “vision of trust.”
Trust God First
The process of trusting in God’s grace at work, especially in another person, is impossible if you don’t trust God. First, develop your own trust in God; then, you will be able to trust Him in other people.
Remember that your faith in God upholds your trust. In order to build that faith, you must know God and His Word. Knowing Him builds your faith, which upholds your trust and helps you develop our own vision of trust.
Keep in mind that when you trust in people, you will be disappointed from time to time. We all know that nobody is perfect, yet we place our trust in others expecting them to be righteous, true, merciful, and sensitive.
Do you believe that anybody can live up to this standard at all times? Not only can no one meet that standard, but most of us don’t even come close. Most of us will never live up to the expectations of some individuals. Your vision of trust will allow you to look down the forks in the road of trust and make it possible for you to choose to trust again. Trust is essential.
What is Intelligent Trust?
We must practice forgiveness toward others in order to get past the hurt of being let down. Remember to trust not in the person, but in God’s Holy Spirit at work in his or her life. If you ever feel that God has let you down in some way, stop and take a look at the big picture.
God will never let you down.
When Alan was in high school, he was greatly influenced by a fellow gymnast named Doug, who competed in gymnastics for Springfield College. Throughout his high school years, Alan often took the train to Springfield from his home in New York to work out in the gym with Doug. They also spent hours talking about life and philosophy. Alan looked forward to high school graduation, so he could compete for Springfield College, too. But when Alan arrived for his freshman year, he felt deserted by Doug, who had graduated and moved away.
Another friend, Mike, tried to comfort Alan and help him understand God’s love for him expressed through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. Finally, Mike said, “Alan, people will always let you down. But God will never let you down. Who knows what’s best for you—an infinite God or a finite you?”
Mike’s words made such an impression that two hours later, Alan bowed his head and prayed to ask the Lord to come into his life. For the next two years, Alan counted Mike as his closest friend and often went to him for spiritual counsel. So, it’s no surprise that when Alan and Pauly got married, Mike was Alan’s best man.
Within a couple of years, however, Alan began seeing changes in Mike. His business began consuming his time and energy. His church attendance became irregular. He became critical of his wife and began giving too much attention to his secretary, a seductive divorcée. Eventually, Mike lost both his marriage and his business. Alan could not help but remember Mike’s words, “People will always let you down.”
If Alan’s faith in God were based solely on the word of Mike, certainly his faith in God would have been shaken. But by this point in his spiritual journey, Alan trusted the Word of God. He knew that “God will never let you down,” not merely because Mike had said so, but because he grew in his faith. He had read of God’s faithfulness in the Bible and had seen God’s faithfulness at work in answer to His prayers.
The Liar will try to persuade you that God has let you down and therefore is not worthy of trust. But remember his anti-trust strategy and that the Liar is always a liar. It is his very nature, just as God’s very nature is Truth. If you think that God has let you down, then you are overlooking an important factor in that particular situation. intelligent trust is knowing and having faith that God will never let you down.
Personal Reflection:
Examine yourself. Examine your thinking. Ask yourself these questions when you are having a lapse in trust:
- What are your motives?
- What does God’s Word say about the situation?
Have faith in God’s Word. Have faith in God! The ability to trust is yours. Do not lose it. Choose to trust!
Stay tuned for this week’s Trust Minute video with Alan Heller, where Walk and Talk explores how you can rethink your way of think to grow in your faith.
Have you ever felt that God let you down when in fact, it was just the actions of another individual?
Comment below or contact us to share how you learned to trust God and how you grew in your faith: