Who Do You Trust?

TRUST…that is a hard pill to swallow, especially if you’ve experienced broken trust. I think all of us have in some way. Let’s tackle this together.

Here We Go

We trust our instincts. We trust the chair will hold us up. We trust our children to tell us the truth. We trust our spouse to love us “til death do us part.” Trust is a necessity in order for a marriage to be strong and good. It has been said that trust is lost in buckets but gained in drops.

When The Bottom Falls Out

So, here is my question for ya. Do you trust your husband or wife? Has your trust been broken in that sweet marital relationship? Has it been in the gray area? Do you trust him or her to be where they plan to be? To do what they say? To love you forever? Ouch. I know it hurts some of you to think about it. But stay with me…

In my first marriage I experienced lies, broken trust, and financial fraud. I was the victim of emotional abuse, physical abuse, affairs, and addiction. Yeah, trust was hard for me. While that marriage ended in divorce, I had wounds and was left to deal with the aftermath, picking up my life and moving forward, healing emotionally, creating a new life, Heather’s life, as a whole person. Because of all this, I could not and would not trust people.

Along comes Brian…and I was not ready for him. I had so many areas of my life that God was changing and, while He was healing me, I had a long way to go. Sadly, I projected my emotions and past experiences onto Brian, yet he remained calm, encouraging, and supportive. The biggest question in my heart…could I trust Brian? Would he hurt me in the same ways I was hurt before? Could I trust Brian to love me forever when we said, “I do?” Lots of questions. Lots of fears. Zero trust.

Can You Rebuild?

But God. BUT! GOD! In a moment of prayer one night, God had a question for me. Could I trust Him to take care of me, no matter what? Woah…uhm…wow…speechless. Could I do that?  Should my marriage and life fall apart again, could I trust that God would carry me through? 

What I know is that He is my rock (Psalm 18:2). He is my firm foundation (Matthew 7:24-27). He hides me under His wings (Psalm 57:1). He cares for me more than the flowers and sparrows (Luke 12:28 and Matthew 6:26). Yes, God loves me. Even me. He promises to be with me. Always. As long as I cling to Him, He will be right there with me, carrying me through the battle, stretching me, teaching me, rewriting my story. Here’s a little nugget for you…God does not play favorites so if He carried me and helped me grow spiritually and emotionally, know that He wants to do the same for YOU!

Can You Repeat The Question?

So, back to my original string of questions…but let me personalize it. Can I trust my Brian?

Emphatically, YES! But, is he human? Yes. Could he stray? Yes. Would my life be wrecked? Yes. But will God carry me? YES! I do not worry about the future because I trust God more than Brian, more than anything.

God asks us to trust Him even when we cannot see Him. Can you do that, even in the midst of the mess and chaos, can you trust God to take care of you? That is what He is looking for, a teachable heart, dependent on His perfect and compassionate love. There’s your challenge. Choose to trust God in the hardest times you face and believe that He will take care of you.     

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6