Trust is more than a word

Trusting anyone is a difficult thing - for trust is built on a willingness to do as you say, being honest in your dealings, having an openness toward another, knowing when things you know don't need to be known by all, and remaining consistent in your commitment to the relationship.  Put all those together and you have a pretty difficult foundation upon which trust is built.  Any one of these areas not fully upheld means the foundation becomes a little less reliable and may even cause the relationship to not last.  When we come to a place of trusting God, he is reminding us that he will do all of these things and he asks us to return the favor.

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.  Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.  Don’t assume that you know it all.  (Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG)

Trust God from the bottom of your heart - don't try to figure it all out on your own.  This is sage advice and something we need to grab hold of if we are to grow in this trust relationship with our heavenly Father.  I think we may need to break down these "qualities" of trust a little if we are to understand how it is we come to a place of trust in our relationship with him.

- Trust is built on a willingness to do as you say.  The Word of God has proven to be enduring and trustworthy down through the ages.  All which God recorded in the way of prophesy concerning the coming of the Messiah was fulfilled in Christ.  When God speaks, his words matter.  What he says comes to pass.  We can count on that.  When we speak to God, he counts on our words to carry the same meaning - to be backed up by a willingness to do as we say. Nothing betrays the heart of a man more than using words as nothing more than "tools to manipulate".  When we use our words to get our way, but have no intention of doing as we promise, we are using them as tools to manipulate.  God expects us to speak what we mean - mean what we speak. Perhaps this is why we are warned to be careful about what we "vow", for vows are to be unbroken.

- Trust grows when there is honesty or integrity in the relationship.  Nothing breaks down trust quicker than a violation of integrity.  It is impossible for God to lie - all he speaks is truth and light.  Honesty is something more than the willingness to say the "nice stuff" someone needs to hear, but also the faith to say the "hard stuff" someone needs to hear even more.  God doesn't mince his words with his kids - he hits the nail right on the head.  When we speak to him, it is to be with the willingness to hear not only the good stuff, but the hard stuff, as well.  Honesty brings us into some "tough" places in our relationships on occasion, but it is in those times where we come face-to-face with the things we need to change, the ways we need to grow, and the hopefulness of being in this together with someone committed to helping us get through it all.

- Trust requires an openness toward one another.  No amount of trust can be built when one withholds themselves in the relationship.  Openness is not always easy, but once you can break past the defenses of needing to keep up the walls or wear the masks, the opportunities to grow will increase significantly.  God's desire is to hold nothing back from his children - in turn, he asks us to hold nothing back from him.  Even the hard stuff is made a little easier when you admit how hard it is for you to handle!

- Trust doesn't relish sharing secrets or confidences.  We should be ever so grateful that God knows stuff about us that no one else needs to know about. These are weak areas within our character he knows are there, but he doesn't put on display for others to see.  Instead, he spends time alone with us, helping us to realize they are there, and then guiding us through how to let go of them.  In time, we will likely openly admit to those areas of weakness, but in the meantime, he maintains our trust relationship and we work on those together with him.

- Trust has a balance which brings consistency within the relationship. Balance is what gives us the ability to remain consistent in relationship.  When we get our eyes on what matters, we soon return to a place of equilibrium or balance. When our eyes are distracted by everything which beckons for our attention, we soon find the relationship begins to lack the attention it deserves.  I have no idea how God can see the entire world, know all things, or be everywhere at all times, but I trust him.  He does all he does and maintains his focus on the prize - you and I.  All he asks in return is that we maintain our focus on him.  This is what gives us true balance in our lives.  Just sayin!