Trust is a really hard word for me. I literally have a physiological response when it comes to taking the risk to trust. Trusting is uncomfortable and feels out of control.
Trust is no small thing. I read a quote the other day that literally made me say, “YES!” out loud. George Macdonald stated that, “It is a greater compliment to be trusted then to be loved.”
This is not true for everyone, but for me, I value so much when other people consider me safe and trustworthy. I get how hard of a risk it is, so when someone risks on me, I do not take that lightly.
Trust is a process, especially in relationships. Trust takes commitment, time, and hard work. Relationships are founded on trust, and without it, relationships break down.
I read a great definition of trust when it comes to relationships. Duane Elmer defines trust as, “the ability to build confidence into a relationship so that both parties believe that the other will not intentionally hurt them but will act in their best interest.”
This idea of growing in mutual trust has me marinating on the ways that God shows himself to be trustworthy. I mean He could just say, “I’m God” and drop the mic after that, but He didn’t. Like any relationship, trust needs time to develop, even in our relationship with God.
Elmer also states that, “Trust comes in small, incremental steps over time. Through a variety of experiences we evolve into a more comfortable, confident relationship.”
I am experiencing God to be very patient and gentle in this process with me. He has risked everything to make His trustworthiness known.
God demonstrates His trustworthiness when He entrusted us all with His Image. We are His reflections and fingerprints.
God displayed His power through miracles to earn trust. He proves His trustworthiness repeatedly by never leaving of forsaking His people, but remains faithful. God offers grace upon grace as an invitation to trust Him.
God demonstrated the ultimate offering of trust through giving us His son.
God is the only one who does not break trust. Why do I doubt this truth so easily?
Trust is broken when fear enables one to doubt that they are protected from harm, or that their best interest is a lost consideration.
God only knows how to settle for my best interests. God does not ever harm.
My own fears have enabled doubt in me. I know that the break down in my trust relationship with God is due to doubt. Even more so, I am sad by the ways I have broken God’s trust in me. As much as I greatly value when other’s trust me, why do I not hold that same value with God?
I desire to be considered worthy of trusting. It is no small thing from God or anyone else. Trust is not to be taking lightly, but considered valuable. Everything we do and say speaks to how we will be trusted.
Would you consider yourself trustworthy?
Would other’s consider you trustworthy?
How do you build trust in your relationships?
wow tracee! This is one of those topics that should be discussed more but aren’t. So I’ll be honest, I use to not be so trustworthy…I did some pretty messed up stuff six and seven years ago that shot my trustworthiness all to crap. It’s taken years to gain back trust from my family and friends…and unfortunately some were unable to forgive and rebuild trust in me…and some don’t even want to try.
But for me personally I feel like I’ve gained trust by first being honest, but also by being transparent and upfront…but not judgmental when people share their stories with me. Also admitting my struggles, failures, and temptations have provided me trust from others.
I’m sure there are many other ways to gain trust, but these are first on my mind right now. Thank you for talking about the hard stuff, Tracee! It build my trust in YOU that you’ll make clear these difficult topics when most of the time we want to bury them.
Great thoughts Jeremy! I am sorry that you have experienced the hardship of rebuilding trust with friends and family. It is hard. there is a tension between forgiving and the process of trust. For me, forgiveness is the getting up part when being knocked down, and trust is getting your breath back. Both are a process. I appreciate that you have tried to rebuild those broken relationships. Hoping you can still build trust with those same people.
Building trust has so much to do with transparency and just being truthful on a consistent basis. I hope we all can keep having conversations that help build trust.
So, I just spent the last 15 minutes or so writing a comment, and then I realized that 6 paragraphs and counting was really a little too long for a comment. lol So I reblogged you at http://pilgrimwanderings.wordpress.com and made a post instead.
Shortened actual comment: Great thoughts!
Loved your post on this!! Such great thoughts! Love these types of conversations! Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
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