TRUST ISSUES
Trust.
Merriam-Webster defines the word trust as “assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something; one in which confidence is placed.”
Trust can and will make or break you.
• It can be the source of great strength.
• It can be the source of deep frustration.
• It can lead to great friendships.
• It can tear apart lifelong relationships.
Trust affects families, marriages, friendships, churches, communities, businesses, and even entire nations! Trust is not only a gift that you give to someone; it is also a gift that is gained from someone. When trust is earned, a real treasure is discovered. But when trust is compromised, a heart is broken. Trust is complex. In the Bible, God instructs, encourages, and even commands us to place our trust in Him. In Proverbs 3:5 (NLT), He tells us to trust Him with our whole heart. He can make that demand because, first, He is God, and second, His track record is flawless. He has never given us a reason to have any trust issues with Him.
But when we trust God, and then someone betrays us, we often connect that hurt back to Him. Suddenly, trust issues develop. Sometimes, when we hit the dark seasons and rough patches of life, it feels like we cannot trust God at all.
Again, trust is complex and raises many questions. Does our ability—or inability—to trust God directly affect our trust in others? Is the root of our trust issues connected to a lack of trust in God? Trust issues can leave us feeling stuck, and the reasons we come up with can be endless.
Honestly, it’s easy to point the finger at God or others because it takes the pressure off of ourselves. But could it be that the root of your trust issues is actually you? Maybe you don’t trust God because, in reality, you cannot be trusted.
The heart of this book will deal with hard truths and help you answer the following questions:
• Can God trust you?
• Are you trustworthy?
• Have you caused others to have trust issues?
