Trust

Trust is something that, once lost, is hard to get back. We can trust our hearts to someone, but when that trust is broken and betrayed, it's hard for things to get back to where they once were.

A perfect example of this would be in a marriage. Things are absolutely beautiful at the wedding ceremony but then, over time, things can change. Somebody betrays that trust and the marriage ends in divorce.

So, what happened to our trust? Where did it go? What caused our relationship to fail? Was it us?

Usually what happens is the direct result of sin. Sin is a powerful tool that Satan uses to attack God through us.

Sin takes many forms - lust, greed, infidelity, discontent, selfishness, revenge, hatred. All these things are contrary to God's will for us.

There are two passages about 'love' in the Bible that confirm this concept. You are probably familiar with both of them. The first is found in the Book of 1st Corinthians.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

The second scriptural truth is only three words long. But without these three words in our relationships, complete trust is left defenseless and fragile.

"God is love." - 1 John 4:8

Read the verse from 1st Corinthians again, substituting the word 'God' for 'love' and you will see what I mean. 

1st John also says that, "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because . . . God is love." Similarly, anyone who does not know God, cannot know love. We cannot possibly love someone else to the full extent that God wants us to love each other unless He is in our hearts.

Hard truth: the divorce rate in the Christian church is nearly the same as it is in the secular world. What does that tell us? Read 1st John 4:8 again. Slowly.

Sin is everywhere. Even in God's church, His 'bride.' It's not God who breaks the trust in our relationship with Him. It's us.

Love is a gift from God. Love cannot fully function without His presence in our hearts. If we place our trust in God first, love, true love, will always follow.