“What traits should you look for when determining if someone is trustworthy?” asked the subtitle of a magazine article.
That question piqued my interest, and I read further.
According to the researcher, integrity is a crucial component, but there’s another trait that’s equally important: competence. The author gave the following scenario as an example: His best friend, Charlie, had proven himself completely reliable, but he wouldn’t want that friend performing an operation on him. Charlie is not a surgeon.
So a trustworthy person is not only honest and fair, he is also competent for what you need him to do.
Those of us who know God have just such a friend. Think of all we know from scripture about the character of our virtuous, competent God. He is:
- just, faithful, and upright (Deuteronomy 32:4).
- righteous (Psalm 119:142) and holy (Leviticus 19:2).
- wise (Daniel 2:20) and good (Psalm 106:1).
- truthful (Psalm 31:5).
An enlightened understanding of our trustworthy God should calm our fears and doubts, right?
But perhaps you’re like me—struggling a bit from time to time, asking questions like:
- Lord, I know you have a plan, but when are you going to reveal it to me?
- Why hasn’t Bill been healed? We’ve prayed so hard and for so long!
- Dealing with Meredith day after day is sapping my strength, God. When will the frustration end?
According to Philip Yancey, faith boils down to the matter of trust in the relationship. Do I have confidence in God or not? If I do stand on a bedrock of trust, the worst of circumstances will not destroy the relationship (Grace Notes, p. 198).
So how can I develop that strong bedrock of trust? Saturating myself in scriptures about the character of God, such as those listed above, is a good place to start. Another worthy study-pursuit: the promises of God, because…
…“God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill” (Numbers 23:19)? No, of course not.
To truly impact my trust quotient, a change of habit is necessary–a habit such as: T-squared. Any time I find doubt or fear creeping at the edges of my thoughts, I want to Turn, Trust, and Thank. T x 3 includes:
- Turn away from thinking about the what-ifs, the negative, the hurtful.
- Express trust in God through song, prayer, and scripture. “Doubts are dismantled by declarations,” says my good blogger-friend, Jody Collins.*
- Thank God for his attributes that he’s bringing to bear on any negative situation. Thank him also for every scripture-promise that applies.
I think I’ll try it right now.
* * * * * * * * * *
Oh, Father, I praise you that you are strong, and protect like a shield. My heart leaps for joy knowing you care for me and will help me. I praise you for surrounding me with your love, because I trust in you. All my life you have proved yourself trustworthy; why would I want to stop trusting you now? Oh, how I praise you that, as I keep my mind steadfast upon you, you will fill me with your peace. You are my trustworthy Rock—reliable and unchanging.
(Psalm 28:7; 32:10b; 71:5-6; Isaiah 26:3-4)
*Visit Jody’s blog at http://www.threewaylight.blogspot.com.
(Photo credits: www.pixgood.com., http://www.katherinepasour.net., http://www.tyndalerewards.com.)
From the Inside Out 
Thank you, Nancy, for that beautiful message. It is most fitting for the start of a new year. Blessings and love to you and Steve.
You’re right: a focus on trust as a new year begins will establish our hearts and minds for whatever might be in store. Thank you for your blessing and love, Ruth. May you, too, experience God’s loving kindness throughout 2015. And please know our love flows back to you!
“…faith boils down to the matter of trust in the relationship.” I have never thought of it in those terms, but that is right on! (I’ve been meaning to read Grace Notes myself…perhaps this is the year, eh?)
I love your T-squared premise. It’s thorough, practical, and best of all, easy to remember. Another lovely post, Nancy! Happy New Year to you!
Thank you, Rebeca. I’m praying that T-squared helps me exercise trust more consistently. Glad you liked the strategy!
It is a secure feeling there is one faithful trust worthy friend, we can tell Him everything. Thanks for the post Nancy. Happy New Year to you and Pastor Steve. Miss seeing you.
Indeed: ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus, right?! I miss you, too. Laura. Thank you for continuing to be a faithful reader of the blog and staying in touch through comments.
Lovely post to begin a New Year, Nancy! Some of us have Facebook friends, long-term best friends, cousins who are friends…but the most faithful and enduring…and, yes. trustworthy friend is our Lord…who has proven time and again (though our faith may falter) that He is our Solid Rock.
Reminds me of the third verse of the hymn ‘Solid Rock’:
“His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.”
Friends are human and will fail us from time to time, but our FRIEND Jesus not only proved himself on the Cross…he continues to encourage and lift us up during troubled times in our daily lives here on earth…because HE LOVES US, imperfect though we are.
This inspires me to BE a better friend to my friends.
Thanks again, Nancy.
Lots of truth in the verse from “Solid Rock.” Thank you for adding it to the conversation, Cheri. How true that Jesus is completely trustworthy for everything we need. We can never go wrong. He is our ONLY hope and stay!
I really like the T x 3 quotient. I think I would put Thanks before trust that would help me focus more on the trust by creating a thankful heart first and would help me from turning back around again. I do love starting with Turn. And that Corrie ten Boom quote is one of my favorites. Thanks Nancy!
Excellent point, Jean, about thanking first, in order to “prime the pump” for trust. Corrie ten Boom was such a font of wisdom, wasn’t she? I miss her!