A Short Christian Philosophy of Trust

Trust is essential to our lives. We trust in the predictability of laws of nature like gravity, magnetism, and lift. We trust in the economic decency of others when we shop online, in person, or sell our stuff online. Without trust, our basic functions of society would break down. Trust goes much deeper than that though: into our homes, across our tables, and into our beds. We trust our siblings, so we share our insecurities with them and find we are not alone; we trust our parents, so we let them tuck us in and comfort us at night as children and find salve for harassing thoughts in dark and lonely nighttime moments. Breaches of paternal and sibling trust are written about as grave tragedies by social scientists, novelists, and playwrights alike. Trust defines us in intimate and sometimes ruinous ways.

What if there was a matter of trust even greater? What of a trust that runs deeper? What could be more frightening than discovering a trust more profound and intimate, and thus, more dangerous than the trust of a parent? (Why dangerous, you ask? Danger and trust have a correlating intensity because the price of trust is relational vulnerability, openness, and transparency.) This deeper trust exists, though we often diminish it or shutter it up so that we appear functional in a world that frowns on insecurity.

We become adept at hiding our insecurities with rationalizations and excuses, but uncertainties inevitably linger: Am I loved? Does anyone care for me? Or about what I do? Or about what I think? Or even more - do we have any worth? Are we a cosmic mistake that will be quickly forgotten? Why do we struggle to matter? Are we just shallow participants in a vain reality? These are real questions we ask - but not usually aloud. And they all revolve around this dangerous and intimate trust that goes unnamed, ignored, or glossed over in polite conversation: Does God love me?

The Bible tell us in John 3:16 that "God so loved the world so much that he sent his only Son so that whoever believes in him would have eternal life." Incidentally, this "belief" that John talks about is quintessentially "trust." Trust is the foundation of our relationship with God. We dispense trust gradually to people who we recognize deserve it - and God shows us he deserves it. The Father is preeminently trustworthy because he sent his only son to die on our behalf when we deserved no such gift. Why? Because we were fundamentally untrustworthy.

Yes, we are insecure, but have also been rebels; it is baked into our hearts, soul, and mind. Our insecurity is accompanied by rebellion and fist-shaking at God's standards for righteous living. And despite our most fundamental and heinous violation of relationship, he sought to mend it with untrustworthy people like ourselves at HIS expense. Jesus did the legwork to show us his love and trustworthiness, and now he calls for a response of trust:

• "But to all who did receive him, who believed (TRUSTED) in his name, he gave the right to become children of God..." John 1:12
• "...if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe (TRUST) in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes (TRUSTS) and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes (TRUSTS) in him will not be put to shame.” Romans 10:9-12

When we trust God, his promises are weapons to fight our insecurities. Since we are loved at our worst in Jesus, nothing can separate us from that love. We know that we matter because we bear his divine image. We know that the concerns of our heart have God's ear. Our trust is that Jesus paid the price of our sin and reconciled our broken relationship with the Father, so now we have the resource to take a different path full of abundance. Some call it "keeping in step with the Spirit."

If we live in this trust, we find an otherworldly combination of humility, confidence, and security - because we personally know the author and sustainer of reality. We can confess our brokenness to God and others when it rears its ugly head because Jesus already knew us and loved us at our worst. John 3:16 told us that we receive “eternal life.” This doesn't begin in heaven; it begins now. Trust in God is the anchor in our life that gives us access to confidence and security despite the life’s crashing waves.

Trust him today, friend. Don't wander through life denying the harsh reality of our sins. Give them to Jesus instead of wearing a mask of confidence over your troubled soul. Exchange your insecurity and rebellion for the security of God’s love. Jesus said it well: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Do you need some words to pray to express this trust? Here’s a great place to start: “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” See more about this prayer here.