Here’s Why Trust Should Be Given, Not Earned
Extending trust is such a tricky thing. In fact, not trusting others is often much easier! Many of us live as if trust is something to be earned. What if we have it all wrong? What if trust should be freely given instead?
I know what you’re thinking — I haven’t lived your life. I didn’t have your parents. You’re right, I wasn’t there when your ex didn’t respect your boundaries or when your dad left without saying goodbye. But I’ve experienced rejection enough times to stand with you in the truth that trusting others isn’t easy! However, over the years I’ve learned that trust can be one of the greatest gifts that we can ever give. When someone placed their trust in me at a time that I felt least deserving, it forever shifted the way I view relationships. This event brought me to one conclusion: trust must be given, not earned.
So…how am I supposed to give trust to someone that could hurt me? Giving trust is a risk and it takes work! But, if you keep reading, I think you’ll agree that it’s a risk worth taking.
Let’s start with Scripture. One of my favorite passages about God’s trustworthiness is Isaiah 40:26,28 TBT:
Look at the night skies. Who do you think made all this?
Who marches the army of stars out each night,
Counts them off, calls each by name
— so magnificent! So powerful! —
And never overlooks a single one?
God doesn’t come and go. God lasts.
He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch His breath.
He knows everything, inside and out.
If God never overlooks a single star, do you think He ever overlooks us? We can count on the sun to rise every morning because our God puts it in the sky. He doesn’t come and go like your last boyfriend — God is much more trustworthy than that. God stays. He fights for you. He sticks around when no one else will. He doesn’t delay, and when He says something, He absolutely means it.
The trustworthiness of our Father cannot be matched by even the most trustworthy friend. Knowing this can help level our expectations of others and motivate us to give trust instead of demanding that others earn it. We’ll go into every new relationship knowing we’ll be okay if they let us down because God is still with us!
Just like our Father gives salvation as a gift, we can give trust to others, no matter how scary it seems. When we make the Truth of who God is our tunnel vision, we begin to experience joy in the moments when others let us down. Trust is easier to give when He’s our focus.
So, what what’s it like for you right now? Do you give trust or do others have to earn it?
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Written by Jillian Zavacky.
