I've heard a story about a father who had his six year old son jump off a table into his arms. After repeating this a few times, rather than catching him he stepped back and let the boy fall to the floor. As the six year old lay there crying, the father said "That will teach you. Don't trust anyone, not even your father". The dictionary defines trust as confidence or reliance in the integrity, veracity, justice, friendship, or other sound principle of another person or thing. A second meaning is to allow to do something without fear of consequences. Difficulty in trusting is usually for the same reason the six year old experienced. Expecting one thing and getting a far different result reduces or eliminates the confidence needed to trust. The older people get, the more experiences they have that destroys their ability to trust.Barak Obama was inaugurated ten days ago after running a campaign that promised hope for the future. His campaign attracted many young people, who haven't had as many years of political disappointment. It also attracted 90% of black voters who believe this was their best shot at having a black president elected in a country that previously endorsed slavery of black people. His administration took over at a time of economic turmoil, multiple wars overseas, and a national debt that is not sustainable. While the future is unknown, it's very difficult to believe that the multi-trillion dollar expenditures by the federal government is likely to improve the situation, and quite likely to make it worse (ironically all those dollars say In God We Trust). While conservatives believe the free market is best, liberals believe in the government spending Obama is pursuing.
The Bible advises in Isaiah 20: 4 to "Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord we have an everlasting rock". An old hymn says it this way" Trust and obey, for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey". We can have confidence in the Lord, but will be disappointed by mankind many times over. The question is: Why is having trust in a flawed man, a flawed administration, or a flawed relationship wisdom"? It is wisdom because we are not God. We can't be in charge of all things and our purpose is to develop relationships with other people who are not perfect. In the Super Bowl today one team will win and one team will lose, but within each team are offensive and defensive units that must play as a team regardless of the mistakes made by a team member.
Trusting will include negative consequences as well as positive consequences. Trusting will sometimes result in being caught, and sometimes hitting the floor as the six year old did. Our expectations should include all results, not just the ones we like. Our relationships should not be conditional, but unconditional. Over and over we should trust those who fulfill their roles in life, no matter what the results. To believe in a person is the ultimate confidence builder for that person. To believe in God, who is perfect, is easy by comparison. To believe in a person that you know is not perfect requires more faith. The wisdom of trust allows you to overlook all previous failures and have confidence in your spouse, your child, your teammate, even your elected politician. Give it a try.
