Trust and Forgiveness"Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the
Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.” Isaiah 26:4, NASU
Little kids have a trusting heart, believing
that the one they are with means for them good and not harm. It is only as they
get older, and burned a few times, that they begin to realize that not all are
trustworthy, and one should be skeptical of what they are told and whom they
shall trust many times. Being careful these days is very necessary. Not all
that appears to be light is light.
Over the years we have lost trust in several
institutions, such as our government, the educational system, and even with some
religious personnel and traditions we were taught in our youth. “That they had
the answer, and only they” was what we were to believe. I recall when I was 18
and began to know Jesus as Lord and Savior more fully, that even though I was
raised in the Catholic church in which I was supposed to have been shown the
only way to heaven, not all that was said and taught was true. Man had lied to
me and several million over the centuries.
Personally, I like to feel I can trust someone
from the beginning when I am getting to know them, but that has several times
been proven not to be wise. Either they had an agenda that was not in my best
interest, or they wanted to use me for their own gain, leaving me hurt and
“used up” when their time with me in the relationship was over. It is sad that
this happens, but the Bible has several instances when what seemed good to
start ended up being bad.
Far too many relationships end up poorly, given
the fact that what one said was “love” in the beginning was really meant to
only be for the benefit of the initiator. “I love you today, but tomorrow will
be another story” as intentions do not end as they should.
Each of us could tell stories of how this one or
that one lied, cheated, or was proven very dishonest with their words and
actions. Trust is easily broken.
After being hurt too many times, we tend to hold
back in giving ourselves to others in friendship. Far too many have no friends now
because they are not willing to be hurt again. Understandably so.
One of my sons-in-law has told me on more than
one occasion that he noticed I do not try to burn bridges with people after
being wronged. My response is always, “Forgiveness is what we need to have, and
often.” I need to be forgiven often, so I need to practice forgiveness often.
The Lord Yeshua (Jesus) Himself instructed us to
practice forgiveness. Otherwise, we can never trust.
"For if you forgive men their trespasses,
your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father
forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14-15, NKJV
We will never be able to trust others again if we
do not practice forgiveness. We would rather choose to hang onto that hurt,
which in turn becomes bitterness, and given time, results in hatred.
Trust and forgiveness go hand in hand. It takes
time to learn to walk in forgiveness, and thus have lasting relationships. Laurie, my
good wife, and I have a plaque on a house wall saying, “It takes time to make
old friends.” The scene behind it is
of the Grand Canyon. One can be sure that many rushing waters carved their way
through “the soul”, but beauty resulted as time allowed forgiveness to grow,
and trust thus developed.
It takes forgiveness. It takes trust. It takes
both over time to have and maintain relationships. You will not have friends if
you do not practice forgiveness, which allows trust to grow and flourish.
If you have unforgiveness towards another even
now, I encourage you to forgive them, trusting the Lord Himself understands the
hurt as even Himself was willing to die on a cross in order to forgive us. We
need to be able to forgive, and trust, through His daily grace.
Ahava and shalom,
Steve Martin
Founder, Love For His People
Message #144 in this series – in the year of our Lord 07.05.23
– “Trust and Forgiveness” – Wednesday, 3:30
pm in Charlotte, North Carolina
Love For His People
Ministry. is a charitable, USA humanitarian ministry started in 2010 to share
the love of the Father in the nations, especially to and within Israel.
If these letters
minister to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and
maybe each month, to help us bless known families in Israel, whom we
consistently help through our humanitarian ministry.
Go here for safe donations
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Todah rabah! (Hebrew
– Thank you very much.)
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