“WHO CAN I TRUST!”

Jeremiah 17:5

"Thus saith the LORD; cursed be the man that trusteth in man, ad maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord."

"You can't trust anybody these days" is a common statement and one that most of us are tempted to make from time to time. But it is not true that no one is trustworthy, and it's dangerous to become a cynic and think that way. I refuse to live with a heart filled with distrust and suspicion. I have decided to believe the best and trust people unless they give me a definite reason not to.

TRUST WITH YOUR EYE WIDE OPEN

We can trust people without placing trust in them; in reality, it belongs only to God. Jesus talked about this, and the apostle John recorded it,

John 2:24

"But Jesus did not commit Himself unto them, because He knew all men,"

This scripture does not say that Jesus didn't trust anymore; instead, it says that He did not trust Himself to them. What does that mean, Bishop? You might say! He didn't give Himself over to the idea that men would never disappoint Him. He didn't put Himself entirely in their hands for safe keeping.

John 2:25

"And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man."

Jesus was well informed about human nature and the weakness it contained. He came to strengthen men in their weaknesses and forgive their failures and sins. We must do the same thing if we want peace in our lives. There is not one of us who can say that we have not hurt and disappointed others or that we have not been hurt and disappointed. We experience the weakness of human nature. I never purposely mean to hurt anyone, but sometimes I do. Part of being in a relationship requires a willingness to be disappointed and yet find a way to continue building trust rather than giving up. There is a difference between my being disappointed and God disappointing me. My expectations are the source of my disappointment, not God because scripture teaches that if we put our hope in God, He will never disappoint us.

Roman 5:5 (AMP)

"Such hope [in God's promises] never disappoints us, because God's love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the holy Spirit who was given to us."

FAULTY EXPECTATIONS

How much of our disappointment is someone else's fault, and how much is our own? I mentioned that God never disappoints. We may feel disappointed with something he does not do, but it is because our expectation was faulty. Instead of wanting what God wanted, we wanted what we wanted.

To expect a person never to hurt or disappoint you is a faulty expectation because human nature is incapable of perfection. What we want or how we feel, and when they don't, we are disappointed. We're disappointed that people don't understand us, but why should we fault anyone for not understanding how we feel if it is not in their nature to feel that way. Their personality is different than yours, and some things that are important to you don't matter to them at all and vice versa. You can explain to them how you feel, and they can show empathy for you because they love you, but they still don't know by experience how you feel simply because they have no point of reference.

Jesus knew His disciples would disappoint him, so He was prepared when they did and was not devastated by their actions. Judas betrayed Him, Peter denied Him, and they all slept during His most crucial hour of need instead of praying with Him as he had requested. But He continued loving them completely. He didn't have a cynical attitude, saying, "You hurt me, so I'll never trust you again." He did not have a faulty expectation; It is not wrong to expect people to do what is right and make every effort not to hurt us. But at the same time, we should not expect them never to fail. People are not perfect. I spent many years disappointed and upset most of the time because my plans didn't work out as I had expected until I learned that very few days ever work out exactly as we want them to. So now I plan for unexpected things, allowing me to keep my peace.

KEEP THE FAITH, PEOPLE OF GOD, AND KEEP THE PEACE IN YOUR LIFE!

Love

Bishop T. W. Jackson I, ThM