Learning to Trust

Trusting others has been difficult for me. People have hurt me over the years and trust did not come naturally for me as a result. My husband, Patrick, never gave me a reason not to trust him, but still I questioned him in my mind. After he stopped drinking over a year ago, I wasn’t sure I could trust he would continue to abstain.

This lack of trust carried over into my relationship with Jesus. Could I trust Him? Could I take His Word for truth? Could I believe He loved me despite the past I carried with me? I worked against God’s way for so many years, how could He possibly love me?

Finally, after months of wrestling with control, trust, and self-blame, I found the truth. The truth only God’s repeated words through the pages of a once forgotten Bible could bring. He continually spoke through the scriptures and reminded me of his sovereignty. All I had to do was learn to trust His words as truth.

Step three says I am to make a decision to turn my life and wills over to the care of God. In order to fully let go and let God do what he needs to do in my life, I must trust Him to take care of me. That can be hard for someone who has difficulty with trust. Through God’s Word, I find time and time again that His words are true.

  • I can trust he is sovereign – Psalm 47:2
  • I can trust he is my strength – Isaiah 49:5b
  • I can trust his love for me – Romans 5:8
  • I can trust my past is forgiven – 1 John 1:9

There are many more truths found in the one and only book that has endured thousands of years. There is proof that lies within the pages of the Bible that God can be trusted. I have made my decision to turn my life and wills over to the care of God, because I trust Him. My life is no longer my own, it belongs to God. As Romans 12:1 says,

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

Learning to trust God is something that has come to me over time. Time with Jesus every day has helped me turn over my past, controlling behavior, faults, and habits over to the One I trust. I let it all go and now let God do His work in me.

Think About It:
Do you find it difficult to trust God? Why?
How have you been wronged in the past?
Can you begin today to let it go and let God do the work in you?
Read Romans 10:9, Proverbs 3:5-6, and Acts 3:19.

Journal About it:
Write about how the questions and scriptures today resonated with you. As you write, thank Him for showing you the way in your journey.

Pray About it:
As you think and write, say this prayer with me.

Father God,
Thank you for your sovereignty. Thank you for loving me despite my past. I turn my life and will over to You today, Jesus. I ask you forgive me for the sins of my past and present. I trust you will work in my life and guide me along my journey to healing.
In Jesus’ Precious Name,
Amen

Talk About it:
This is my story, what’s yours? I would love to hear from you! I enjoy connecting and keeping in touch. Do you feel as though you don’t have anyone you can share with confidentially? Your anonymity is protected. Do you feel you are the only one struggling with the aftereffects of growing up with an alcoholic parent? Sweet sister, YOU are not alone! It’s time to break free from the shackles of your controlling habits, trust issues, co-dependency, guilt, self-blame, hurts, regrets, and heartaches!