It’s not that I don’t trust you. I don’t trust everyone else.

Whether or not you’ve used this exact expression, you’ve likely through it. Someone you care about is getting ready to do something, and you feel the need to share all kinds of “reminders” of the various advice you’ve given in the past. It’s not that there’s anything specific that makes you question she’ll remember your advice from the past. It’s just that she’s going to be in new or questionable situations, and you want her to be armed with as much armor as possible. It’s not that you don’t trust the person you care about – you just don’t trust everyone else.

Now let’s turn the tables. Think about times you’ve exclaimed, “Don’t you trust me?” I’m grasping at straws here, but I’d ventured to guess that if you’re honest with yourself, the majority of the times you’ve said that you either (1) had done something in the past and you’re trying to rebuild trust and aren’t satisfied with how quickly it’s being rebuilt, or (2) know that you shouldn’t be trusted even if the person actually trusts you…and even if you’re convincing yourself you should be trusted.

In what areas are you trustworthy?

In what situation(s) haven’t you been trustworthy?

How are you determining trustworthiness? Doing what you’d say you’d do? Dig a little deeper. What about your thoughts? Can you trust your own thoughts?

Trustworthiness isn’t just about others trusting you. It’s about you trusting yourself. Be careful. Sure, you want to be trustworthy, but if you don’t see any chinks in your own trustworthiness, you’re likely in danger of (1) not revealing some areas of your life that need exposing, or (2) relying on yourself and your standards more the God and his.

Not one of us if fully trustworthy. We’re human. But God is trustworthy. And when we fully trust him, including trusting him with our self, yielding to him as we grow toward him, we’ll reflect his trustworthiness.

Consider how fully you trust God as you read the following verses. Allow him to expose areas in your life in which you need to experience his trustworthiness, leading to your own trust and maturity.

Lord, I trust you. I have said, “You are my God.” Psalm 31:14

Wait and trust the Lord. Don’t be upset when others get rich or when someone else’s plans succeed. Psalm 37:7

I trust you, Lord. You will answer, my Lord and God. Psalm 38:15

I trust in God. I will not be afraid. What can people do to me? Psalm 56:11

People, trust God all the time. Tell him all your problems, because God is our protection. Psalm 62:8

Lord God All-Powerful, who is like you? Lord, you are powerful and completely trustworthy. Psalm 89:8