Trust Me On This

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9

Ask yourself this question: How can anyone be happy in a relationship without trust? Trust is the main ingredient for all healthy relationships. It is essential for intimacy in marriage.Trust creates security and openness in relationships and makes relationships work. I Corinthians 13:6-7 says, “It (love) does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”

Trust is critical in relationships. I Corinthians 4:2: “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” If you don’t have trust in a relationship it’s not going anywhere because relationships are fueled by the power of trust.

So how do you build trust? How do you build a relationship that answers the age old question: Are you there for me? Will you choose to tell me the truth? Luke 16:10, “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.” On Sunday, I talked about talking with honesty, respecting his or her needs, understanding their perspectives, starting small and taking time for a relationship to build trust. Let me add a few to that.   

Trust is built with transparency, keeping promises, doing what you said. In relationships, how we respond to each other in the day to day moments defines our ability to build trust. We must be responsive. But when we mess up, and we will, we need to own it. Respect the other person’s needs. Everyone deserves your respect because everyone is a unique creation of God. “Respect everyone, and love the family of believers…” (1 Peter 2:17) Finally, don’t dismiss the other person’s emotions. When we dismiss other’s emotions, we break trust. When you attempt to understand the emotion, listen and empathize. It builds trust.

Discussion Questions:

1. How do you define trust in relationships?
2. What in your mind is the key ingredient in developing trust in relationships?
3. What can we do the week to develop trust in our relationships?