The Value of Trust

Recently, I've had my trust in someone compromised. In a serious, big way. I'm trying to muddle through the reality of what it means, while continute to love, and look for opportunities to rebuild what's been damaged.

Someone who is close to me, who knows the dark secrets of my heart, who knows the trials I've experienced, and who knows the tawdy, unhappy details of my testimony is planning to share this information with others. They did at least tell me they were planning to do this, and in what manner, and with whom. . .but still. I feel as though the value of my trust has been reduced to nothing. As though the trust I put into this person means LESS to them than their own freedom to share what they want to share, for whatever their reasons are.

So let's talk a bit about the value, or the worth of a person's trust. For some people, trust is easy. They've had little reason to NOT trust people. For others of us, it's a very complex, complicated process. One that requires tests, and stepping out on lots of faith. For me to trust you means that I give up the right to protect certain areas of my heart, and I allow myself to be vulnerable with you. The VALUE of that trust is not something to be made light of.

Now. . .I again enter the place of trying to understand WHY it is that the Lord requires me to trust, to be vulnerable, to be "real" with people. The experiences certainly suggest that while there are benefits to this practice, when that trust is betrayed it's an indicator that people really are inherently untrustworthy.

And so I begin . . .one foot in front of the other. . .to walk down a new path, trusting that God will heal these wounds, while creating new opportunities, safe ones, in which I can again learn to trust.