Vulnerability and Trust

Trusting someone comes with a certain level of vulnerability. To trust means we rely on someone else to be responsible, to take care of something or someone we’ve placed in their care. It leaves us vulnerable to be disappointed if that person doesn’t prove reliable.

The more we get let down, the more hesitant we are to trust again, and that spills over into other relationships.

I wonder if this is why we find it difficult to trust God. Having been burned by others, how do we know God is reliable?

Trusting God means we leave our lives in His hands. We trust Him with those we love and situations we go through. We trust that He will guide us to the path He wants us on. Trusting God means we believe He knows what’s best for us.

So, how do we know God is reliable?

We have the advantage of having it all written down in His Word. God’s promises made and kept, with the greatest being His very own Son. The promise of a Savior made (Isaiah 7:14). The promise of a Savior kept—Jesus!

We know God is reliable, and He will not let us down.

That’s not to say, however, that life will always go the way we hope for. In this life, we will experience pain, hurt, and sorrow. We see things from our perspective, but God sees the entire picture. We can work against God, fighting to do things our own way. Or we can decide to trust Him no matter what, and accept that God knows better than we do.

What He allows in our life may or may not be what we wanted, or happen the way we expected, but He promises to walk along side us and He will work everything for the good of those who love Him. (Romans 8:28) Even when we can’t see it yet or understand it, God’s plans are better than what we can dream up.

Therefore, trusting God does not leave us vulnerable in the negative way we think of. Trusting God allows us to be vulnerable in an open and accepting way, ready to experience all God has planned for us.

Choosing to focus on ourselves and our own desires leaves us susceptible to being hurt and disappointed. Whereas, looking to God before ourselves and placing our trust in Him leaves us open and able to learn from, and to receive, what God desires for us.

In Christ,

16 comments:

  1. So good my friend. I am learning to trust God with the outcome, even though all I can see is cloudy, dark and dreary at times. He is faithful!

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    1. Thanks Barbie! I'm right there with you learning to trust even through the storms. What a comfort to know He won't leave me on my own, and He's refining me in the process.

      Glad to have you visit, as always!
      In Christ,
      Laura

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  2. Joining you in trusting God Laura...

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  3. Hi Laura - I love this post. So practical and so relevant. Someone once let me down badly and I asked God why, because I had trusted that person! God said, "because I trusted them and not Him" I was to trust Him with them and trust Him with whatever. He is, at the end of the day, the ONLY One we can fully trust. Great post
    God bless and have a great weekend!
    Tracy

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    1. Thanks Tracy! I'm learning that trusting God and trusting people don't go hand-in-hand. I can trust God with a situation, even when I don't know if I can trust the person involved.

      God bless!
      Laura

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  4. Trust is very hard especially when trust has been a life long issue.
    I think it is a core issue for many of us especially if we have any trauma history.
    Trust...
    and vulnerability is really hard, it is like sharing what is most precious and not knowing if it will be valued.

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    1. Trust...it doesn't take long to lose it, but takes a long time to regain it. Thanks for your comment!

      In Christ,
      Laura

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  5. Trusting Him through hurt and susceptibility. Thanks so much.

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  6. it used to be so hard for me to trust...even to trust God. Somehow though His amazing love helped me to let go and trust his gentleness. Thanks for the post Laura. It's right on.

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    1. Sarah(Nikki), thanks so much for your visit and comment. How wonderful is our God that He will wait patiently while we learn to trust Him!!

      Blessings,
      Laura

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  7. What beautiful thoughts, Laura. It's so true. Even if there is not one person in this life we feel like we can trust completely, we know we have God and He never fails. He doesn't always give us everything we want but He gives us everything we need.
    Thank you for sharing on Spiritual Sundays.
    Blessings,
    Charlotte

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  8. I trust in God's reliability. Friends can let us down. Family, too. But God never! Such an encouraging post for a Monday morning!

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  9. Hi Laura! I clicked over from oneword365, because the word I'm looking at this year is trust too! Great post on vulnerability and trust. I was encouraged by what you shared.

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