"In God We Trust"

Post date: Aug 13, 2010 3:54:01 PM

It's an odd thing to see on money, but I like the reminder. Trust is a core issue in life, and, according to a psychologist of old (Eric Erickson), "Trust vs Mistrust" is one of the earliest stages of our development. The construct is a little black and white for me, as I believe our ability to trust is a matter of degree, but Trust remains a foundation of our existence. We have to trust: the alternative is to be riddled with anxiety and the compulsion to control things which are simply out of our control.

People have to trust, but in whom, or what, do they trust? Where do they lay the foundation for their lives? Where do you lay your foundation? Most often, I hear people talking about how they can or can't trust this or that person. Other people seem to be common objects of our trust. But people are not always trust-worthy, and so our trust is broken, and then what do we do? Trust in ourselves? Trust is a relational construct, so trusting in myself is something of an oxymoron. I wonder if our difficulty trusting has more to do with where we place it than anything else. As often as we seem to assume that our trust is in others, there is no Scriptural reference to "trust thy neighbor". "Love thy neighbor," yes, but trust? Every time I see the word "trust" in scripture, "in God" seems to follow it. It seems on that count, our money has it right.

I do believe trust is essential in relationships, for them to work smoothly, but I don't think it's the same sort of trust. Trust in relationships with others seems to be more of an extension of credit, or more succinctly, a risk. I risk in trusting a person - they may not handle it well. In trusting God, I take no risk, because God is completely trustworthy. It may feel scary, but that has to do with my own transference: assuming God is like people. Trust in God isn't a risk, it's faith, it's being "certain of something I do not see." And one of the things we often don't see is what it feels like to depend on a trustworthy being - it feels peaceful.

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Mt 18:1-4.

Interesting thing about children: they trust implicitly. If their parents say it is so - it is so. It's a fact to them. That is the early form of faith, and that is the trust to which we must return to find true peace. To "humble myself", to let go of what I think I know, and to trust in God, implicitly like a child, to know He cares for me, holds me in His hand, and nothing can change that, is the doorway to the kingdom of heaven.

Think of that next time you look at your money.