In his popular play All’s Well that Ends Well, William Shakespeare said, “Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.” This quote could introduce a number of discussions, but today I want to focus on trust. The Miriam Webster Dictionary has several definitions of trust. For this discussion, I’ll focus on the first, which is “assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.”
Think about this question for a minute and then try to answer. Who can you trust? I’ll bet you didn’t come up with a long list of people. The fact is that most of the people reading this blog aren’t very trusting. According to polls of American voters, trust in the U.S. Congress is running at near all-time lows, as is trust in many state and local governments.
Much of this distrust is fueled by the pending insolvency of many so-called “trust funds,” like the Social Security “lock box,” which apparently isn’t locked tight enough to keep the Congress from raiding it and depleting the funds. Then there are numerous similar lock boxes at the state and local levels established to fund the retirements of teachers, firefighters and police. It seems that politicians have raided many of these as well, causing some states and municipalities to renege on their retirement promises to employees.
Trust in amorous relationships is on the rocks. Social media is awash in “cheater” stories and videos. Videos about catching cheaters in the act have become a popular form of entertainment. Websites with advice on how to cheat on your significant other without getting caught abound.
You certainly can’t trust a lot information on the Internet. Internet sexual predators take on false identities to try to lure children into sexual encounters. Internet news sites (and news outlets in general) are awash in so-called “fake news.” Comparing the story lines of Fox News (right-leaning) and CNN (left-leaning), for instance, gives two very different views of reality.
You can’t trust advertising, especially when it comes to products like weight loss supplements, miracle cures, and get rich quick schemes. Environmental news is questionable—global warming advocates and so-called global warming deniers are locked in seemingly mortal combat. Do you have a financial adviser or auto mechanic you fully trust? Do you have complete faith in your physician or dentist? Do you trust the attendants in the nursing home that’s caring for your parent? Do you trust the weather forecaster on your TV? Do you even trust the clergyman in the pulpit?
So amidst all this distrust in the world, who can you trust? The great entertainer Lawrence Welk, who was better known for Polkas than proverbs, might have said it best when he advised, “Never trust anyone completely but God. Love people, but put your full trust only in God.” Scripture is full of similar advice (references are taken from the NIV):
Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Micah 7:5-6, Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend. Even with the woman who lies in your embrace guard the words of your lips. For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies are the members of his own household.
1 Peter 2:6, For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
There are many other examples of scripture that speak to trust. The best advice I can provide is to trust in God alone. Your friends and loved ones will inevitably let you down, but God will never fail you. You can trust me on this!
Check out this short video – How to trust God. https://youtu.be/OVDaq-drUh0
Divine Simplicity 
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