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real light living

a simple truth that can transform any relationship

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Don’t place your trust solely in him. Or her. Or them. Because they — like you and me — are mere humans. And do you know what humans do? We fail.

 

People will fail.

 

I read Jesus’ words last week and they struck a deep chord. He had just started His earthly ministry, performing signs and wonders. And after seeing the miracles, people believed in Him.

“But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.” John 2:24-25

Do you hear what He’s saying? Yes, people put their trust in Him. I mean, He was turning water into top-shelf wine. But He didn’t put His trust in people. Why? Because He “knew all people…(and) knew what was in man.”

Never in the Bible does it say to put our trust in people. Never. Love people, yes. Forgive people, continually. Pray for people, always. But trust? Never. And it’s because people are people. We’re weak and selfish and prone to wander.

When we place our trust in people — depending on them to give us life and hope — we’ll inevitably fall to disappointment. That’s why Jesus didn’t put His trust in man. Not even His most beloved disciples. He put His trust solely in the Father.

His eyes were dead set on the will of the Father. His gaze was continually pointed to the Father. He didn’t look at humans in search of fulfillment with cheesy phrases like “you. complete. me.” No. Because He knew what was in man. And woman.

Personally, I put my hope and trust in men — eventually my husband –in search of security and meaningful love for far too long. And though God gifts us with earthly, blessed, necessary relationships, people can never completely fill us. People will fail us. Just like we’ll fail them.

So when it comes to trust, we’re supposed to put it in one place and one place alone. We put our trust in God.

 

Thus says the Lord:
“Cursed is the man who trusts in man
and makes flesh his strength,
whose heart turns away from the Lord.
He is like a shrub in the desert,
and shall not see any good come.
He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness,
in an uninhabited salt land.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.
Jeremiah 17:5-8

 

God is the forever faithful One. He’s the One who sees the beginning from the end and knows how to make every detail work out for the good of those who love Him. He’s the One who never ever leaves or forsakes His children. He alone is always trustworthy.

And here’s the beauty. When we put our trust in Him, rather than the people or circumstances in our physical world, it frees us to love others without expectation. It frees us to forgive and bless. Because we’re not depending on people to be our Source of life. We’re depending on the life-giver. And that, my friend, is true freedom.

 
How have you seen that passage from Jeremiah above play out in your own life? (i.e., trusting in things or people vs. trusting in God regardless)

Comments

  1. There is painful truth in this. I am sometimes guilty of not only putting my trust in humans, but in making them my idols. Thank you, Lara, for the reminder to put our trust in the only one who deserves it!

    • Yes. Idols. We definitely have to guard our hearts, especially from cynacism. But it really is freedom when we rest in the faithfulness of God. When we trust fully in Him and remember the grace we’re under, it frees us to give grace to others. To love lavishly. And to stand ready to forgive. Blessings sister.

  2. Thank you for the reminder Lara, this is very timely for me. My initial reaction was that it was such a sad reflection on the human condition, but I love your “here’s the beauty” conclusion. True freedom and true peace come from Him.

    • I know what you mean, Heidi. Bottom line, we’re all needy and in process. It’s freedom because we can give people space to be transformed. We can give people grace because we remember how much grace covers us. Blessings, sister.

    • Thanks, Debby. I’ve been praying over this post today because the enemy can twist it to strangle us with a cynical spirit. And that’s not what The Lord has. But trusting Him to be faithful, even when others fail us, is a beautiful thing. It’s freedom talk. Love to you, sister.

    • Thanks, Kristin. I said in another comment, I’ve been praying that the enemy doesn’t twist this beautiful, freedom message. It truly is a “powerful key to living and loving well.” Blessings, friend.

  6. I appreciate your timely post as I’m struggling with this whole idea right now. I agree with everything you said. I think the hardest part is knowing what that looks like in my life. What does a relationship without expectations look like? I don’t know how to live in relationship with people without trust (especially when you’ve been deeply betrayed). Maybe “trust” needs to be defined?

    Christy @ A Heartening Life
    http://www.ahearteninglife.com

    • Oh girl. I know what it’s like to be betrayed. Personally, my husband and I have walked a difficult, dark road. “Trust” absolutely makes relationships much more intimate. And is an important aspect of deep fellowship with others. But “entrusting” ourselves to others — depending on them for our life and hope and peace — is what leaves us on shaky ground. I think Jesus’ example shows us that we need to depend ultimately on the Father for our peace and life. Because people will fail. We will fail. Releasing others from the pressure of being our source of life, frees us and them. Love and grace given from the overflow.

      • Yes, the difference between trust and entrust. That makes a lot of sense to me. And that is the place the Lord is showing me, that when I start to depend on people (husband, friends, myself) I’m not depending solely on Him. And that is where the problem lies. I wonder if, as a sinful human, we can live entirely without expectations? I’m still trying to figure that one out. I guess the releasing others part is a process. The freedom that seems to come with that sounds wonderful!

        Christy @ A Heartening Life
        http://www.ahearteninglife.com

  7. I knew you’d bring a good strong word of Truth today, and friend, you did not disappoint. This line? God is the forever faithful One. Goodness I could read that all day, every day, and order it on a coffee mug.

  8. It took a long hard road and much pain for me to realize this — where to put my hope. And when we do, it is so much easier to love and offer grace. Man will always fail us but God never will.

  9. This was my life. When I was growing up it was my parents, but not in a healthy “they’re my parents” kind of way. It was in a way that elevated them and my whole goal was to please them. When I realized that wasn’t possible, I did a complete 180 and recklessness followed. I still do it with my husband, putting everything that I have into making him happy and wanting him to “complete” me. But just like me, he’s human. And I have the audacity to be upset with him after I’m disappointed. But God. Always. When I trust Him, the One who created and loves me, everything is different.

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