Trust

While we are still in the first month of a New Year, I would like to call to our minds the necessity of trust. Whatever may happen in 2016, we do well if we trust the Lord through everything. One might wisely say that the best, most beneficial and biblically correct mindset to cultivate in regards to the future is trust in God: no matter what, trust Him.

Let me begin with a question: Do you know what trust means, or do you only think you know? With such an important word, especially one that is so good for us and commanded by the Lord, we should know as accurately and completely as we can. Consider this entry a brief but accurate word study of trust. Our English dictionaries are limited in their ability to define many biblical words but most always very good in approximating these definitions. This is the case with trust: trust is assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.

Although this writing will center on the New Testament theology, it should be noted, that trust is essentially an Old Testament word. There are two main Hebrew words that are translated “trust” in the O.T.

The first and most widely used [97 times] Hebrew word is אָמַן (ah-mahn). This word, primarily translated “believe” and “faithful,” emphasizes the firmness that is involved in trusting God (cf. (Gen 15:6; Ex 4:1; Num 14:11; Deut 7:9; 1 Kings 10:7; Job 9:6; Psalm 78:8, 22, 37: Prov 11:15; Jer 40:14). אָמַן points directly to the trustworthiness of God. When we trust God, we are placing out confidence in One who is irrevocably dependable.

NAS  2 Chronicles 20:20 And they rose early in the morning and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa; and when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, put your trust in the LORD your God, and you will be established. Put your trust in His prophets and succeed.”

An added word is called for here. When we study the Bible, and the O.T. in particular, we must keep in mind that we are really taking a trip back in time to another culture. In the ancient Middle Eastern world instability was the common reality. Aside from cruel rulers and continual danger of attacks, this fact was underscored perhaps especially through the weather, which was regularly life- threatening. High winds, massive sandstorms, and turbulent seas all emphasized just how unstable and untrustworthy was human existence. To a great extent, trust comes about through being convinced God is trustworthy. No higher description for God could be conceived by the ancient than firmness, stability. Consider 2 Samuel 22:2:

NAS  2 Samuel 22:2 And he said, “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;

The second Hebrew word [42 times] for trust is בָטַח (bah-tahk). While this word has numerous connotations, it may be seen to emphasize the confidence and security that results in trusting God. It is often translated “safety” (Lev 25:18; 26:5; Deut 12:10; Psalm 4:8; Isaiah 14:30).

NAS  Psalm 115:11 You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield.

There is a third word that figures in importantly in the study of trust; it is פֶּשַע (peh-sha). This word translates the breaking of trust or rebellion. It is used 93 times (cf. Ex 23:21; 34:7; Lev 16:16, 21; Num 14:18; Job 34:37; Psalm 19:13; 25:7; 32:1; 65:3; 103:17; Isaiah 58:1). Exodus 22:9 is a good example of פֶּשַע:

NAS Exodus 22:9 “For every breach of trust, whether it is for ox, for donkey, for sheep, for clothing, or for any lost thing about which one says, ‘This is it,’ the case of both parties shall come before the judges; he whom the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor.

פֶּשַע is noteworthy in our study of trust for it offers a perspective not normally considered. It should, I believe, be a sobering thought for all of us to recognize that at least implicitly, when we are not trusting God we are in rebellion to Him.

Now to the N.T. My students at the seminary are usually surprised to learn that the English words, “trust,” “faith,” and “believe,” all come from the same Greek word, πιστεύω (pis-teu-o). While πιστεύω overwhelmingly is translated “believe,” it must be recognized that in many of the 241 times the word is used, “have faith” or “trust” could be used acceptably instead. Take for example John 14:1:

NAS  John 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.

“Trust” or “have faith” could legitimately replace “believe” without changing the meaning of the verse.

One of the dimensions of meaning of the word πιστεύω is particularly significant, I believe, when it notes, “to trust Jesus or God as able to aid.” That is the bottom line: trust in God is in great part is believing God is willing and able to help.

When “trust” is studied thoroughly from Scripture it may be seen that there is a strong element of persuasion involved in its biblical meaning. When you trust, you are persuaded that something or someone is trustworthy. Although the Greek word may be translated trust, another Greek word, the word πείθω (pie-though [used 52 times]), is the word used in the four N.T. verses” 2 Cor 1:9; 13:6; Phil 2:24; Heb 2:13. The definition of πείθω emphasizes persuasion, that is, being convinced of something primarily through words. An English definition of persuade means to move by argument, entreaty, or expostulation to a belief, position, or course of action. When we are persuaded, we have gained confidence in someone or something.

During the years I had the privilege of being a chaplain at Alvarado Hospital, I became struck by what I can only say was the widespread absence or secondary importance of trust among the many patients I visited. Obviously, it is unwise to judge hospital patients too quickly or completely. Many emotional factors come into play in the formulation of responses of patients, and then there is the fact many are heavily medicated. Nevertheless, visiting about 50 patients every week for 7 years gave me, I believe, a reliable impression. In countless conversations with patients about God and their relationship to Him, I could not help but be both stunned and moved by the infrequency of words about trust.

Recognizing the danger of generalization, and not at all wanting to give that impression of lack of compassion, I must report that I rarely heard anyone say when asked about perspective that he or she was relying upon the Lord. Certainly, there were wonderful exceptions, but they were few and far between. Hospitals can, of course, be depressing places, and one could argue that this is, therefore, understandable. But it could also be argued that it is precisely in such gloomy environments that one might expect to find numerous declarations of trust, especially from those who profess to be Christians.

After praying about the negative situation for many months, I was prompted to attempt to do something about it. I wrote the following homily, printed it out, laminated it and either personally gave it to every patient who would receive it or left it on his or her bedside if asleep or out of the room. I include it in this writing as a reminder to us all to put our trust completely in the Lord today and in the New Year:

LORD, I TRUST YOU WITH TODAY – Lord, I give this day to You. I want to live today not for me but for You. Lord, take this day and all that I encounter, all the situations and circumstances; all the people, places, and things; all the interruptions, aggravations, urgencies and disappointments; and use them all, and all of me, for Your glory. Lord, this day is for You with thanksgiving. I recognize my life as a gift from You, and that I was saved by grace for the purpose of glorifying You with the life You have given me. I know that nothing in the life of the believer happens by accident, that there are no coincidences when I am walking with the One who rules over the affairs of men.

When I am walking with You, Lord, I know I can be in no place I am not meant to be. When I have offered myself up to You, You have the right to do with me as You please. All that I own, including my health, prosperity, and freedom belong to You and You have the right to use those possessions in any way You see fit. It is comforting to know that all things work together for good even when I do not understand Your ways. Lord, You are an awesome God; You are all-powerful and all-knowing, sovereignly in control of all things and all situations. Yes, Lord, I trust You with everything I have and everything I am or will ever be. You alone know what is best for me and accordingly I fall at Your feet in worshipful surrender, resting in Your strength and in Your benevolence to me, humbly ready to be used by You in any situation You choose. It is my deepest privilege to be at Your disposal, to be used in ways I do not fully understand and may never know this side of eternity.

Thank You, Lord, for loving me and being compassionately concerned about my situation today. I will wait patiently for Your help in this trial; You, and You alone, O God, are my refuge and my strength. Lord, I trust You with today.

 Our trust in God is evidence of relationship to Him.

I think it is obvious from this entire study that trust is a major biblical word. The sheer number of occurrences alone supports this. Based on this importance, I would like to leave you with this thought: trust is an all-or-nothing issue. When everything about our relationship with God is considered, it may be said that we either trust God or we do not. Based on Hebrews 11:6 and many other verses that make the same point, I believe it is biblically correct to say that without trust we cannot please God.

NAS Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

The Greek word for “faith” in this verse is πίστις (pis-tis), the noun form of the verb πιστεύω (pis- teu-o), discussed above. It would be acceptable to insert “trust” for “faith”: “Without trust it is impossible to please Him.” “He who has ears, let him hear” in the New Year.

One more thing. I find it all but impossible to end this study on trust without mentioning the following. Most Christians have probably heard this story before, but even if you know it by heart I think you’ll agree the point is well-worth reconsidering. Of all the excellent illustrations of trust, this arguably is the best. You can get the full story on the internet but in short it goes like this: Charles Blondin became famous in the late 19th century for tightrope walking across Niagara Falls. Twenty thousand people regularly attended his breathtaking shows, so popular was he at his peak. One day, after demonstrating that he could push a wheelbarrow loaded with cement across the falls on the high wire, Blondin asked the crowd if they believed he could accomplish the same feat with a person inside the wheelbarrow. Everyone roared an assent. Blondin then asked a single man in the crowd if he believed this. The man enthusiastically said he did. Blondin let a moment pass, purposely looking at the man. With a simplicity that was unnerving, asked the man, “Then will you get in?” The man declined. Trust is getting in the wheelbarrow. All or nothing at all.

If we can trust God with our eternal salvation, surely we can trust Him for 2016, no matter what the year may bring. It begins with today. “Lord, I trust You with today.”

– Professor Thomas A. Rohm