In this series we are attempting to build on the foundations established in pop culture. Stories of love can be pointed back to God’s love, stories of brokenness can be pointed back to our brokenness due to sin, stories about heroes can be pointed back to Jesus, and today we will look at stories that promote trust.

Trust in Pop Culture

Think about some of your most trusted products, merchants, and organizations. All of these adhere to certain standards such as dependability, practical use, or reliability.  Their trustworthiness is what determines their notoriety in pop culture.

WHAT ARE YOUR STANDARDS FOR TRUST?

Trust is an essential part of the Christian story. A Christian’s trust binds the Spirit of God with the spirit of man. We have the privilege of revealing how trusting in Jesus change lives. 

TRUSTING IN JESUS IS MORE THAN A STANDARD; IT’S A LEAP OF FAITH

Trust in Scripture

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

The life of Jesus documented in Scriptures shares many stories of people either trusting or not trusting in Jesus’ words and actions. Trust is a difficult thing for anyone.  In the Gospels many stories reveal how the common, insignificant demonstrated great trust.  When Jesus healed the paralytic, the unclean women, and the Roman soldier pleaded for his servant to be healed exemplified what trust can do - transform death into life. There are also stories that demonstrate a great lack of trust.  One in particular seems significant.  The characters in this story would be the most likely to trust Jesus, but they didn’t.  It’s the story that depicts Jesus calming the storm. Mark 4:35 -41

TRUST CAN TRANSFORM DEATH INTO LIFE

³⁵ On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.”³⁶ And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. ³⁷ And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. ³⁸ But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” ³⁹ And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” ⁴¹ And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Even those closest to Jesus had a hard time trusting him. The Disciples needed to learn how to trust Jesus.  If they couldn’t trust him I wonder if they truly trusted anyone or anything? They knew what to say but didn’t know how to put it into practice.   

HOW DO YOU PUT TRUST INTO PRACTICE?

Trust in Practice

We are no different that the Disciples.  Trust is the single most important aspect of any relationship, yet one of the most neglected, broken parts of our lives. Here is an acronym that will help you learn to practice trust.

Testing – evaluate their integrity

Respect – appreciate their distinct abilities

Understand – accept their unique perspective

Sacrifice – put their needs first

Time – invest in shared experiences

Keep the Conversation Going:

Think
What makes it hard for me to trust?

Reflect
Who do you know that has a difficult time trusting others?  How can you help establish a trusting relationship with them?

Encourage Someone
Who do you know that exemplifies trust founded in Christ?  Find a way this week to let them know how much you appreciate their testimony of trust.