Trust

Has your trust ever been betrayed? Mine has. By multiple people at once. It's an awful feeling. At first it feels, well, shocking. Then along comes denial. (Surely it's just a misunderstanding and can be clarified, right? Surely it's not true!) Then there was grief-mixed with a little anger. (Even though it doesn't seem very positive, anger is a natural emotion that God has placed inside of us. It's when anger controls us that there's a big issue, I think. ) 

This betrayal of trust changed my life. When you've placed your trust in people and had full assurance of their honesty and transparency for twelve years of your life, found comfort, joy and security and a wonderful, extended 'family' through it, and then be told that...it was all a lie? That you were being deceived that whole time? It really was life changing--for me, anyway. 

It was life changing--but for the better. At first I didn't really see how it could come out good. My dad had to find a new job-praise the Lord he was able to get one pretty quickly. The remaining half of my friends had to move away, or I didn't get to see them on a regular basis anymore. There was tons of stress for awhile, and there still is some. All that while we were still trying to find a church family after having moved a year prior. 

But now I've been able to look back and see that God really has worked that situation out for good, as He promised in Romans 8:28, and that He really has shown that He is faithful who promised, as it says in Hebrews 10:23. 

Through this betrayal of trust God has taught me to be discerning.  He's taught me that we all have different roles in the Body of Christ which are supposed to be used to the best of our ability for the maturing and unification of the church (Ephesians 4).   I've had to learn how to move on in life. Almost my whole life had been wrapped around the people I trusted. But with that gone, I've had to grow in courage (Still a lesson not very well learned yet :) ) in order to make new friends.
  God has helped me to have more grace. He's teaching me about balance, forgiveness, love and perseverance.  

And mostly, He's taught me reliance on Him.  When I discovered that I had been deceived by people that I loved, trusted and respected for all my life minus 4 years (3 of which were the first years of my life and therefore I don't remember much from them), I felt like I couldn't trust anyone except my family, and God. And God. 
I can trust God. Why? Because things in this life are changing. They are unstable and don't bring lasting security. But God is not changing. He stays the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). So even though this world is constantly changing and never stable, God will always remain the same. Unwavering. That is why He can be our Refuge and our Strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). That is why He is our Rock, our Salvation, our Fortress and our High Tower (Psalm 62:2, Psalm 18:2). In Him we can find the stability and lasting security that can't be found in an ever-changing world.   

So, even though the world seems to be constantly changing and more and more people seeming to become untrustworthy, I pray you find peace, encouragement and hope in the stability and security of Christ. And remember that the battle is His.

"And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." -Romans 8:28

" Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for He is faithful who promised." -Hebrews 10:23

Blessings,

Julia <3

(Photos taken by my lovely, very photography-talented, sister. Please do not use without permission)