Two Ways
“We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.” 1 Thessalonians 2:8
Insight
The only way we will ever share our lives, like Paul speaks about in his letter to the church in Thessalonica, is if trust is present in our relationships. Connection is exchanging life with one another as we trust enough to live safely within the care of our community. It is that challenging, relational topic of trust that we want to focus on today. Trust is required for us to experience life together and serves as the currency of our connections.
Connection is the beginning of trust, but the brokenness of this world causes us to hesitate to connect. Caring for others and being cared for in a community is risky. There's an inherent vulnerability in knowing someone else and, in turn, being known by them. Without trust, we resist availing ourselves to one another.
There are countless reasons why we struggle to trust. Past hurts make us reluctant to put ourselves out there in the future. Boundaries were disgraced, ulterior motives exposed, careless words spoken - and you don't want the possibility of that happening again. Or we assume judgment and condemnation - that if anyone knew the real "us," they'd head to the closest exit. So, instead, we settle for image management. Perhaps we might not feel worthy or valuable enough for love. Then there are those moments where we don't want anyone to peek behind the curtain, disturb our status quo, or be forced to address our issues. Whatever the explanation, we all wrestle with the tendency to let distrust win out in our relationships and shape our connections with those around us.
With that said, relationships go two ways - there is the need to trust others, to be authentic, transparent, and vulnerable. Yet, for a genuine connection to occur in our relationships, we must also be trustworthy in our words, actions, and motives. Sharing one's story and struggles, inviting an individual into your world, and availing yourself to another is a brave act. We honor this courage by handling the other person's heart with care, investing in the relationship, providing an attentive ear, and speaking the truth in love. When people think of us, we want them to encounter a safe space to hear the dangerous message of God's love, forgiveness, and redemption.
God has placed the responsibility of being His hands and heart to this world solely on the Body of Christ. Our mission to reach people and help them walk with God is a personal call God gives to each of us. Everywhere we go, and in every interaction we have, we carry with us the integrity of God's image and the influence of His love. Our character determines our relational impact and whether we steward our influence or squander it away. Let’s not take the implications of this lightly.
Reflection
What typically drives your trust issues? Where are you distancing yourself from others, and what fuels this separation?
Where do you find yourself wrestling with integrity, and how does this influence your connections with others?
Are any relationships damaged or disconnected due to broken trust on your part? What is one step you can take this week to repair this connection?
Prayer
Father God, May I not allow distrust to force me to do life alone. You wired me for connection - I need the support and care of others to become who You created me to be. Let me be courageous in availing myself to others while simultaneously being someone who is a welcoming and safe refuge for others to process their faith, do life with, and be known. In Jesus' name. Amen.