Thursday, 28th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search

The importance of trust

By Rev. Fr. John Damian
17 February 2019   |   4:20 am
Most of the problems we are facing in our country and in the world today are lack of trust. People no longer trust themselves. Homes are broken due to lack of trust.

Trust is what happens when you throw a child up, the child keeps smiling knowing that you will surely catch him.

Most of the problems we are facing in our country and in the world today are lack of trust. People no longer trust themselves. Homes are broken due to lack of trust. People go to court to swear, even against their faith due to lack of trust. People build houses and cage themselves with security fences and agencies due to lack of trust. Families, clans and nations are fighting one another due to lack of trust. Most countries are building walls against immigrants due to lack of trust.

In the political arena, members of the opposition party are finding it very difficult to trust the ruling party. Christians no longer trust Muslim leaders. For them, the so-called cattle colony has more to do with Islamic colony than cattle. Muslim leaders themselves no longer trust the Christian leaders; hence the replacement of all the key positions with Muslims leaders. Even amongst the Christendom, the various denominations are finding it very difficult trusting themselves.

Members of the IPOB decided to boycott the general elections because they no longer trust Nigerian leaders. They are even agitating for referendum. They no longer feel comfortable with the name ‘Nigeria.’ The tension and conflicts we experienced during the just concluded Presidential election due to lack of trust. The suspension of the Chief Judge few weeks to election is a clear sign of lack of trust. The demonstration by the Bar Association and other groups across the world is an expression of lack of trust on the action of the government. Nigerians are finding it very difficult to elect younger leaders because of the fear of the unknown. They seem not to even trust the youths and the new political parties.

Trust is the most powerful and yet, the most fragile thing on earth. Trust is difficult to build but very easy to destroy. And once trust is destroyed, it cannot be restored. It is the essence of all relationship. Without trust, there will be no mutual or healthy relationship. We cannot do without trust. We need to trust and we need to be trusted. Trust is therefore reciprocal. The more we trust, the more we are trusted. Trust is the oil that lubricates all organisations. Trust is the foundation of divine relationship. Without trust, we cannot relate with God and even our fellow human beings.

Today’s first reading (from Jeremiah 17:5-8) presents trust as a refreshing and fruitful force. “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.” Child of God, as long as your trust is in the Lord God, you will never fade away. You will remain fruitful all the days of your life.

The book of Proverbs 3:5-6 declares, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” God will surely straighten your path. All the crooked paths in your life will be smoothen. Finally, Psalm 125:1-2 declares, “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people, from this time on and forevermore.” Child of God, as you continue to put your trust in the Lord, He will surely protect you. Your life will remain secured forever. And it shall be well with you in Jesus name – Amen!

In this article

0 Comments