Teaching Trust

Trust is the key to relying on a person who has shown integrity, strength, ability, faithfulness, and other character qualities we ourselves need. It is confidence that the person will provide the things we need, whether it is physical, emotional, or spiritual. Trusting is not easy.

It is difficult to trust ourselves in some situations, let alone trust someone else. When we put our money in a bank, we need to trust that bank to keep our money safe. When we put our trust in another person, we trust them to do good, be for us not against us. When we put our trust in a person or church group to lead us spiritually, we need confidence that they are following the True God, The one True King of the universe who created this world and us. But oh so many times, we find it hard to just trust our own decisions in each of these areas, let alone trust another to have our best interests at the center of their hearts and minds..

As a parent how do we teach our child how to trust? I comes down to a basic of parenting. Following God, The Father's example of teaching trust we learn that to teach trust, we must be trustworthy. God speaks His word and it happens. He can be trusted to do what He says He will do. When we read His word we see over and over that He loves rebellious sinners enough to help them find His way of salvation. We know that when He says there will be judgement for sin, we can trust that it will come to pass because He sent judgement for the nations and for Israel when they sinned. So first of all, we must speak and act truthfully.

I have always believed that the first thing a child learns is to either trust or mistrust their parent. When a newborn cries and the parent ignores the cries, the newborn learns not to trust the people who can feed, clothe, and soothe what they cannot do for themselves. As the baby grows, there will be times when the action is slower to respond to cries, but still, the confidence in you for that child should not be broken. You will be there, you will meet their needs.

Soon it comes to the time when a balance of teaching independence and reliance on others becomes part of the trust. A child who is taught while beside someone they trust, will learn they can do for themselves in strength and safety. The learning cannot bring trust unless a watchful eye is providing guidance and protection.

Along the way trust between the child and parent grows both ways. Parents trust their children to follow their instructions carefully and children trust parents to release them to learn and grow strong.

Even now that I am a Grandmother, I depend on God totally for some things. But He has also taught me and strengthened me as I grew in that trust. God is a good Father. Trust in Him can grow stronger as years go by because He has proven that He knows when to speak and when to be silent! He still teaches me how to trust. I am still listening, growing. Every day I find myself crying out to Him. I need Him to do what only He can do in my life. #parenting #teachingtrust #trustingGod #learningtotrust