Trust is lost when we lose faith in ourselves, God

Trust is hard to gain and easy to lose.

Most of us realize and understand that. Why is it, then, that others lose trust in us?

If we understand how vital trust is, if we know what it takes to build and to lose trust, why is trust ever lost? Did we just forget? Did for one moment we lose the sense of the reality we live in and the people we want to share our lives with?

Most of the time when others lose trust in us it is because we have stopped believing.

In a cave one evening Gideon was overtaken by his doubts. They took over any belief in God that he had. He had been confirmed by God to be the one who would lead the people in an amazing battle for their freedom from oppressive and comprehensive raiders. Gideon blew a horn and sent out messengers to issue out a call to battle.

And men came. They came by the thousands gathering together waiting for the moment to taste the sweet flavors of freedom.

Expectations, energy and enthusiasm were high.

So was fear, especially in the life of Gideon.

Gideon tested God and he answered.

"God, if I throw out this woolen fleece and in the morning if it is wet and the ground dry, then I'll know you've called me to do this."

In the morning the fleece was wet but Gideon's faith was dry. So he tested a second time.

"God, this time if the fleece is dry and the ground is wet, then I will know for sure."

And it was.

Gideon's actions are not prescriptive of how to discover God's will for your life.

However, they are descriptive of someone who is desperately trying to get out of doing the will of God that was so clearly revealed. Out of fear and doubt Gideon stopped believing.

He stopped believing that God would do what he said he would do. When Gideon, even for a brief moment, stopped believing in God he stopped believing in what God called him to do.

The reason people lose trust in us is that we stop believing we are trustworthy.

We forget that every action we take and every action we don't take reflects all those of people.

Trust is lost when belief in God and in who he has called you to be is neglected.

Rob Hurtgen is a husband, father, minister and writer. Read more from him at www.robhurtgen.wordpress.com.