Defining trust and a brief overview of trust in the Bible
Trust. This is the word that God gave me for this year, 2022. I haven’t had a WOTY (Word Of The Year) before, so I am following the guidance of those who have done this before (Lisa Notes). It makes sense to start with the basics: define the word, see what the Bible has to say about trust, and then set out some steps to make this a focus point long term. I am eager to see how God intends to develop this trust over the year. I was thinking trust in him, but I read something the other day that even mentioned trusting others. This has got me a little leery of the year as well, I admit. Trust is usually built through challenges – which I am sure I relish except in the apparent promise that I will trust him more through those challenges.
I would say, to rely on and have firm belief in the character of a person to do as they say is my definition of trust. I think of it more as a verb, an action, rather than a thing.
Define trust
Merriam-Webster Dictionary offers the following three main definitions of trust: ‘assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something, one in which confidence is placed; … dependence on something future or contingent (hope); a property interest held by one person for the benefit of another.’ These are the noun definitions of the word, however there are also verb definitions. The verbs definitions of trust are to rely on the truthfulness or accuracy of, to place confidence in, or to hope or expect confidently.
Trust in the Bible
When we consider the word in trust in the Bible, we find it 193 times and the words translated as trust come from several different original language words (at least 20!). Strong’s Concordance offers us an opportunity to look at the variances in definition. 120 times the definition of batach(transliteration) or ‘to rely on the truthfulness or accuracy of’ is used. The word mibtach(transliteration) is used 15 times and Strong indicates that it is translated as ‘confidence, hope, sure, trust (as a refuge, security or assurance).’ It seems we have similar meaning to the Merriam-Webster above (thankfully – I wouldn’t have a clue how to approach it otherwise!). The main topics from the Bible about trust are about what not to put our trust in, who to put our trust in and what the benefits of trusting God are.
Do not trust in
We might guess what we shouldn’t put our trust in. Interestingly, the Bible mentions not trusting in weapons (Ps. 44:6), money (Ps. 49:6), works (Jer. 48:7), our own righteousness (Ez. 33:13). Money is certainly expected, though weapons not. I had not considered works or righteousness, but they too remind me how easy it is to trust in myself instead of God for salvation.
Psalm 44:6-7 I put no trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame.
Psalm 49:5-9 Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me— those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches? No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them— the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough— so that they should live on forever and not see decay.
Jeremiah 48:6-7 Flee! Run for your lives; become like a bush in the desert. Since you trust in your deeds and riches, you too will be taken captive, and Chemosh will go into exile, together with his priests and officials.
Ezekiel 33:13 If I tell a righteous person that they will surely live, but then they trust in their righteousness and do evil, none of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered; they will die for the evil they have done.
Trust in man is the one most often listed as a not. However, I find that would also leave us rather hard-hearted and alone if we never trust man. I believe there is a distinction between trust in man and trust in God, so confirming that, ‘It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes’ (Ps 118:9). I am sure we would agree it is better to trust in God than man. So how do we define that relationship between us? Is there no trust in the relationship between man and woman, among friends and within family? Micah 7:5 goes further, ‘Put no trust in a neighbor; have no confidence in a friend’ and includes family as those we cannot trust. Jeremiah 17:5 is also bold with ‘Cursed is the one who trust in man…’. Is this trust more about the difference of the level of trust? I know that man will hurt me, let me down eventually. As sinners in the fallen world, these people are not fully trustworthy. I am not fully trustworthy. We can trust them, but we can also expect to be let down, disappointed, hurt. But God is different. Trust God or trust man?
Psalm 118:8-9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.
Micah 7:5-6 Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend. Even with the woman who lies in your embrace guard the words of your lips. For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies are the members of his own household.
Jeremiah 17:5-8 This is what the Lord says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
Trust in God
God is fully trustworthy. He does not let us down; he never leaves us; he is good and just. I can trust God in anything and everything and he will not hurt me or disappoint me. This I believe in him and gives me the reason to choose trust in God when things are not going my way, when life is hard, when I am hurt. Psalm 146:3-4 give us three reasons to trust in God.
Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.
We find that God saves, he lives forever, and his plans always come to fruition. God saves from death, tears, stumbling, uncleanness, famine, and sin. God was in the beginning and will be always. He is eternal and forever by our side. And thirdly, God’s plans are always achieved, and they are good for you!
Psalm 116:8-9 For you, Lord, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living.
Ezekiel 36:29 I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine upon you.
Matthew 1:21 “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Isaiah 40:28-31 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Deuteronomy 31:8 “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Matthew 28:20b And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Isaiah 55:11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
I can trust in, rely on, and have full confidence in God, at all times and in all circumstances. He is trustworthy because of who he is. Though I trust in man, I know that he will fail and hurt me. God will never hurt me and never leave me. His plans are good and he will carry them through. Read more reasons to trust in God.
Trust for the year 2022
These verses already give me so much to consider as I take on trust for the year. To focus a bit rather than just roll around the Bible, I have decided to read at least six books written on trust and I’ll let you know how that goes: what I have learned and how they help in understanding and carrying out trust. I think I will also do a few word studies on the various original language words. I noticed one is translated ‘bold’ and I think that related to trust that is a word that should be looked at further. I’m looking forward to trust and pray for his company as I walk.
What is your word of 2022? What do you think of when you consider ‘trust’?
