You Believe, But Do You Trust?

I would like to share a story that I came across some days ago. 

A person started to walk on a rope tied between two tall towers several hundred feet above the ground. He walked slowly and carefully balancing himself with the help of a long stick in his hands. He had his son sitting on his shoulders.

Everyone below watched him anxiously. The man continued walking carefully on the rope and gradually reached the second tower. Everyone watching clapped, whistled, and hailed him. People shook hands and took selfies with him.

The man asked the audience, “Do you think that I can walk back on the same rope now from this side to that side”? The crowd shouted, “Yes, we believe you can; we are ready to bet on you”.

The rope walker said, “Okay, you believe in me, but do you trust that I can walk you over on my shoulders to the other side? Can anyone of you sit on my shoulders, and let me take you safely to the other side”?

Everyone became quiet. There was stunned silence.

Trust is different from belief. For trust to happen one needs to surrender totally. Belief is often cognitive, but trust is relational. One cannot trust the other without a deep and genuine relationship. 

The story offers some insights into our relationship with God. It is one thing to believe that God exists and is all good, but it is another to completely surrender to God, particularly in our moments of struggle, pain, and failure. When things go wrong in our lives, do we lose patience in God’s wisdom and God’s plan for our wellbeing? When we are crushed under failures and burdens of life, do we trust that our lives will be restored, perhaps for the better?

Trust impels us to keep our hopes high and efforts unceasing, especially in troubled times. It is not enough to believe in the existence of God, we need to trust that God will take care of my life — that I am safe in God's hands, no matter what. We can trust God that He will walk us over, however hard, painful, or complicated situations might be. 

Trust is the assurance that God will not drop us on the way. Are we willing to trust God?

 

John Baptist OFM Cap.

Clinical Counselor & Psychospiritual Resource Person

York, PA, USA