Trusting in Love

"It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in men." Psalm 118:8

I've been thinking about love and trust lately. The two go hand in hand. It is very hard to trust someone if we doubt their love for us. When we know we are loved by someone, we trust that person is going to be looking out for our best interest because of that love. If love was not there, we wouldn't trust because when love is lacking, self-interest reigns supreme.

Think of buying a used car. Who's going to give you a better deal on a reliable vehicle, a used car salesman or your parents who are wanting to sell their old car? Obviously in most cases the better deal would be offered to you by your parents. Why? Because they love you and are wanting good things for you.

As much as our parents, spouses, and friends may love us, we can't place entire confidence in them in that they will never act selfishly, hurtfully, or always put our best interest first because they are fallible beings. They can't place their confidence in us either. As much as we love, fleshly self interest in mingled in with that love and can't be rooted out completely until we see Jesus face to face and are made like Him. On this earth, our love will always be tainted with selfishness.

But in the Lord God we can have absolute confidence and trust. He loves us perfectly, there is no guile or self interest mixed in with His love.God's love for us is perfect, as is everything else about Him, and perfect love, you see, casts out all fear (1 John 4:18).

How does this work? When we fully comprehend how much God loves us we are free to trust Him. His love is perfect, always selfless, always seeking out what is best for us.

" 'I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'Plans for good and not evil, to give you a future and a hope.' " Jeremiah 29:11

He never makes mistakes and only plans for our good.

"We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

That doesn't mean that the Lord makes life a bed of roses for us. Bad things will still happen. Hard times will come. We won't always understand the hows and whys of what is going on, but we can trust, knowing that the Lord loves us and is planning something good.