RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST

 RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST

RELATIONSHIPS

As I get older, I realize how much I value the connections with family and friends. It’s like there’s a pull inside me that naturally leads me to them. Maybe it’s because relationships tend to last longer than things, status, or how much money you have. But the most meaningful relationships are those built on trust.

When I think of the Disciples and early Christians who bravely faced the toughest challenges, I think of their deep, abiding relationships. Their relationships gave them strength, peace they wouldn’t have had otherwise, and love that embraced them even when they were being persecuted for their faith.

We see this kind of thing often in our biblical history. For example:

Think about the Israelites when they faced the Red Sea, with “a wall to them on their right hand and on their left” (Exodus 14:22). Here, men, women, and children were faced with the choice to go, knowing that the walls of water might just come crashing down on them. But they went. Why? They trusted God, who trusted Moses.

Forty years later, the Hebrew people were faced with a similar situation as their parents 40 years before… the bank of the flooded Jordan River. Again, they crossed in danger of their lives, knowing that the flood waters could return at any moment to sweep them away (cf. Joshua 4:18). No wonder “the people passed over in haste” (v. 10).

God also called Abraham to leave his family and homeland, “not knowing where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8).

And the Lord called Paul to leave where he had been to go to a place he had never been before (Acts 16:6–10).

As I see it, the most important thing is the relationship we have with God. Life can be tough, and I’ve been studying suffering, which most of us will experience. What I’ve found is that those who suffer with a deep trust in God find meaning and purpose within the pain, grief, and loss. They might not understand why they’re suffering, but they trust in the one who loves them.  

“Trust in the Lᴏʀᴅ with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5).

As Jesus said, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29). Accordingly, "we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Here are a few hymns that I love that express trust in God:

'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus (Louisa M.R. Stead): Explicitly focuses on taking Jesus at His word and resting upon His promises.

How Firm a Foundation (Traditional): A hymn highlighting God's word as a foundation, reminding believers to trust in His promise, "I will be with thee".

Standing on the Promises (Russell Kelso Carter): Emphasizes standing, shouting, and trusting in the "immortal," "failing not," and "sure" promises of God.

Wonderful Words of Life (P.P. Bliss): Focuses on the beauty and power of Scripture to teach faith and duty.

Thy Word is a Lamp unto My Feet (Amy Grant/Michael W. Smith - modern hymn style): Based on Psalm 119:105, expressing trust in God's word to guide one's path.

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (Martin Luther): Declares that one little word from God can defeat the forces of darkness.

Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me (CityAlight): A modern hymn focusing on trusting in God's word for strength

During my time with people in my ministry, hymns were often a topic of conversation. What struck me as truly amazing was that those who had trouble remembering things could still sing or play those hymns. My sister took me to a retirement home, where she saw a lady playing the piano. She introduced me to the lady and asked her to play.  She didn’t miss a single note of the hymns, though she had a lot of memory loss. Why the hymns? Because these hymns, her favorites, showed how deeply and strongly she felt her connection to God. She trusted God when she didn’t know who else to trust.

Let God be our deepest relationship based on our absolute and unequivocal trust. That is what Jesus did when He said on the cross, “Father, I entrust My spirit into Your Hands.” (Luke 23:46; NLT)

Grace and Peace, and Love

Quentin

Sharecropper’s Inheritance

Lent, 2026