Misplaced Trust

    

     Have you ever placed your trust in someone or something only to find yourself empty handed or heartbroken? Perhaps the one you're putting your trust in is yourself, living with the anxiety and worry of being your own all in all...your own version of perfect? Has this endless striving left you exhausted and depleted? 

    If you read this and think, "That's MY story!" know that you are not alone. Most of us, at some point in time, put our trust, and consequently our hope, in the wrong place. So how in the world do we know where to put our trust? And how do we do that, so that we can have that peace and contentment for which we are so desperately longing? Is there really a place where...
There is no fear?
There is protection?
There is great reward?
The answer to all three is, "YES!" 

But there is only one place you can find it and it is NOT in...

~a dating relationship
~a friendship
~a perfect job
~good grades
~popularity
~how many twitter followers you have
~Facebook or Instagram "likes"
~the right college
~your bank account
~model-like looks
~trendy clothes 
~the stuff you have
~the car you drive
~your spouse
~religion 

None of these will ALWAYS satisfy you. Perhaps you may find temporary happiness, but eventually, no matter how great they may seem, you will be left disappointed, betrayed or even abandoned. 
That is because as good and beautiful as some of these things may seem, they were NEVER designed to fill the place in your heart or life that is only reserved for God.
A genuine, life-giving relationship with Him through faith in Christ is the ONLY place where our trust should be. 
That being said, why are so many of us, as believers, still struggling with the chains of worry, the fears of failure, discouragement and disappointment? 
Because faith is not a "one-time deal." It is not, "I believe in Christ for my eternal salvation, but I'm going to rely on other people, things or myself for my earthly happiness." That is where we truly miss out! Instead, it is a DAILY, sometimes moment by moment, SURRENDERING. When you CHOOSE to develop a closer relationship with Him, when you daily spend time with Him, through Scripture and prayer, worshipping Him and placing your heart in His hands...then and only then will you begin to grow in your love for Him, then you will know just how trustworthy He is! When your focus is His love you...you can't help but grow in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control(Galatians 5:16-26)! There is not one other thing that you can place your trust in that will ALWAYS grow you in these attributes... and who doesn't want and need more of these? 
    So, instead of looking to anything else to place your trust in and fill your heart, begin getting to know Him. Just like any relationship, it won't happen overnight, but with every step you take and the more you begin to turn to Him, you will know that having a deep, abiding relationship with the Creator of all things is the ONLY safe place to put your trust.