Trust

What do you think matters most in a relationship, other than love of course? Most people would agree, it’s trust. Trust is essential in any healthy relationship. If trust is missing, then the relationship breaks down. How healthy will a marriage be without trust? How strong will a parent/child relationship be without trust? How robust will a friendship be without trust? How committed will your relationship be to God without trust?

Last week we learned that God wants all your heart (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). He also knows that the way to capture your heart is to build trust. That is true in your home too! If you want to capture your family’s heart, then build trust.

In Deuteronomy 6:20-25, Moses recounted what God had done for his people so they would remember how much He loves them and how He has shown His love again and again. God is absolutely trustworthy! If they knew how trustworthy God is, following His commands would be a natural by-product of that trust.

God wants me to love Him completely and to trust Him fully!

Do you love God completely and trust Him fully? Do you believe that He is trustworthy…that He will never let you down? If you are having trouble obeying His commands, following His instruction, embracing His will for your life, it may be that you lack trust.

How do I build trust for the LORD in my life and in my home?

1) Commit to tell my children (and others) why the LORD can be fully trusted.

20 In the future, when your son asks you, “What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the Lord our God has commanded you?” 21 tell him:

Deuteronomy 6:20a

Parenting involves some pretty tough tasks! But no task is more important for a parent than being committed to help answer faith questions for our children. Moses wanted to make sure that the Israelites were prepared to answer faith questions… “tell them”! So what does it look like to commit to tell our children why God can be fully trusted?

• Believe that God can be fully trusted! Do you believe God can be fully trusted?

• Teach that God can be fully trusted! (1 Kings 8:56). Are you teaching your children that God can be fully trusted? Do you recount examples of His work in your life?

• Model that God can be fully trusted! Do your children see you fully trusting God? Do they see you taking steps of faith?

2) Recount for my children all that God has done!

Moses knew that for God to capture the hearts of the Israelites, they needed to recount how God had brought them through some very difficult times. The truth is that life is not always easy; but I don’t have to tell you that. We all go through dark seasons in life. Those seasons are teachable moments for us and for our children. It is imperative in those difficult seasons to remember that God will not let you down; He can be fully trusted! How do we know that? Recount what He has done in the past.

• God miraculously delivered His people when they were enslaved. (Deuteronomy 6:21-22; Exodus 7ff.). If God cared enough about His people to miraculously deliver them from captivity, and to part the Red Sea for their escape, won’t you believe and trust that God can and will deliver you from what ever is holding you captive?… an addiction, a failing marriage, financial ruin, a broken relationship, a broken heart, loneliness, grief, illness or sin?

• God loved His people even when they disobeyed Him. (Deuteronomy 6:23) God brought the Israelites out of Egypt just as He promised. They took the long route because of their disobedience. While the consequences for their disobedience were real, God never turned His back on them. His love has been and always will be consistent. He never stops loving and leading. (Psalm 103:17; Hebrews 8:12)

Will you model God’s consistent love, even when your children disobey. That doesn’t mean there are no consequences for disobedience… but our love should be the same as God’s love is for us… everlasting, consistent and unconditional. That builds trust.

• God led His people even when they didn’t want to follow. (Deut. 6:24-25). We know that the Israelites had a fickle relationship with God. There were times when they wanted to go their own way, chart their own course, follow their own desires. But God provided consistent, faithful direction, even when they complained.

There will be times as parents when our children might veer off track, chart the wrong course, go down the wrong path. Don’t give up! Help them learn from mistakes, navigate the consequences, and get on the path God has for them! If you are on the wrong path in life, God is ready to get you on track today.

Moses wanted the Israelites to know that there is a payoff in following God’s lead - in loving Him completely and trusting Him fully. 24 ….so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. 25 …that will be our righteousness.” Deuteronomy 6:24b-25b

This is the message we must remember for our lives and to teach our children. God wants the very best for us! He has our best interest at heart. God doesn’t want us to struggle or suffer. He wants us to prosper and to live life fully! To experience that, He needs our hearts… He wants us to love Him completely and to trust Him fully. Let’s make that a core value in our homes!

For much more, listen to Building a Healthy Home; Part 3 - Convey Godly Wisdom and Build Trust.