trust

We often hear the question, "How can I ever trust him/her again?" That question might be asked when one of our kids gets into trouble. It might be asked when someone betrays a confidence we have shared. It might be asked when relapse occurs in a recovering person. The person in relapse might even ask himself or herself, "How can I trust myself again?...I screw this up over and over.""
We concerned friends or counselors might give the advice that rebuilding trust is a very slow process done in small steps---whether that is with our kids, our friends , our spouse, or ourself.  We might make suggestions such as, "What is one small thing you can do or say today that would be evidence that you want to win that person's trust back?" We might utter such platitudes as "Actions speak louder than words."
And in our human relationships that is true. Actions do speak louder than words.
The great news is that in our relationship with God we don't have to ask how to earn back His trust. He never gives up His trust in us. He believes in us. He trusts we will use the gifts he has given us to do His work-whether that be as a parent, a friend, a spouse, a self. When we fail, He does not condemn us but remembers we are "dust"-frail, bumbling people that He claims as His own.

Do you believe you are God's own? Does that make a difference in your day today? How?
Blessings-Penny