Trust Issues
Luke 22:54-62
Intro: Trust is a delicate gift. Every relationship must be built upon it. But there are those who are devious with this gift. This is why we are prone to hold back trust because of previous betrayals and disappointments. It is this gift that all of humanity sins. We have trust issues. We have trust issues with our neighbors, and we have trust issues with God. Throughout our lives we will wrestle with trust. Personally, as we grow older, even though we are wiser, aging populations are manipulated. From insurance companies to reverse mortgages, there is always someone who intends to take advantage of your trust. Perhaps it is because the world wants you to learn to play establish systems instead of doing what is right. Perhaps this is why we struggle with our identity, individually. We identify as such because we do not trust our created selves and the intention of the Creator. The Bible is a book of God’s intention and mankind’s taking issue and consistently wrestling against it. This is why we struggle with our God, we must face our trust issues, turning from skeptic to steadfast faith. From what is convenient and temporarily gratifying to denying oneself and devotedly following the Way of God.
Luke 22:54–62 (NIV): 54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”
57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.
58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”
“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.
59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”
60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Peter has some terrible trust issues. His statements and boldness do not match up with his actions. Whether is cutting off the ear of Malchus, promoting that he would not allow Jesus to die on a cross, or even reluctantly permitting Jesus to wash his feet, Peter had trust issues with Jesus.
What does this tell us about Peter? Well, trust issues arise when our confidence in someone or something is shaken by past experiences, broken promises, or an inherent sense of vulnerability. They manifest suspicion, self-protection, and reluctance to fully rely on others.
Psalm 118:8 tells us, “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans.” This is a verse that gently acknowledges the limitations of human trust. People, even well intentioned, are prone to fail. Only God remains UNFAILINGLY faithful.
Root Causes of Our Trust Issues:
· Pain from betrayal or abandonment
· Repeated disappointments
· Unresolved trauma or anxiety
· Lack of security or stability
Joseph was betrayed by his brothers. David was hunted by King Saul despite loyalty, and then there was Peter. Peter denies Jesus fearing for his life.
Abraham struggled with God’s timing so his trust in God wavered. This points towards our tendency to be impatient will undermine trust.
The Israelites, even after being liberated, struggled to believe that God would take care of them. Their journey mirrors our own, even when we see evidence of God’s care, fear blocks trust.
I love Thomas because he is an honest skeptic. He was a person who refused to believe what he was told until he could see it and touch it himself. Jesus doesn’t brow beat Thomas over his trust issues but invites him to simply trust him.
Steps Towards Healing Trust
1. Acknowledge Your Wounds
2. Seek God’s Truth over Lies
3. Build Trust Little by Little
4. Forgive and Release
5. Anchor Yourself in God’s Promises
Proverbs 14:15 warns that, “That the simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.” This means we must discern, be wise, and set boundaries.
· Trust is earned and nurtured over time.
· Every relationship must have healthy boundaries.
· Seek counsel and accountability when trust has been broken.
Even Jesus set boundaries- he withdrew to pray, chose his disciples selectively, and did not entrust himself to everyone (John 2:24-25).
Because we have so many trust issues, we need help. That is why the author of Hebrews tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus, “the author and perfector of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). In Him, we can trust even when everything else, even ourselves, is falling apart.