Community, Part 4

4. The Father and Son trusted each other. In Luke, when Jesus goes to pray before he is turned over to the officials, he says, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42) Jesus, the Son, trusted that the Father was in control. Jesus knew that what was about to come would be painful – more painful than we can ever imagine. But he also knew that being in the Father’s will was the only place he could be. Although this would lead him to his physical death, Jesus knew the plans of the Father and trusted that the purpose that both the Father and the Son shared could only be fulfilled in this way. As a community of believers, we must be able to trust each other. Trust is not something that comes overnight. Trust must be built. And once it is destroyed, it must be rebuilt. It is vital that a team trust each other. How can you communicate effectively and honestly without trust? How can you work toward the same purpose and goal if you don’t trust your teammates to do their part of a job? And if no trust exists, who can believe the words of even the most encouraging person? I didn’t realize this until recently, but I have major trust issues. I have heard so many encouraging words over the last several weeks here at boot camp. But I have difficulty believing any of them. “These people don’t know me,” I think. “How could they possibly love me?” But I’m going to have to decide to trust my teammates. The only way people can prove their trustworthiness to me is if I initially give them some trust to build on. I believe that these people are trustworthy, and I believe that they are genuinely good people. I just need to find the balance between trusting them and entrusting myself to them. My self-worth and value cannot be based on any human. Of that I am sure. But I will not survive these five months (or any length of time on the mission field) , and no Christian will survive difficult circumstances without trust in my fellow man. Of that I am just as sure.