So, here is the premise. My therapist, who is also LDS, has given me the homework of doing a scripture chain on trust. I talked about not knowing whether I was ready to move on to step 4 or not. She said that maybe I just don't understand what trust really is, so maybe a deeper understanding would help. So, in order to increase that understanding, I am to look up Trust in both the Index and the Topical Guide. I am also supposed to follow any foot notes. As I go through, I need to write down my thoughts and feelings. Sounds easy enough. Let's get to it.
Psalms 49:6 - They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
So this is speaking of men that trust in the arm of flesh. It goes on to speak of them being unable to redeem their brethren, their fellow men. Money can be good, if used correctly, but it does not bring ultimate peace or security. It can disappear so quickly and for a multiplicity of reasons. Thus, I am short-sighted if I am putting my trust in monetary things. It can bring some peace of mind, but peace of mind and trust are not the same. Trust is something deeper.
Psalms 52:7 - Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.
Here it seems to be equating strength and trust. Trust does give strength, because it increases our abilities. For example, if I were moving a piano and had three other guys helping, they lend strength to me, but I have to be able to trust them to hold up their portion of the weight. Otherwise, I am going to continue to fight to do more than my share. Also, in combat, if I do not trust my fellow soldiers, then I spend extra time trying to watch my own back, thus lessening my effectiveness and expending extra effort just to keep status quo. If I trust in God, he keeps me covered.
On the other hand, if I trust in something I shouldn't (riches in this case), I leave myself vulnerable, because I think my back is covered, when it really isn't. That is the danger I face by placing my trust in something that is not deserving of it. So, as I go forward, I need to ensure that I am placing my trust in something that is truly deserving (God), so that I am strengthened. If I place my trust in the wrong thing, not only am I not strengthened, but I am actually made weaker because of it.
Proverbs 11:28 - He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
Again, with the trusting in riches. So, a righteous man does not trust in his riches and so he flourishes.
Proverbs 31:11 - The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
This is talking of trusting in a wife, rather than in the Lord. I don't think it tells me much about trust though. Trust well placed leads to safety, which is where my wife is having such a hard time. My trust has been well placed. She has honored it, so I am a rich man. Now, I, on the other hand, have not honored her trust. I have broken it. Many times. No wonder she struggles with trusting me. This scripture is referencing a virtuous woman, who is worth so much. It is true. I would like to think that a virtuous man is as well, but I have been unable to prove it so far. Maybe as time goes by.
Isaiah 14:32 - What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation? That the Lord hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it.
The poor will trust in Zion. I think poor can reference those who are temporally poor, as well as those that are poor in spirit. The being poor in spirit is what causes them to trust in Zion.
Elder Richard G. Scott - The Lord is intent on your personal growth and development. That progress is accelerated when you willingly allow Him to lead you through every growth experience you encounter, whether initially it be to your individual liking or not. When you trust in the Lord, when you are willing to let your heart and your mind be centered in His will, when you ask to be led by the Spirit to do His will, you are assured of the greatest happiness along the way and the most fulfilling attainment from this mortal experience.
This stuck out as my wife and I studied in Healing Through Christ last night. If I trust in God, I will willingly allow Him to lead me. That is part of trust. I can let myself be vulnerable, because I know He will not take advantage of that. He will only do what is best for me, because He loves me. I get some pretty good promises for allowing Him to lead me. Now, I just have to be willing to do it.
Isaiah 42:17 - They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.
If I put my trust in other things, I will be ashamed. I don't want to be ashamed. Putting that trust in graven images can be all kinds of things: Internet Filters, Movie Ratings, Google Safe Search, other people, me. Those can be tools, but they cannot be what I put my trust in. If I expect them to save me in the end, I will be sorely disappointed and ultimately ashamed. I need to put my trust in the Lord. He needs to be my first line of defense, as well as my last. Prayer should be my first recourse when I am struggling and should be turned to continually thereafter. I just need to get that ingrained as my new habit.
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