Trust Me!

Trust is a funny thing isn't it?

A few weeks ago Becky was having strong stomach pains so we did what any fearful expectant parent did, we went straight to the hospital. We waited for a doctor to see her for close to three hours and when he finally arrived, he was with us for a total of two minutes before he left again and informed us that he would make his return within one to two hours. Almost three hours later he returned to tell us everything was fine and that we could go home. The entire experience lasted for almost six hours, five to ten minutes actually with a doctor before we were on our way. Funny thing is, we both felt comforted after having gone to see him.

Although Becky had met this doctor over the past two pregnancies, I had not. I did not know him from any other man except for the fact that he wore a white coat and called himself doctor. Yet for some reason I have learned to trust certain strangers in the right context with my most valued possessions. Why is it we are able to trust perfect strangers everyday who deal with some of the most important facets of our lives, but we often struggle trusting those closest to us including God? I believe the short answer to this is because we have conditioned ourselves to do just that; trust those we are told to trust and wrestle with those we are told to distrust.

Since we were children, adults would tell us if we were in trouble to not speak to strangers, but to find a police officer who would help us. That officer would be no less of a stranger, but we trusted what our parents and teachers taught us. Trust a stranger, but don't trust God. Even if we are from a "good Christian home" we have been exposed to a solid distrust of God, although usually by accident. We watch our parents "solve" their own problems before going to prayer and from there the bleak reality that we cannot trust God is only enhanced. Our teachers tell us that we were created from cosmic goo or perhaps were descendants of the primate family. We are told that our existence was formed on chance+matter+time and that there is no purpose. We are told to distrust religious zealots and to put our faith in the science and philosophies of man and it would seem that on the whole, we bought it.

One of the greatest accusations against Christianity is that we promote blind faith. This is untrue and is also a very unhealthy thing to practice. our faith is far from blind, but it is because of what we have seen that we have faith at all. Faith is built on reason and logic, not emotional whims and gut feelings. It is based on the Word of God not the folly of man. For this reason I propose that yes we should, for the most part, trust flawed doctors with our health and welfare; but if we are able to trust a perfect stranger then why not put your trust in your creator. The One who knit you while you were still in your mothers womb. The One who knows how many hairs are on your head. When you are in need of help and no one on earth will be able to help you, trust the perfect physician.