How do we trust when we cannot see or how do we trust when the pain is too much and fear has crept in?  To trust is to believe that someone or something is reliable or honest, effective or good.  Today’s society pulls away from trust and instead moves towards self….assuming that self can take care of, or fix or even guard the things that come our way, the things we can’t necessarily control.  We’ve been betrayed, hurt and scarred…we’ve built up fear.  Fear of being vulnerable, fear of the unknown, fear of failing.  Our confidence fades and so does our trust.  There seems to be thousands of solutions,of fix it programs in this world yet continually we face and hear about heartache, loss, defeat and disease.  We read self help books, look for latest trends and seek out the best doctors all in hope to trust someone or something that will fix what’s wrong.  Trust.  Through life I’ve had my share of disappointments…I’ve lost loved ones, faced disease, been hurt by those I trusted, was unable to meet expectations set for me….I’ve lost trust in people and people have lost trust in me.  In recent months I’ve battled illness which has lead me to a place of quiet and a place of complete trust.  My trust is in the Lord and in He alone.  He created me.  He knows me yesterday, today and tomorrow.  My doctors can try to help ease my pain and heal my illness, my friends and family can come along side and cheer me on, encouraging words will lift my spirits for a time and that is all good and needed.  But in Psalm 56:3 it says “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”  In Proverbs 3:5-6 it says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.”  I am not to lean on my own understanding…my ways are not His ways.  If I followed my ways all the time I’d be a disastrous mess!  I am so thankful for the times that He has guided me.  Submit to HIM….if I am to trust I am to submit to Him in all my ways…in all I do, in all I say, and in all I believe. He will make my paths straight…it doesn’t say He will make them easy. Deuteronomy 31:8 says “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”  The Lord goes BEFORE me…what better trust than to trust the one that goes before me and the one that stays right with me.  My friends and family, though faithful, will not always be with me.  My doctors will not always be there each time I need them.  Trust is to believe that someone or something is reliable or honest, effective or good. My God is reliable, He is honest, He is effective and He is good!  Though this year has proved to be hard and often arduous and unexpected….my God has been faithful and in Him I put my trust.