The Foundation of Trust

FOUNDATION OF TRUST

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” – Proverbs 3:5–6

What Is Trust?

Dictionary definition: According to Oxford Languages, trust is the firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone.

Synonyms: faith, belief, certainty, confident expectation.

Biblical definition: The Bible defines trust through faith. “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see” (Hebrews 11:1, NLT).

The world says “seeing is believing,” but God’s Kingdom works the opposite way: believe, then you will see (John 11:40). We are called to live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Hebrews 11:6 reminds us: “It is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.”

How Do We Trust?

The foundation of trust is learning to fully rely on God and His Word. When we place our confidence in Him, it becomes easier to build healthy trust with others.

1. Rely on God’s Character

Trusting God means believing He is faithful and true. The Bible reveals His character as:

• Love itself (1 John 4:8)

• Good and incapable of evil

• Just, merciful, and all-powerful

• Unchanging and covenant-keeping

• Forgiving and saving

God showed His ultimate love when He came to earth as Jesus, sacrificing Himself so we could be free from sin, deception, and eternal separation from Him.

2. Believe His Word Is True

When we become doers of the Word, transformation follows. Philippians 2:3 teaches us to set aside selfish ambition and embrace humility- to think of others as better or more important than ourselves.

The Bible’s historical accuracy, fulfilled prophecies, and life-changing power confirm its truth.

3. Make It a Choice

Trusting God is a conscious decision. It means leaning on His wisdom instead of our own. Since He is all-knowing and full of love, His plans are always for our good.

4. Walk in Obedience

Obedience is surrendering our will to His. Romans 12:2 calls us not to conform to the beliefs and customs of world but to be transformed by renewing our minds by God’s Word.

5. Live Without Fear

The Bible tells us “Do not fear” 365 times—one for every day of the year!

1 John 4:18 explains: “Perfect love casts out fear.” Fear comes from expecting punishment or a negative outcome, but when we truly grasp God’s perfect love, fear loses its power. A mature relationship with God produces confident expectation of His goodness.

A Place of Victory

The cross is humanity’s greatest victory! Every Kingdom benefit flows from the finished work of Christ. Because of Him, Satan has already been defeated.

Here are a few scriptures affirming our victory:

• 2 Corinthians 2:14 (AMP): “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ.”

• Romans 8:28 (AMP): “And we know [with great confidence] that God… causes all things to work together for good for those who love God.”

• Matthew 6:33 (NLT): “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

• 1 John 5:4–5 (NLT): “Every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.”

• Romans 8:31 (ESV): “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

• Colossians 2:15 (ESV): “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them.”

We cannot live in darkness and expect Kingdom results. Victory comes through faith, obedience, and trust in Jesus.

Faith Is Expectation of Good

Fear is misplaced faith—it puts confidence in the enemy’s power instead of God’s. True faith expects good things from the Lord.

• Ephesians 6:16 reminds us that the shield of faith stops the enemy’s fiery arrows.

• Unbelief, like the Israelites’ grumbling in Exodus, keeps us from God’s promise land (Hebrews 3:12).

• Faith grows by abiding in Christ and walking in the Spirit.

Real faith is not wishful thinking—it is being fully persuaded that God’s Word and promises will come to pass.

Conclusion

Faith and trust are the currency of Heaven—what money is to earth. They activate God’s power, spiritual gifts, healing, freedom, and miracles in our lives.

To live by faith is to:

• Believe God’s Word above circumstances

• Refuse fear, doubt, and unbelief

• Expect God’s goodness daily

Psalm 37:5 tells us: “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act.”

And as Jesus declared: “All things are possible for the one who believes” (Mark 9:23, AMP).

Fulfilling the impossible is God’s promise—He cannot lie.

Much of this was adapted from my books:

• Well Done Good and Faithful Church Leader? Solutions to the Leadership Crisis in the Church

• Life in God’s Kingdom: How to Manifest Heaven on Earth

Be free to be mighty for Jesus!

In freedom and might,

Jeannette