It is easy to criticize people with trust issues from the outside looking in. I have understood that it isn’t because they don’t want to be associated with others, but because they are tired of experiencing the aftermath of betrayals, disappointments, etc. They would rather not keep their hopes up than deal with one more betrayal or heartache. The LORD says in Jeremiah 17: 5 “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, draws strength from mere flesh, and whose heart turns away from the LORD.” Here, the LORD is not saying that we shouldn’t have friends or interact with other people, but He is saying that we shouldn’t allow anyone to sit on the throne of our hearts except Him. And why is that? Is it because He is trying to make our lives miserable? The answer is No. It is because the Lord doesn’t like it when we are heartbroken. He knows He knows we will cry, and He will have to mend our broken hearts. In Jeremiah 5: 9-10, The Lord also says: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure, who can understand it? I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” This is why we can’t always explain or understand why people did what they did to us. Nobody can understand the heart but God. In Matthew 5: 37, Jesus taught us how to interact with one another: “All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No,’ anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” It’s like God is saying to us: ‘Look, I can’t promise it won’t happen because the heart is deceitful but the best way to deal with it is to make sure I sit on the throne of your heart and also let your yes be yes and your no be no.’ I have realized that sometimes it is better to say no to someone than to say yes with the wrong motives.
Our words are important. And whether we are aware of it or not, we consent to many people and things daily. For example, you keep showing up at work because you give your word to accept the position. When you swipe your credit card at the store, you give your word to the bank and agree to pay the money back, and it is the same thing when you sign that business contract, etc. In other words, our words are important because they should reflect in what we do.
Being a man or woman of your word doesn’t mean you must be perfect. Your genuineness is not based on the specific time you couldn’t make it to the soccer game or couldn’t attend that work meeting due to inconvenience, your truthfulness is based on who you are at your core. For example, are you always changing your words, always coming up with excuses, or do you always try to find a way to cover things up with a lie when you are in the wrong? Therefore, the focus isn’t on those one or two times you’ve missed or made a mistake, but it is more about who you are most of the time at any hour of the day or night. And if you struggle with these things, that doesn’t mean you are a bad person. It isn’t something you must condemn yourself for; The Bible says in Romans 3: 23: “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Therefore, we are all in need of our Savior Jesus. You have to self-evaluate by simply being more mindful of your daily actions and being willing to make some personal adjustments with the help of the Holy Spirit. It requires a sincere conversation with God about the matter(s) you struggle with, and God will help you overcome them.
Let us remember that God is Holy, and we must revere His name in everything we do. We cannot treat God the way we treat men because God is not like men. I have discovered that it is better not to promise God anything than to promise Him something and not keep the promise. Let’s think this through for a minute; we can only imagine what life would be like if God decided to wake us up every two or three days instead of every day. We can only imagine how many doctor appointments, hair appointments, business appointments, and school days we would have missed because God failed to keep His word. This is why we can never thank God enough for His faithfulness even when we are not. And the goal is to try to be more like Him.
Therefore, it is impossible to be truthful to others if we can’t be truthful to God. If we always come before God with excuses for our sins, we will always come up with excuses for our wrongdoings toward others. If we cannot be grateful to God and love Him for everything He has done, it will be difficult to appreciate those around us who care. Thus, we hurt God and others intentionally or unintentionally. Again, perfectionism is not the goal, but growth is (to become a better version of self each day).
Everybody is looking for truthfulness. People are looking for those who are sincere, consistent, and willing to make a difference in the world. Nobody wants to deal with deceitful people. Remember how you felt when you ordered that item from Amazon and then they sent you something else? Remember how frustrating it was when you were told something and then realized that the person was lying to you the whole time? Therefore, to be a man and woman of our word is crucial because it helps shape our character and become more fruitful in life.
SCRIPTURES
“The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in men who are truthful.” Proverbs 12:22
“The righteous who walks in his integrity, blessed are his children after him!” Proverbs 20:7
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