Trust: CAN I? vs. DO I?

I’ve been noticing the words Faith, Belief, and Trust a lot lately. They are almost synonyms, but not quite. It’s easy to use one as part of a definition of another. I’m especially thinking about trust and the difference in the question “CAN I trust God?” and “DO I trust God?” Do they seem like the same question? Please hear me out.

You are probably familiar with the glass bottom bridges that are being built over some very deep gorges? Let me just say it, I respect the design and I’m happy for those who like the excitement of walking across them, but I’m not going to be joining you! It’s not that I don’t believe the glass is safe. I understand the engineering. I’m convinced that I could go out, along with a hundred other people, and jump up and down on that glass, and it would support me. I absolutely believe that. But I’m still not going out. Do I have a trust problem?

Maybe this is a bit like trusting God. I believe He can, and does, amazing things. I CAN trust God. 100%. But DO I? Hmmm. Maybe that’s how I should consider faith. When what I CAN trust and what I DO trust match perfectly, then I have complete faith.

How’s your faith?

Inspired by Dean Lisenby, posting in Prayers for Tripp, on the challenges of faith.

PS: I actually got sweaty palms creating this post!