Trust

[Sonwalkr]

In this wonderful world of the internet, one has to ask this question. "Who can you trust?". Even in this Christian ministry forum it begs the question. We all are human after all, right? It is so easy to open up and share things with those who you think you can trust. After all, it's safe... you're just typing things out instead of having to look face to face with someone. People reach out in the hopes of filling a need or for help in solving a problem in their life, and people are there for them, ready and willing to be someone for them.

Why is it that there are some people online who you know you can trust immediately and then there are some who give reason for doubt, even if all of them are Christians? There are some who I know are for real and have given me no reason to doubt who they are. Then there are some who I can't say who they are.

People who know me know that I tend to be a dreamer. The Lord has something for me and I'm still having to wait for it. I know I'm guilty of throwing myself into things. I'm a giver and a servant and a listener and a friend. Yeah, people have taken advantage of it, but does that mean I grow cold or throw in the towel? There's been times where I've made a friend and its been appreciated by that party and it gets to a point where it can't go anywhere else and then it gets shut down to a trickle, if that. Was it me? Was it just circumstances? Did reality just hit and there wasn't anything solid there to begin with? With some it is so easy to have and maintain an open dialogue. With others, maybe it gets too close to becoming something deeper and it has to shut down before it hurts someone.

So.. I'm not sure where I'm going here. My friends know I'm not one to say much in here. It's just that in my experience online I've had to endure some hard knocks with some people about trust. One of these persons I actually met in person and I still got taken for. Hmm.. Another person online has told me they would trust me with their life. Was that just some flowery expression to make me feel good? I mean this person has reason not to trust anyone; especially not trust someone from online who they have never met in person. I know trust cuts both ways. Some people think online is not for real. I know this forum and its ministries are for real and they do make a difference in people's lives.

I think all I am asking for is something mutual. Something real. It's so easy to be real and not make up some sort of character that you'd think everyone would like. The Lord sees us for who we are, so why not be that for everyone else?

Maybe all of this is just another chapter in the lesson book of my life. I'm starting to think that Philipians 4:6-8 is becoming my guidepost passage for me even though I have been saved since I was a child. Why is it so easy to forget to let the peace of God, which tanscends all understanding, guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus? Why is it so easy to be anxious?

Those who know me know my wishes and dreams. They know the person I am. Somehow I am not afraid to open up to people. This might sound sort of weird coming from a guy. I can't fake this stuff.

One thing is for sure.. We know we can trust our Lord with everything. I know that's another lesson I keep having to learn it seems.

Well, it seems like I've rambled on here. I hope it makes some sort of sense. Not sure if this was the right spot to post this. Feel free to comment y'all.

JC (Sonwalkr)

[Spunky]

Sonwalker,

You made very much sense ty for sharing your thoughts with us.

The Lord wishes us to give love to others as He gives it to us!!!

Yes we may get disappointed by others at times but know that

you expressed love and kindness to all you encounter not just

those you deem trustworthy! never change!

God Bless!

[Heavnlyfragrance]

I think the only one that we can 100% trust is God, everyone else is bound to hurt you sooner or later cause we're human.

I personally am just beinging to get so that I can trust people again. Trust is something that I have struggled with for years because I have been stabbed in the back to many times. But God is healing me, my life is just scared now instead of shattered beyond reconision...its only because of God that I am still alive...and have a sound mind.

I am learning to trust God more and more, and my hearts desire is to start ministering to people again. But with me I had to come to a point where I had to decide if I was going to live the rest of my life in a shell in fear of being hurt or if I was going to rely on God for my protection.

I'm learning to trust that still small voice that lets me know who I can and cannot trust. Since I have started doing that I have had soo much peace in my life, cause I know my Lord will not lead me astray.

[traveller]

Ran across this old post. It brings up some real problems of online chatting and board participation.

Can we really know other people by meeting them online? What say ye?

[EricH]

I think the time required to get to know another person is extended exponentially when it is done on line. In addition, the on-line forums give people a false sense of bravado. They tend to be more cruel than they would in person, because they can be anonymous

[damo1]

from damo1

the only one we can trust is god. as i also got takken advantage of my self by thinking i was doing the right thing. even on sights like christian pen pals people some how seem to sneek in and put up a false profile to the point wear all the right words are said yet only know have i learnt to do a little research my self as i lent out of my heart to whom i though was a christian in a church over 500 australian dollars how foolish did i feel when a good friend who is a pastor did a search for me on the information i gave him and it was a scam to scam christians.

then my partner also shared to me how some one from nigeria took photos of the orphanage and the church and posted it on the web under a diffrent name with the kids on the front asking for donations and some one that new my partner in america contacted her and told her to look at this web sight people wear taken in all around the world to wear money was sent and my partner had to get the police to investigate this as the orphanage they run has been astablished to help kids in need and they take kids that have been abandoned and are able to set up sponsership this hurt her and the people in the church to how this could happen to wear some one from nigeria can come and do this sort of thing

yet i go by the way the spirit leads me to just going by my heart even though i was mad i saw this as a loss as 500 australian dollars is a lot of money yet we are only humen and it does help when you have that face to face contac

so just trust in god as he wil never let you down

from damo1