The Optimist's Problem

I am a sucker for hope. I believe the good in people will shine through. I hope that the best will happen. I believe we all have the potential to be superheroes...and that we all want to. Now that I write that down...I'm laughing at myself. It's rather naïve. I am naïve like that...

I have learned, through very hard lessons, that misplaced trust is dangerous. BUT it is not the same as HOPE and FAITH. So I thought that maybe I should do a little research. And hopefully, my research can help you too.

The bible tells us that HOPE and FAITH:

HEB 11:1
Faith is being certain of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

2 COR 5:7
We live by faith and not by sight.

ROM 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

About TRUST:

IS 40:31
But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

MICAH 7:5
Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend. Even with the woman who lies in your embrace guard the words of your lips.

JER 9:8
Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceitfully. With their mouths they all speak cordially to their neighbors, but in their hearts they set traps for them
Digging from a different angle, I googled the definitions of the following:

Hope is defined as a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen; a feeling of trust.
Faith is defined as complete trust or confidence in someone or something
Trust is firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.

The power behind hope, faith and trust, is where we choose to place it and whom we choose to place it in. I place my trust in my chair everytime I sit down. Or in my van when I get inside and carpool the kids to 4 different schools. But in people....that is the hard part. Jeremiah 9:8 is so powerful because it's a reminder that we can't know the hearts intention. That is for God to know...and Him alone.

Looking back at my initial HOPE for humanity...I can see that while my hope is POSSIBLE FOR GOD, it is not something to place my TRUST in. When people let us down it's for many reasons. I've endured much heartache because I've TRUSTED my HOPE FOR someone instead of ENTRUSTING my HOPES to GOD.

It's taken me awhile Lord but I hope I really learn this lesson and have faith that You'll take the time to teach me.

Lord God, while you want us to HOPE for others, You never ask us to trust IN them. Forgive me for not TRUSTING YOU with people.  The same way I can sit in a chair, I need to rest in Your Promises. Thank You for being someone I can trust. I hope that You would use my words to reach others who may sometimes struggle with misplaced trust. May our Hope that You have given us not die but be directed to You. I pray for healing from times when someone did hurt our trust. Lord, I lose peace, sleep, joy and so much more when I place my trust in the wrong things and people. Give me discernment that I would walk forward in FAITH in ways that You planned. Forgive me for the times I trusted man more than You...my hopes for humanity will rest in Your Promises. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.