Faith and Trust: Where should I put them?

The rhythm of the music seduces me into the flow, as the Yoga instructor’s voice guides me into my workout. I trust that it will be a good one because Sybil never disappoints. Our foundations differ and her teaching isn’t Christian based but it resonates with my healing. There are times, however, when her messaging gets lost on me. Like this morning’s class, she says, “Faith and Trust place them in yourself.“

The Lumineers are piping through the sound system, a simple message filled with harmonic vocals meet me where I am at.

If I had anxiety it would melt into the mat. George Michael’s song, Faith, picks up the pace and my workout intensifies.

Fortunately, for me, I resolved any problems with anxiety first thing that morning, freeing myself to enjoy yoga without a care in the world.

It is my faith that I contribute to my relaxation.
How Faith Shows Up

The problem with placing Faith and Trust in ourselves.

I was left perplexed by Sybil’s comment on placing our faith and trust within ourselves. Four years ago inside myself wasn’t a good place. If someone would have said, “Karen have faith and trust yourself.” It would have never worked.

I could not trust myself to make good choices and faith… What faith?

Faith

Faith what is it? And how do you know if you got it?

1. complete trust or confidence in someone or something.
2. strong belief in God or in the doctrine of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.
Oxford Dictionary

Oh what little faith did I have. During a pandemic we were told to do this and do that, but not allowed to make personal health choices. We had no choice but to place our faith in Science. How can you trust and have confidence in a system that is ever-changing and continually let’s us down? Science didn’t even know what was going on and yet wanted to subject us to it’s rules.

Where was God when all of this was happening? Family and friends succumbed to a unwarranted death, leaving us question why? What kind of God let’s this happen?

If only, I had faith then maybe I would have a place to put my trust.

Trust

Trust in what? And, trust in who?

1. firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.
Oxford Dictionary

I didn’t get very far with trust. People turned against one another and relationships suffered. Trust is no good if you don’t have faith. Why would we place our trust in the science that lacked evidence and proof? We found ourselves vulnerable and fear was the tactic used for control.

Why did we allow our fears to dictate our trust? Are we a country that lacks faith in God? How can we place our faith in what we can’t see?

If only, I learned to trust what I couldn’t see or understand.

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Read Losing Faith In A System That’s Meant to Help for a related post.

Placing Faith and Trust in our unhealthy selves.

Although, I was raised in a church and on occasion took my family to church, I lacked faith. I wasn’t at a good place to trust in anything, let alone myself. And our system did me no favors.

Not everyone is capable of being trusted to make good choices and we find ourselves constantly failing ourselves. Sybil’s advice, “Place your faith and trust in yourself” is horrible advice, unless of course it is within our healthy self.

The alcoholic continues drinking, following a pattern of poor coping mechanisms because they lack faith. That is what my life was turning into. I couldn’t trust the world around me and we were to place our faith into science.

If only, I believed in a Living God.

Placing Faith and Trust in our healthy self.

Today I have a place to place my trust, because I have faith in a Living God. It took a total breakdown, so God could rebuild me, strengthening me with His love and support. Alcohol doesn’t satisfy my uncertainties and no anxiety drug is a substitute for my Living God.

The faith can be found within my heart when I let Jesus in. Within myself is a healthy place for both faith and trust to reside. By starting my day in prayer, devotional meditations it helps deal with anxiety that creeps in from a system that works against me.

If I had faith four years ago, then perhaps I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to take Sybil’s Yoga class and share her message.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6 CSB