A Prayer about the Pain of Broken Trust
The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
The Lord is on my side as my helper;
I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.
(Ps. 118:6–9)
Lord Jesus, I’m just waking up, and though I’m yawning my way into your presence, you are fully alert and engaged. What a Savior you are! You never sleep or slumber; you never need a break or vacation; you’re never moody; you never get bored with us; you never roll your eyes and say, “When will they ever get it?” You will never look for greener pastures or better sheep. I praise you for the constancy of your love.
Jesus, it’s because your love is so unwavering that you’re easy to trust. Only you can be fully trusted. I’m painfully aware of this truth as I lean into this day. I’d be lying if I didn’t acknowledge to you my disappointment and hurt this morning. Thank you for caring.
As broken people, we fail one another. I get that. But the gospel’s not supposed to make us immune to the pain of bruised trust, broken trust, or battered trust. Broken confidences and broken promises still hurt, no matter who they come from, but certainly more when they come from the very people we should be able to trust.
“What can man do to me?” the psalmist asks (Ps. 118:6). Plenty, Jesus, plenty. But with you as our refuge, with you as our very present help, with you as our advocate, intercessor, sovereign Lord, and gracious Redeemer— with you as the only prince who can be trusted, the Prince of Peace— I don’t have to grow more angry, flint hard, and dangerously isolated.
I bring my pain to you, Jesus. Hold me and help me deal with the betrayals. I pray in your singularly trustworthy name.
Amen.