What happens when Trust is Broken?

Welcome my friend! Come on in for a lovely cuppa.

Today we’re having a tea blend called Sticky Date Pudding with a gf Lavender shortbread. Both delicious!

It’s been very cold here on the East coast of Australia for the past week, so we’re seated in my living room where it’s warm & sunny.

Now we’re comfy let’s begin.

What is Trust?

First, let’s look at a general definition of Trust;

‘a firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone (or something).’

I think the greatest area we see trust at work is in relationships.

As without some level of trust there really isn’t much of a relationship. Is there?

However, I would go deeper then the definition above because in human relationships there’s an emotional component to trust.

There’s the belief that we hold the other person trustworthy, which allows a certain vulnerability before them.

And when we share our vulnerability, we trust that the other person will treat that with the utmost respect, as we do theirs.

Let me clarify what I mean by relationships here.

I’m talking about the broad spectrum of relationships; friends, family, marriages, colleagues etc.

Although, the level of trust we place in any relationship will vary greatly, depending on the type of relationship we have with that person.

For instance the level of trust I place in my lovely husband is far deeper then the level of trust I may place in relationship with an extended family member or a colleague.

So what happens when trust is betrayed in a relationship?

When trust is betrayed

I think the hardest thing to go through in any relationship is a betrayal of trust.

And the depth of pain we experience will directly correlate to the level of vulnerability we shared.

Unfortunately, this can happen in any relationship. For all relationships are made up of imperfect people.

While forgiveness may be given (highly recommended Eph 4:32), the consequence is that we find ourselves guarded within that relationship from that point.

This is wisdom! For we are told to,

“….guard our heart with all vigilance…for out of it flow rivers of living water (life itself).”

Proverbs 4:23 paraphrased

I think this raises an important point though;

Once trust is broken, we have a tendency not to trust that person to the same level as before, until…

Trust is rebuilt.

And that may or may not happen depending on the willingness of each person to rebuild that trust. 

Some thoughts to ponder;

How did you react when your trust was betrayed?

Did you find yourself guarded with only that relationship or all your relationships from that point?

Until next time,

Jennifer

You’re most welcome to join me in The Reading Nook

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© 2022 Jennifer M. Ross, teawithjennifer.blog All Rights Reserved. Photo by Na Urchin on Pexels.com

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