A Deeper Level of Trust...

I’ve been thinking about the concept of trust in God a lot lately.  As a Baha’i, I see challenges that come to us as opportunities for growth.  Since one of the main purposes of life is to grow, challenges are truly a gift and we can learn to be thankful for them.  Of course, this can be a lot harder in actual practice than it is in theory. 

I like to think I’ve made some progress in holding this perspective in my personal life.  But I found a kind of “blind spot” with it recently.  I’m finding that when something tough happens to me and it affects only me, I can see it as a test and opportunity for the most part (of course, as soon as I write that, I’m sure I’ll have another test with it). 

But when I’ve planned something for others, maybe tried to coordinate something involving several people and I really, really want it to go well so each of them have a good experience, I am sometimes not very good at seeing the “gift” in it if it doesn’t go well.

Recently in my volunteer work I coordinated something for a group and I really worked hard and prayed hard for it to be a pleasant, uplifting, inspiring experience for them.  But, as often happens in life, my intention was not to be.  Some different things happened, and some dynamics were present that were just totally outside my control.  Afterwards, I found myself really upset about it, wondering what I did wrong and worrying about each person, hoping that no hearts were hurt. 

But then I talked with a couple of wise women in my life who gave me some great perspective.  They encouraged me to let it go, and to see the spiritual dynamics rather than just the obvious material ones. Sometimes things happen differently than we hope, and it is for everyone’s benefit.  Maybe each person in this group experienced a test that day that was important for each of us to experience.  I know I’ve certainly learned a lot from it already. 

For instance, I’ve learned that I need to try to see EVERY situation as an opportunity not only to grow, but to trust in God, to trust that the right thing will happen.  I can do my best, put forth my best effort, but after that I need to give it over. 

This was such a great reminder of how little control we sometimes have.  And how that’s not actually a bad thing.  Instead it is another of life’s opportunities to be humble, to be flexible, to trust, and to be thankful no matter what happens. 

So........ 

What role does trust play in your life right now?

Where do you need to trust more?

What could be available to you in your life if you trust more?