REBUILDING TRUST-by Heidi McLaughlin
Posted: November 9, 2023
love
It feels like we’ve lost trust the last few years. Trust in our relationships, workplaces and churches. Because I’m a curious person I’ve felt this for some time and it was affirmed to me in the last Global Leadership Summit in October of this year. Craig Groeschel, pastor of Life Church hit it out of the park with his opening keynote session on trust. It gripped my heart as he affirmed what I’ve been feeling for some time. The loss of trust. I think most of who listened to this nodded as well. He said that to rebuild trust we need: transparency + empathy + consistency=trust.
Wow that hit me.
Over the past few years it seems we’ve split into camps through Covid, politics, the state of the world and our daily interactions. I think one thing missing out of that formula is TIME. We need to make time to listen to our stories authentically and being vulnerable and honest. And to ask a lot of questions.
- How would you have handled this if you were in my shoes?
- What were your expectations from me?
- Why did you act like that, what made you do what you did?
- Why did you respond that way?
- What were you thinking that you haven’t told me?
Authentically speaking and listening is the essence of strong and loving relationships and I don’t think we’re taking the time for that. Every time we make an assumption of someone or something, we’re creating our own story and that becomes our reality. There is a chance that story is a lie or misunderstanding
In the last two weeks I’ve had one of those authentic conversations with an intentional heart of empathy. Some raw wounds were opened and honest words were spoken. But I know without a shadow of a doubt that we are on a road back to rebuilding trust.
We have to be consistent and know it will take time.
With the world being so divided, as Christians we need to set a different example of rebuilding trust and pursuing unity. Covid hurt and divided many churches and families. The ONE thing Jesus asked of us is to be united to show the world how to love. “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:22).
I used to be such a trusting person; I never doubted people’s motives or words. We’ve all been hurt but there is a way back. Let’s write Craig’s formula onto our hearts and begin to live it out. May God be with you.
