This is a difficult one. Trust is intimidating. It’s frightening. For me, trusting someone not to berate me, rape me, beat me, isolate me, own me, seemed not only impossible, but stupid. I had been beaten down by enough people in my life that I had closed myself off from even thinking about trusting anyone wholly. You cannot have love, and a fruitful relationship without trust, though.

I started working on myself, and trusting others the day I left my abusive partner. I trusted God to get me out, and it took a miracle to do so. I trusted my family to quickly and quietly come get me. I had abandoned God, and my family, and yet everyone made sure I got out and got to safety. I was reminded of what love is, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I had hope.

When my husband and I started dating, I had to figure out if I wanted us to work. If I did, it meant trusting him, it meant loving him and letting him love me. That was rough, I pushed back an awful lot, always willing to hurt him because I was sure he would hurt me. With a lot of patience, infinite love, and plenty of work, I let go and let him in. We have love, and our relationship continues to grow.

Trust in the right people, the ones who love you. Trusting in people who manipulate, abuse, and use others, will not lead to a loving relationship. Trusting those incapable of love, will not bring love. Trust in God first and foremost, build that relationship, and trusting the right people will come more easily. It will be less intimidating, less terrifying. He will lead you, always, in the right direction.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts