There is a show on television called Big Brother (you may have seen it) where ten or more strangers known as HouseGuests are thrown together in a colorful, custom-built house full of cameras and microphones (actually it’s a Hollywood set). The contestants are completely isolated from the outside world with no televisions or phones. America watches as they compete in competitions, challenges, and day-to-day life. Each week they eliminate one HouseGuest at a time from the Big Brother house. This goes on for weeks until there are only two people left, and then the evicted contestants are brought back for the finale where they vote for the winner, and that person walks away with $500,000. Throughout the show, America gets to watch relationships being built and alliances being made. There have even been romances that developed into relationships outside of the house, and at least one marriage has come out of this show. The television audience grows to love or hate the HouseGuests and even has the opportunity to vote for the “People’s Choice” winner of $25,000. This sounds like a great show, right? The problem is that the people in the house lie, cheat, and backstab each other at every opportunity, just to better their chances of winning the money. It’s hard to believe that anyone would want to watch a show where this is being displayed, but it is now in its 23rd season, and sadly enough, I’m an avid follower. What I’ve figured out from watching this show is that no one in the house can be trusted, and the HouseGuests should not put their faith in anyone. More than one of them have learned this lesson the hard way.
Have you put your faith in someone who has used it against you? We are probably all guilty of a little gossip here and there, and maybe we have even broken the trust of someone close to us. People are not perfect, but God is always faithful and His love endures forever.
In Psalms 118, David has realized that he can’t trust those around him, and that the only thing he can trust in is God’s love.
Psalm 118:6-8(NLT)
The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear.
What can mere people do to me?
Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me.
I will look in triumph at those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in people.
If you have been the victim of someone you thought you could trust lying to, cheating on, or backstabbing you, you know how painful that can be. The effects can be physical, mental, material, or even life altering. Maybe you’re afraid to ever put your faith in anyone again. Proverbs 17:9 says,
Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.
No one is faultless; even the disciples erred over and over again, but Jesus was patient with them until the end. Maybe it’s time that you begin to trust in people again. The one thing you can always trust in is God’s love for you.
Psalm 118:1-4
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
Let all Israel repeat:
“His faithful love endures forever.”
Let Aaron’s descendants, the priests, repeat:
“His faithful love endures forever.”
Let all who fear the Lord repeat:
“His faithful love endures forever.”
Forever is a long time!
Have a blessed week, my friends.
Chelynn is a contributing writer for Shaken and Stirred. She is a long-time daughter of Christ, a wife, mother of two amazing adult children, and Nonnie to four beautiful grandchildren. She teaches Senior English at Charles Page High School and is also a Realtor for Keller Williams. She enjoys all things summer including boating, vacationing, and swimming.
Photo by Scott Webb on Unsplash