We who follow Christ are to be trustful.

I know some of you will say that trustful is not a word. Trustworthy, yes. Trusting, yes. Trusted, yes.

Well, I hope those words describe our identity in Christ as well. We must trust Him for initial salvation and also for stength to travel the rest of our journey with joy and hope. And as we are trusting Him, we must behave increasingly in ways that prove to others we are trustworthy, that we be trusted. Because we have in us this heart of Christ.

But today I use the word trustful to describe someone who is filled with trust.

FIRST, we think if a cup that is filled to near the top one drop or splash at a time. The filling is a process, it comes with time.

We have a hard time trusting God and trusting others. It is easy to project the way our trust was broken by this or that party in the past on to our present relationships. And even if we say we believe God is in control of all things, it can be easy to start doubting Him when we always think of what is right, good, just, and fair from our limited point of view. Yet, the more we try to consider His perspective and daily practice reflection and gratitude, the more surely the cup of our trust will become full.

SECOND, we think of that cup filled to the absolute brim to the point where the overflow naturally runs over.

When a person has negative and nasty things brewing in their heart, it might be more fitting to say that the overflow spews forth from them. But when the additional things bubbling up are nurturing and of the Spirit, they spill over and flow out. The latter is graceful, seamless, genuine, and attractive. It is undeniably noticeable to those around. A trustful soul is a soul full to the brim of peace and watchfulness.

We have all walked along in daily life and noticed women who were pretty, and even some who were stunning, in physical appearance. But it is not until we spend time with a woman, get to know her mind and spirit, see how she thinks about and treats others, and watch the way the view of her face is surpassed by the loveliness of her being that we can truly call her beautiful.

So it is with the trustful Christ-follower. Daily growth with Him, time spent reflecting on Him, and our reflection of His heart from our own outward to those around us: these are what mark us as trustful. Through the sweet moments — and even more so through the hard moments — our small cups will be filled to overflowing.

Be who you are. Be trustful.