Lessons on Trust

Lately in my lessons I've been talking and learning about trust. It really is an interesting topic here. This country is known to be full of those who do not trust one another. As I ask my friends what trust means, their response typically includes something to the affect of, "If I believe that you won't think bad thoughts about me or harm me, that means I trust you." This has caused me to wonder, what do I think about trust? What do I believe? Truly, learning Turkish may be good for my own thoughts and theology, if not protect my brain from getting flabby.
So in today's lesson I decided to work on explaining what I believe about trust. Oh, goodness. Unbeknown to me, my language helper, who happens to be a believer, had recently gone through an experience with another believer that left her feeling belittled and hurt. When the other believer approached her to ask for her forgiveness, her response was that forgiveness was not something she could think about at the moment.
As I described my own thoughts about trust, I noticed that she was slightly teary. With no idea in my mind as to what may or may not have occurred, I continued on with my explanation. I told her that I can't honestly agree with the idea that if I trust someone I can't expect them to ever think negative thoughts about me or cause me harm. I can, however, extend grace because ultimately my God is trustworthy. He will not allow something into my life that will not be for my own good.
After our lesson she related to me the entire experience. She said that the Lord had used what I had said to touch her heart. I truly believe that she has been encouraged to forgive, to extend grace, and truly to overlook.
Only a few hours later I was at a good friend's house. She was relating to me and her roommate how hurt she had been last week by another friend. She was transferred from her first division basketball team in another city back to a second division basketball team here in Ankara last week. The other friend has not called to see if she needs anything, has not welcomed her back to town, in short has said nothing to her. Trust so easily lost.
Pray with me that I would be a trustworthy friend. Pray that I would be able to share fully the trustworthiness of One who will never fail.