When Trust is Gone
All relationships are built upon the foundation of trust. Friendship, marriage, parenting, business, partnerships, teams, education, government, churches, and leadership are built upon trust. Everything is built upon trust.
What happens when trust begins to erode? What happens when trust is gone completely?
Skepticism Emerges
When trust begins to erode, skepticism emerges. People begin to doubt the truth, not just about the issue at hand, but about everything the person or organization is trying to communicate. When this happens, recklessness begins to rule among all involved. Without a major change occurring quickly, credibility declines and eventually ceases.
Dependability Subsides
When the simplest of commitments are not fulfilled, dependability subsides. A person’s dependability is built upon trust. Lack of follow-through always leads to the forfeiture of trust. Again, even in the simplest things. When you give your word to others, others expect you to fulfill your word.
Confidence Leaves
As trust departs, confidence departs. When people lose confidence in a person, it is hard to retrieve and regain. It is very challenging to regain a person’s confidence, but it can be done.
Leadership Ceases
People do not follow leaders they do not trust. Whether something simple or major, a leader forfeits his or her leadership when trust erodes.
When trust is gone, the price is high and the future becomes bleak.
Is There a Way to Recapture Trust Again?
Can trust be recaptured? Not always, but sometimes.
While trust can be recaptured with a few people, oftentimes it is necessary to start over.
Each situation is different. There is no general way to address each of these situations.
Regardless, if you realize that you are in a situation where trust has eroded or is perhaps even gone, it is incumbent upon you to do all you can to make things right again with as many people as possible. Therefore…
- Complete honesty needs to occur
- Deep repentance and change must happen
- There must be a sincere commitment to do whatever it takes to make things right
From this point, only the Lord knows the future. But when this point comes, it is no longer about the individual, but also what is best for the other people, organization, business, ministry, or relationship that has experienced the loss of trust.
Each must go forward. Each must do what is right before God. While they may not be able to go forward together, they can each go forward with a new appreciation for the power of trust in a relationship.
Never underestimate the priceless value of trust.
Now is the Time to Lead,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Senior Pastor, Cross Church
*******
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the Senior Pastor of Cross Church, founder of the Cross Church School of Ministry, and host of the Ronnie Floyd on Life and Leadership Today podcast.
To request an interview with Dr. Ronnie Floyd
contact Gayla Oldham at (479) 751-4523 or email gaylao@crosschurch.com.
Visit our website at http://ronniefloyd.com
Follow Dr. Floyd on Twitter and Instagram @ronniefloyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
This Week at Cross Church | Last Sunday was Splendid!
If you missed last Sunday, you missed one of the great messages proclaimed here at Cross Church. Ken Ham, the President and Founder of Answers in Genesis, the Creation Museum, and the Ark Encounter proclaimed God’s Word at Cross Church. If you missed hearing Ken, you can watch his message here. I look forward to the opportunity to visit these experiences which help the Bible come to life!
Are You praying for and Preparing to Invite Others to Easter Weekend?
Eight great days await us from Palm Sunday through Easter Weekend. We will teach on 6 Leadership Lessons from the Life of Jesus Christ in the Last 6 Days of His Life beginning on Sunday morning, April 9 through the Friday night experience with the Worship Choirs of Cross Church and the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas strings. On Saturday and Sunday in one of our fifteen services on Easter Weekend, we will proclaim from God’s Word, I Stand Amazed!
Pray now. Begin to invite others soon. Now is the time to get serious about Easter and see how God wants to use you for His glory. Here are our service times on each campus:
Saturday, April 15
- Springdale– 4:00 p.m.
- Pinnacle Hills– 5:30 p.m.
- Fayetteville– 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 16
- Springdale– 9:15 & 10:55 a.m.
- Pinnacle Hills– 9:15 & 10:55 a.m.
- Fayetteville– 7:30, 9:00, 10:30 a.m. & 12:00 p.m.
- Fayetteville East– 10:30 a.m.
- Neosho– 9:00, 10:45 a.m.
- Español (Springdale)– 10:55 a.m.
My Weekly Podcast is for You
Every follower of Christ needs to hear other Christian men and women talk about life and leadership. Please become a weekly listener to the new podcast I host called Ronnie Floyd on Life and Leadership Today. In this week’s podcast, you will have the opportunity to hear Dr. Jack Graham, Senior Pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas.
Take the opportunity to listen to each one of our podcasts listed below. The weekly podcast becomes available at 12:01 a.m. every Tuesday. You can subscribe to the podcast here. We would love it if you would rate and review it on iTunes, as it helps us reach more people.
Episode 1: Life and Leadership Today with Guest, Chris Mortensen
Episode 2: Life and Leadership Today with Guest, Cheryl Bachelder
Episode 3: Life and Leadership Today with Guest, Steve Green
Episode 4: Life and Leadership Today with Dr. Jack Graham
I’ll See You Sunday, Cross Church!
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.