You Can't Trust Anyone...

Recently, we were watching a movie made over 30 years ago that culminated with a good guy turned bad, saying, "It is like I told you...you can't trust anyone!" It got me thinking about how often that line has been uttered in other famous shows, books, or movies. As I pondered it, this line must have been repeated countless times in Western culture media.

As far back as The Jungle Book cartoon (circa 1967), this idea was vocalized.

Why is it such a common theme in literature and film? Why doesn’t it "run out of steam" as an idea?
I suspect the reason it continues to intrigue is that it relates to a universal, common experience—one that, sadly, every human being encounters.

We all go through the process of getting to know someone on a surface level. As time passes and common ground is shared, the relationship develops, building a sense of trust. Our brain forms a narrative about that person, one that "knows" what they would or wouldn’t do.

Unfortunately, our narratives can be wrong. Trust can be broken or misplaced entirely. At its root, this is a reflection of the sin nature we all carry. People are only as trustworthy as their current fellowship with Christ (if they are believers) or as societal constructs demand (if they are unbelievers).

If that feels too dour, just open the pages of the Bible. There, you’ll encounter real people having real relationships, loaded with broken trust. It’s equal parts frustrating and helpful to read.

Why?

It’s frustrating because it reminds us that life is filled with the struggles of our own sinful motives and choices—and those of others. Yet, it’s helpful because it shows that we’re not alone in our experiences and that God has been faithful throughout human history.

What Do We Do With This Inconvenient Reality?

We look to people in Scripture and reflect on what their lives teach us, whether directly or indirectly. When I think of the phrase, "You can't trust anyone," my mind immediately goes to Joseph.

His brothers hated him. Their hatred drove them to the point of murder. If you’re familiar with the Bible, you might read that and move on because it’s a familiar story. But pause for a moment and think about it: They were willing to kill their own brother because of their resentment toward their father’s favoritism.

As if that weren’t enough, they changed their plans and sold him into slavery—a life of uncertainty and injustice.

Unfortunately, this was only the beginning of a series of betrayals for Joseph.

With each awful encounter, however, we find Joseph blessed by God. At the end of his life, he praises God for His goodness despite it all.

That said, Joseph was also human. While the Bible doesn’t detail his struggles in each scenario, we know he must have experienced the deep hurt that broken trust brings.

Two simple lessons stand out from Joseph’s life about this topic (though there are many more we could consider):

1. Broken trust doesn’t have to stop you from moving forward.
   Joseph’s life would not be the same account of faith if we read of him going to Potiphar’s house, falling into despondency, and letting his brothers’ betrayal define the rest of his life. Though painful, he extended trust toward new people at each stage of his journey.

   People hurt us, we can’t forget, and often those wounds go unreconciled. Yet, God’s grace gives us the ability to forgive, love, grow, and move forward again.

   If you feel stuck, read Joseph’s story and ask yourself: How was any good possible in his circumstances?

2. Broken trust doesn’t mean God has abandoned you.
   In fact, it’s quite the opposite—He often shows Himself mighty in new ways.

   The unfaithfulness of humanity can feel like a wave that threatens to drown you. It warps your mind, your beliefs about others, and even your trust in God. That’s exactly what the devil counts on. Yet, in Joseph’s life, God was with him at every stop and stage, no matter how awful the situation.

   Joseph could only see this fully at the end of his life, but it was a reality throughout.

A Timeless Truth

Will people let you down, hurt you, and leave you wondering if you can trust anyone ever again? While everyone’s experience will vary, most of us will have at least one relationship in our lives that exemplifies this cold reality.

But will God use it for His glory, your spiritual good, and His unique work through your life? Absolutely.

It calls us to know God’s nature, filter our thoughts through His Word, and use our will to press forward in the moment He has us in.

Serving together,
Pastor Paul