ON A daily basis, consciously or not, we exercise trusting someone or something.

When we lie on our bed at night, we trust we will wake up the following morning alive and well. When we ride in a jeepney, bus, or someone’s car, we trust the driver to ferry us to our destination unscathed. When we eat in a food stall or fast food, we trust the crews to serve us quality food. When we go out from our residence to somewhere else, we trust we will be safely home at the end of the day. Indeed, trust is something that is embedded in our DNA which we cannot normally exist when devoid of.

The word trust is defined as “firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.” As God possess the mentioned attributes the Scripture states “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6). To trust in the Lord with all your heart is to allow him in taking control of your life firmly knowing that God desires the best for you. Besides, he has wonderful plans for those who trust in his plans to prosper them and not to harm them, plans to give them hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). Subsequently, Corrie Ten Boom, a Holocaust survivor, stated, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”

According to Yvonne Wichtner-Zoia of Michigan State University Extension, studies show that an agency or department with a high level of trust has increased employee morale, more productive workers, and lower staff turnover. In light of this, trust must be purposefully and strategically built in the workplace.

“At the core of trust building is raising people’s consciousness of what trust means and the behaviors that build it,” says Dennis and Michelle Reina. The Reinas suggest that to build trust in the workplace mutual respect and credibility must be exercised, people need to do what they say they will do, there should be an open and honest communication, transparency and free-flowing dialogue, and input should be encouraged and utilized.

Furthermore, trust is something that must start out from one’s self in order to gain people’s confidence. To start with, be true to yourself. Never pretend to be someone who you are not. Second, be a man or woman of your word – mean what you say. Let your yes be yes and your no is no. Third, trust in the Lord,f or the reason that a person who trusts in God with his entire being is someone who could be trusted as well.