Great Erosion of Public Trust: Religion

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

In our last devotion in this series, we discuss eroding public trust in religious institutions. They were once seen as untouchable pillars of morality and virtue, but that is rapidly declining. This is mainly due to the exposed and highly publicized corruption and, sometimes, cover-up within particular churches. These churches have been spotlighted as losing their moral compass, leading to a profound erosion of trust in their spiritual guidance. This has resulted in a staggering crisis of faith, fostering a growing skepticism towards organized religion. The fallout is tremendous, and the repercussions are far- reaching, tainting the innocent and the guilty alike.

The Enemy’s Divide and Conquer Strategy

Unfortunately, this is all part of a well-calculated plan by the enemy. He is cunning and seeks to breed discord and skepticism amongst God’s people. He capitalizes on the failings of humans and man-made institutions, sowing seeds of doubt and mistrust in the hearts of many. But, in this attempt to divide us, to turn us away from our faith and, ultimately, from God, we must stand firm with our Creator.

For those who have been hurt by religious institutions or people within them—it’s important to remember that our trust should be in God alone. He is the one who brings healing and redemption, and we must not let the failings of others hinder our relationship with Him. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Let us find rest in God’s unchanging love and forgiveness.

Reviving Our Spiritual Compass: God’s Unchanging Promises

The fabric of our society is scarred with deception and corruption. Religious institutions are not exempt from that. However, we must not let this shake our faith. Humans are flawed. God is not. He is truth, love, and justice. He is our rock, our fortress, and our deliverer amidst chaos (Psalm 18:2). When we focus on that truth and God’s unchanging promises, we find peace.

When all around us seems uncertain, God remains a firm foundation. He is the constant in our ever-shifting world. His teachings provide the resilience, patience, and hope we need to conquer life’s challenges.

Your Call to Action

Despite the enemy’s relentless attacks, we must focus on our shared mission—winning souls for the Lord. Each of us has been called to this sacred task, to help bring others into the fold of God’s love and truth. Let us focus on bringing light into a world filled with darkness.

Our goal is not to dwell on the imperfections of this world but to keep our sights on Heaven. Our true home lies not here, but with our Lord for eternity. He invites us to trust Him, promising to take care of all our burdens and to guide us safely to our eternal home.

“But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?” (Psalm 56:3- 4).

“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you” (Matthew 6:14).

“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

Prayer

Our Heavenly Father, bless Your holy name! We come to You and put our burdens at Your feet. Take our pain, skepticism, doubt, mistrust, and any other old, negative feelings about religion, church, or the people in it. Heal those hard places, Lord. We don’t want anything standing between us and You. No barriers. No walls up. Just You. We realize that people are imperfect, but You are not. Help us forgive anyone who may have hurt us or spoken words that weren’t from You. We lay everything before You. This is the day You hath made. In this, we choose joy. We choose peace. We choose for You to be our place of refuge and to renew our faith in You and in the people genuinely doing Your work. If we don’t have one, guide us to a good Christian church. Please lead us to good Christian friends. Help us open our hearts once again to your Holy Spirit so that He can move through us, and we can be who we need to be for You. In the precious name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

A Comforting Closure

May we anchor ourselves in the steadfast foundation of faith in God. Let us remember that when all else fails, God remains the solid rock upon which we can stand firm. In Him, we find strength and guidance to navigate any storm.

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