21 Days to Building a Faith Filled Family - Audio DevotionalSample

Building Trust and Communication in Your Family

Welcome back friend. It’s Day 10 of our 21-day journey towards building strong families! Today, we're going to focus on two crucial elements of any healthy family: trust and communication.

As we explore the importance of trust and communication in our families, let's take a moment to pray together:

Dear God, we ask for your guidance and wisdom as we work to build stronger, healthier families. Help us to recognize the importance of trust and communication in our relationships, and give us the tools and strength we need to overcome any obstacles in our path. Amen.

As we come to our time together, I encourage you to dedicate the next 15 minutes to Jesus. Find a comfortable place and remove any distractions. If you’re listening to the audio, let the sound of my voice lead you.

Do you trust your family?

I mean really trust each of your family members?

Trust is the foundation of any healthy relationship, and communication is the key to maintaining that foundation. Without trust, communication becomes difficult, and without communication, trust cannot be established or maintained. So, it is crucial that we intentionally work towards building both in our families.

Are there relationships in your family that need improvement? Have there been trust breaches or communication breakdowns? Have there been missed expectations? Don't be discouraged if the answer is yes - Almost every family would answer the same way. While it can be a painful opportunity, this is still an opportunity for growth and positive change. Where there is mistrust - there can be healing.

If you are looking to regain trust in your family, or you are working to trust another family member, remember that it takes time. In hurtful situations, forgiveness can proceed trust. Somebody might be willing to forgive, but trusting takes vulnerability and that can take longer. Trust must be earned or rebuilt.

To build trust, it's important to be consistent in your words and actions. Show up when you say you will and follow through on promises. Be honest and transparent in your communication, and listen actively to what others are saying.

Throughout the Bible, we see countless examples of families facing difficult challenges and working together to overcome them. One such example can be found in the story of Joseph and his brothers (Genesis 37-50). Joseph was envied by his brothers and sold into slavery. Despite the challenging circumstances, he ascended to leadership positions in every situation. Eventually, he was second in command of Egypt and confronted face-to-face with his brothers with the option of forgiveness or vengeance.

Joseph’s story is one of many hardships and betrayal overcome through perseverance. But it is also a story of faithfulness, forgiveness, grace, and reconciliation leading to a stronger family bond.

Are there any particular situations or conversations that have led to a breakdown in trust or communication in your family? Would it be possible to let God work to improve these areas moving forward? Would you be willing to give God the opportunity to do that?

[PAUSE FOR REFLECTION]

Let’s pray about that.

Lord, thank you for my friend here. I pray for him or her to give you the pain and broken trust he or she has felt in the past. You, alone, can heal the broken relationships and trust in his or her life. I know it doesn’t come immediately, and it doesn’t come easily, but thank you for your faithfulness to be with us.

[PAUSE FOR REFLECTION]

Proverbs 20:7 says, "The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them."

As parents, we have a responsibility to model trust and integrity for our children. When we live with honesty and reliability, we teach our children to do the same.

I’ve heard it said that, “Your children will model our behavior long before they follow your advice,” and I believe it’s true.

If your family needs to work on rebuilding some relationships, model the way. Be trustworthy to your children, spouse, and extended family. Demonstrate integrity for your siblings. Remember, all relationships are built upon trust.

A pastor once talked about his parenting techniques. He said that he and his wife only disciplined their children for three behaviors, disrespect, disobedience, and dishonesty. He went on to say that dishonesty was punished twice as hard because it had the potential to break the relationship.

Effective communication is also essential for building trust. Start by creating an open and safe environment for your family to communicate. Encourage everyone to share their thoughts and feelings, and actively listen without judgment. Practice empathy and seek to understand the perspective of others.

How can you work to cultivate greater trust and communication within your own household? What steps can you take to strengthen your relationships with one another? It might not be easy, but trust can be rebuilt.

Whether you have inflicted pain or received pain, invite God into the process. Pray for guidance and strength as you work towards positive change. Remember that building trust and communication takes time and effort, but the rewards are immeasurable.

I’m proud of you, friend. You are doing hard work here. Keep it up.

Let me pray to close for today.

Lord, we give you full access to our hearts. We trust you. We trust you even though there are times that circumstances and situations don't match up to our expectations. We get hurt. We hurt others. But, we know that you are working through all of it for your glory. Help us to take the steps to rebuild trust, and to take steps to trust others, even those that have hurt us in the past. Lead the way, Lord. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

I’ll leave you with Jesus.

Take your time and I’ll talk to you tomorrow.