Recently I was reading a devotional that used the words ‘trust’ and ‘faith’ interchangeably. At first it made perfect sense to me, but then I questioned it: Are trust and faith really the same thing? Can you use one word in place of the other?
What are the definition of trust and faith?
The English definition that would be applicable to both words (and would often be the cause of the words being used interchangeably) would be this: “a confidence in something other than yourself.” Google takes that common, English definition and then expands on it, ever so slightly, to give each word a slightly unique definition. You will notice that with the English definition, the similarities out weigh the differences. No wonder we use them interchangeably sometimes! The word ‘trust’ is even used to describe ‘faith’, but, these definitions are both too simple and incomplete. Because our English understanding of these words is limited, we have to dig a bit deeper, into the original Hebraic meaning of both trust and faith and into what scripture says about each.
TRUST [Noun]
“Belief in the reliability, truth, or strength of someone or something.”
English Definition
The word “trust” is translated from four different Hebrew words. It’s in moments like this where I am amazed by how limited our English language is in interpreting some words from scripture in the fullness of the original language. The English definition of ‘trust’ is abstract and is not descriptive in it of itself whereas in Hebrew, the words used to describe ‘trust’ are concrete. It can be summed up by the following words: to lean on, to cling to God and receive nourishment and strength, to know that God is strong and will save you, and to be firm in Him.
The primary verse that came to mind when I thought of ‘trust’ was from Proverbs 3:5-6.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
According to Proverbs, ‘trust’ is something that we have that we give to God. It is something that comes from our heart and it causes us to rely on and walk in God’s ways over our own ways.
Faith can be summed up like this:
FAITH [Noun]
“Complete trust or confidence in someone or something.”
English Definition
“Faith”, on the other hand, is more of an action oriented word in Hebrew meaning “support”. In our Western world and mindset, we would define faith as ‘knowing and believing that God will act’. The Hebrew definition, however, means “one who ‘supports God'”. What does that mean? How can we support God? This is the heart posture and the understanding that God’s way is the best way. This looks like living out daily the ‘your will be done’ attitude of Christ.
The primary verse that came to mind when thinking of faith was Hebrews 11:1. In this verse, faith is defined. However, I picked Hebrews 12:1-2 as the primary verse here. It doesn’t give us the definition of faith, rather it is a reminder of the source and the greatest example we have of faith . . . it is a description of faith in action.
“Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:1-2
Why do we sometimes use faith and trust interchangeably?
- Both ‘faith’ and ‘trust’ are used to describe an integral part of our relationship with God. To have a soft heart that is prepared to receive faith and the gift of the Holy Spirit, there has to be a beginning moment of trust where we entrust ourselves into God’s hands. Then, faith is given. This initial moment of faith is where true relationship with God begins. From here, trust is developed. The more we lean on Jesus and continue to expand and deepen our trust in Him, the more both trust and faith will flourish. It is my assumption that trust comes before faith, however this might be one of those “which came first, the chicken or the egg?” kind of moments! What I do know is this . . . you cannot have trust or faith without the other. In the same way, when one increases, as a byproduct so will the other.
- Trust is an offshoot of faith. Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as the “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” God and His promises (fulfilled in Christ) are our confidences. So, if Christ is the roots of our tree, and faith is the sturdy trunk, then trust is like one of the many offshoots of the branches. When we put our trust in God, we are exercising the faith that He has given us. Just like when we are courageous, loving our enemy or joyful despite the circumstance. All of these are, in essence, products of our faith.
- Faith and trust both lead us on the path of obedience. Proverbs 3 says that if we trust in the Lord then He will make our paths straight because we are not relying on our own understanding but choosing to listen to Him and walk in His ways. In Hebrews 12, the author gives us the imagery of the race. With our eyes fixed on Jesus, the one who had faith and gives us faith, we can run along the path that He has laid out for us. Trust and faith in God will push us towards the way that is His and that pleases Him.
- Faith and trust are both rooted in Jesus. Faith or trust in anything other than Christ is futile. Trust hinges on our willingness to give it, but more importantly God has proven Himself worthy of receiving our trust – just by being who He is. If we put our trust in Him, He will not fail us. We begin to release more of our own control and hereby increase trust the more we get to know God because His Character is good, loving and wonderful. Similarly faith hinges on the object of our faith, rather than the amount we have. In Matthew 17:18-20, Jesus tells His disciples that even faith as small as a mustard seed, the smallest seed of its kind, can move a mountain. So both small faith (as small as a mustard seed) or large faith as big as a mustard tree can both move mountains. “Our faith is only as strong as the object in which it’s placed. If our faith, even if it’s the size of a mustard seed, is placed in the all-powerful God, great things can happen” . Without Jesus, faith and trust have no foundation and cannot exist. Faith without Christ has nothing to have faith in and nowhere for faith to come from. Similarly, trust without Christ has nothing to put trust in.
Why is it important to recognize that they are different?
Another similarity worth pointing out between faith and trust is that they are both given. It is worth calling attention to yet another similarity because in this lies the biggest difference. Both faith and trust are given by someone different. According to Proverbs 3, trust is something we give. We have to choose to trust in God and to give Him our whole heart – relying on Him and choosing to walk in His ways over our own ways. Trust can be given on our end to God because of who He is. He is good, faithful, wonderful and all powerful, and worthy of our trust. Faith, on the other hand, is also given. However, it is given by God to us because it was not ours to begin with. Faith is Jesus’. He is the author of it and He makes it perfect. He makes it available through His death and resurrection and He gives it to those who are ready to receive it. It is not ours that we give but His that we receive with eternally grateful hearts.
Have you ever thought about this before? What do you think the difference between faith and trust are? Comment below!
Written by: Justine Joy
Refined Joy 
I liked how faith and trust are both given but given by different people. I’ve never thought about trust being something we give to God!
Yah I know – when I was trying to think of the difference between them that’s the biggest thing I could think of – but there is so much more to learn about that! I might have to write a 2.0 version as I keep learning lol!