In October 2025, a street play in Kerala, India, was performed to educate and warn people of the dangers of stray dog attacks. During the play, a stray dog ran onto the stage and bit one of the performers. Believing this was part of the play, the audience simply watched as the man was bitten on the feet and hands.

That same month, in Paris, two men dressed as construction workers drove a stolen ladder truck up to the Louvre, rode a lift up the ladder to a window, smashed through it, grabbed $88M in jewels and rode the lift back down, escaping with two more men waiting on motorcycles. Bystanders and staff didn’t recognize it as a real crime initially. They thought it was some kind of performance art installation or legitimate maintenance work.

We humans put up with odd, even horrible, events when we trust the intentions of whoever is in control. The dog play’s audience trusted that the performers had control of their stage. The Louvre attendees trusted the security of the venerable institution.

Many times a day we put our trust in institutions, authority figures, technology, and other people. We get on planes, assuming it has undergone thorough maintenance and the pilot is capable and competent. We cross the street at the walk signal assuming the drivers are paying attention to the traffic lights. We eat food delivered to us without question believing it to be prepared safely in clean conditions.

When things don’t go as expected, we are initially confused. And then shocked and rattled. Why did that plane crash? That’s not supposed to happen! Our faith in the airline company is broken.

Everything and everyone on earth is fallible. Bad things happen. All the time. People get distracted, selfish, or lazy and neglect important tasks. Other people find ways to exploit our trust.

It’s hard to keep trusting people in this environment. And maybe we should be more careful, vigilant and skeptical.

But we never have to be skeptical of God. He is the only one who is always trustworthy. His intentions for me are always good. He loves, encourages, and urges us toward growth, courage, and righteousness.

“For I know the plans I have for you” — this is the Lord’s declaration — “plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
(‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭11,‬ ‭CSB)‬‬

Even when bad things happen in my life — and they definitely will — I know God has a plan and purpose for my life. He can work it all out for good when I put my trust in Him.

Dear God, thank you that I can trust you in all situations. Even when I don’t understand what is happening around me, I know you are here with me, you love me, and I can trust that your will is good and your plan cannot be thwarted.