In God We Trust
In God We Trust. This is a powerful statement and recognition of God’s infinite majesty. Usually, at the end of the month, I wrap up my entries with prayers. Some of those posts are, To The Universe, I thank God, and Grace of God. In everything I do, I try to welcome God’s mercies, kindness, and blessings. Having faith in God helps me carry on. It gives me unshakable confidence. Most especially, it makes me understand that I don’t have to prove anything to anybody. It also inculcates the value of being trustworthy. Everyone needs someone to trust or at least not to be disappointed, it also makes sense to be a source of assurance for others as well.
It pays off to trust in God more than you do your fellow human beings. Many people out there cannot be trusted. I don’t even know if I trust myself all the time. I don’t want to sound as if I am preaching on this. Trust is earned obviously. It may take years to build trust only for it to get shattered within seconds.
The reason why sometimes people find it hard to rebuild trust is because of the nature of the hurt involved. When someone you trust disappoints you, takes your loyalty for granted, or tries to take advantage of you, your ego gets shattered. I am not talking about mere pride that comes from external possessions or acquired status. The crux of who you are inside and what you believe in are affected, sometimes forever. Not everyone has the power to forgive and for some even when they do, things are never the same. There is this sting that makes you feel stupid when you realize the person(s) you trust cannot be trusted. In moments like that, placing your trust in God can help you pull through. And yet, there is an element of trust needed to enjoy this life. I mean who are we if we don’t stick to agreements and honor each other? Even when the arm of law maintains justice, it’s not so hard to see that civilization is built on trust. If not, we will be animals in the wild fighting each other all the time.
In God We Trust is also the official motto of the United States. President Dwight Eisenhower signed it into law in 1956 after the 84th Congress voted in its favor. Many Federal Courts have upheld its constitutionality. The freedom protected by the first amendment includes freedom of religion. Some people feel that such proclamation and recognition of a deity offends their religious freedom. They argue that the church and state should be kept separate.
Even before 1956, the phrase started appearing in currencies in 1864. It was engraved on 2 cents first. Georgia, Florida, and Mississippi have this powerful motto in their seals or flags. The motto is carved above the rostrum, where the Speaker of the House of Representatives sits. All over America, the inscription of this motto on public buildings, statues, and properties is lawful and welcome.
90% of people from a recent poll favor continuous usage. This sentiment is understandable because this phrase, which also has a biblical background, became popular in America at a time an abiding faith was needed. Both sides claimed the protection of God’s favor. What this shows is that when challenged, when our faith is shaken, when troubles attempt to steal our joy, a recognition of God as the supreme being assuages any fears.
This belief directly brings us together. This calmness brings us closer to what it means to be human. I don’t think the world needs any more tragedy before humans understand that even when our opinions are different, morality, kindness, and empathy are virtues that cut across our differences. President Theodore Roosevelt in 1907 approved the inscription in public buildings but saw it as close to sacrilege to have it on currencies.
He believed that such beautiful statements like “In God We Trust” should be carried in our hearts and not our pockets. To him, the importance of God is bigger than other attachments to the material currency which sometimes may not be so virtuous. The people saw to it that this phrase remains inscribed on every US currency.
It makes sense to have God’s assurance in our pockets just as we must do so in our minds. At the end of the day, such a symbol can inspire good character and faith. I remember flipping some dollar bills as a kid. The inscription In God We Trust stood out for me and I stared at it for a while. The love of money and the power it brings can push people to do different things, at the end of the day, that inscription will mean different things to different people. If it makes you remember God’s graciousness, all the better.
Nicaragua has the Spanish version of this inscription on its coins. En Dios Confiamos. For The United States, a country that prides itself on liberty and progress, choosing such a motto proves that the good in people will always outweigh the bad. Why? Love Conquers everything. The love of God and the love we have for one another.
