God is not a man, that He should tell or act a lie, neither the son of man, that He should feel repentance or compunction [for what He has promised]. Has He said and shall He not do it? Or has He spoken and shall He not make it good?--Numbers 23:19, AMPC

Jesus replied, Have I been with all of you for so long a time, and do you not recognize and  know Me yet, Philip? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say then, Show us the Father?--John 14:9, AMPC

Trust. It is such a huge deal! 

We want to be able to trust other people, especially spiritual leaders. We want them to be better than us; to be just like Jesus--which should be their goal. (That is God's goal for us all.)

We want to trust them to thnk and say and do only what is best for us, those over whom they have spiritual influence. 

However, part of the problem is that we have to remember they are humans, like us. 

We should be able to trust our leaders, but sometimes, that is not the case. Or maybe a leader started out well, then continues to succumb to pressures, and gets a mixture of right and wrong, and has a tainted viewpoint at the flock or individuals, or both. 

We want to trust and rest, and believe that our churches are safe places--spiritually, emotionally, mentally, socially, financially. 

It is our job to pray for them, and to forgive them, and to get in the Word ourselves daily, and thus know right fron wrong; whether the behavior and words and such of the leadership is matching the Word. 

We want our spiritual leaders to be like Jesus; like the Father, Who is perfect Love (I John 4:8). 

When there are things that keep happening that shouldn't, that go against the Word--no matter how strong the Anointing on a leader; no matter how many miracles and wonders and signs--then it is time to part from that person, for (in my opinion, from teachings I've had and believe) there is a broken covering there; and open door to the enemy, for some reason. 

As members of the Body of Christ, we are to be continually being healed and delivered and freed and restored--not going backwards. We are delivered from all afflictions, according to the Word of God in Psalm 34:17-19:

17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their distress and  troubles. 18 The Lord is close to those who are of a broken heart and saves such as are crushed with sorrow for sin and are humbly and thoroughly penitent. 19 Many evils confront the [consistently] righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

In other words, if wrong things keep happening by and/or through the spiritual leadership, then something is wrong, and we should no longer ignore the "red flags", which is usually the Holy Spirit trying to alert us to something that is not of Him.

For instance, the Holy Spirit will never speak fear, doubt, unbelief, frustration, condemnation, guilt, shame, or other negative emotions to us. Jesus died to deliver us from all of that mess!

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole.--Isaiah 53:5, AMPC

Leaders can make excuses. That may work for a while; we are all imperfect and in progress, if we're seeking the LORD dailyl.

Yes, we are to forgive and keep praying and believing--and just like when abuse continues in a marriage, no matter the hopes and prayers of the abused spouse, then it is (according to many spiritual leaders and counselors) time to leave. 

It is unfortunate, but God always works all things together for us who love Him and who are the called, according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). We are His kids, and He loves us!

Yes, He loves spiritual leaders who are doing wrong too!

Since every Believer, from the moment we are born again by our faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross over 2,000 years ago, is given the ministry of reconciliation.

But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of  reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him].--2 Corinthians 5:18, AMPC

Trust is faith. When we trust in God, we are right with God. 

Thus Abraham believed in and adhered to and trusted in and relied on God, and it was reckoned and placed to his account and credited as righteousness (as conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action).--Galatians 3:6, AMPC

God commands us to trust in Him, and true trust is a rest. 

If you are trusting in a spiritual leader, and keep having unsettledness in your spirit and soul, and things keep happening that are not of God, then it's probably time to part from that leader and ask the LORD which next leader you need to be covered by to complete your Assignment in the earth! 

Please remember--as I've had to remind myself these last couple weeks, especially--that God is not a man that He should lie, and don't judge Him--the Perfect One, Who is forever faithful and true; Who loves us with an everlasting Love (Jeremiah 31:3) by how people (even high-powered spiritual leaders!) speak and act!

If you have--and most of us have--please ask the LORD to forgive you, keep your eyes and expectations on Him alone, and go deeper with Him through His Word, worship, prayer, and fellowshipping with other life-minded Believers at a Bible-believing church (where you are treated with respect and honor), and He will!

It's a new Season in the Spirit, and King Jesus is coming soon. He is making changes that we may not understand, but must ask for Grace to embrace, and be ready for our glorious Savior! 

Through books, courses, presentations, service, prayer, worship, and more, Tonja and her husband live to exalt God. Her series for girls, P.O.W.E.R. GIRL ADVENTURES, is now out (books I-V), along with LEGACY; YOUR HOLY HEALTH: VISIONS OF THE KING, and more. See the "River Rain Creative" YT channel.