I used to think that trusting necessarily means opening up completely. And doubting is a manifestation of weakness or even distrust of God's providence. But over time, through various encounters, and, frankly, through several disappointments, I came to a different understanding.

We are given freedom. And this is not just the freedom to do what you want - it is the ability to choose responsibly. And responsibility includes not only love, but also caution. In the Gospel of Matthew (10:16) Jesus says: "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." And if you think about it, this is an amazing formula: on the one hand, simplicity of heart, on the other - a sound mind.

When you meet someone, for example — especially online, where anyone can hide behind beautiful words — you don’t have to immediately bare your soul. Faith does not require naivety. God is not offended if we look carefully at first. He created us so that we could feel, recognize, observe. Trust is not a button that you can press. It is a path. And the path takes time.

And yes, sometimes along this path you notice warning signs. Not because you are looking for flaws, but because you pray, ask God for prudence, and He answers you — in the form of intuition, slight discomfort, or even words said "in passing", but something inside you shivers.

The Bible is full of examples of people who made decisions with caution. Remember the same Virgin Mary. When the angel appeared to her, she did not immediately say "yes". First she asked the question: "How will this be?" (Luke 1:34). She didn't doubt God - she wanted to understand. So, asking questions doesn't mean not believing, it means caring.

This is especially important when it comes to choosing a person to be with. We're not choosing coffee. It's not about "interests coincide." It's about the soul responding, but also the mind saying, "Yes, this is good." And here it's important not to be afraid to be careful. Not to be afraid to say, "I want to get to know you better before I dare to let you in deeper." Not because you're cold - on the contrary, because you value yourself and others.

There's one place in the book of Proverbs that I love: "The prudent foresees evil and hides themselves, but the simple pass on and are punished" (Proverbs 22:3). It's about the same thing. Caution is not fear. It's maturity. It's when your heart is still open, but no longer blind. When you walk toward someone - but don't run, not forgetting yourself along the way.

I am not saying all this as an expert. I am simply a person who is trying to live by faith, to be alive, honest, sometimes vulnerable, sometimes cautious. Sometimes men write to me who want to understand what is in my heart. And I do not always answer right away. Not because I am proud or unapproachable. But because I want to be honest with myself, and with God, and with the one who writes. After all, if dialogue is a path, it should be illuminated by light, and not running in the dark.

So if you are reading this and thinking: “I also sometimes doubt whether it is worth trusting right away” - know that you are not alone. And this is not a sin. This is part of the path.

The main thing is not to close yourself off. And do not reproach yourself for caution. It can be the same form of love as trust. It is just a different stage of it. Quieter. More mature.

And how do you feel about having options when you have doubts?

With peace and warmth,
may your path be bright.
Lana Banana