“Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:”
Hebrews 10:35-36 (NKJV)
“I have confidence in your strength; you are my refuge, O God.”
Psalm 59:9 (GNT)
I may have an established doctrine and even believe all the right stuff, but if I lack confidence in what (and WHO) I believe, then I cannot receive what God has promised. Crisis reveals many things of which I am evaluating in my own life. Surprisingly, the foundation of confidence is being tested through this pandemic as well. Confidence is basically understood as the state of certainty. Perhaps it is better understood colloquially as “being sure of something”. All of us have a confidence that is exercised in our life. The question is never, “Do I have confidence in anything?”, but rather, “What is it that I have confidence in?”
God is using this moment to “shake” some things up in our nation and around the globe (Hebrews 12:27). He is exposing our weak spots and candidly, where we place our confidence. I am reminded that the story of the Rich Young Ruler may touch on numerous themes, but perhaps most specifically when the young man was asked to release his riches and couldn’t, it revealed where his confidence was located. His confidence was in his bank account. I have always secretly wondered what the end of that story may have been if the young man had actually obeyed the Lord? Would a demonstration of confidence in Jesus at that moment have released some unusual miracle? We will never actually know, but what we do know from the totality of Scripture is that to substitute your confidence in something other than Jesus will circumvent the possibility of a miracle.
I am convinced our confidence as American Christians is being exposed at this moment. Who do we believe? Who will we trust? What voices are telling us the truth? Is there anything I can embrace as certain?
To be honest, there are only two places I can ultimately place my confidence. I will either have confidence in myself (mistake), the world (bigger mistake), or Satan’s lies (greatest mistake) -or- in God and His Word. This may be the greatest question I can ask myself at this very moment. Where shall I place my confidence?
I am reminding myself today of several things to establish and maintain my place of confidence in the Lord and His Word…
First, I will identify things that are feeding my fears and remove them. That may mean turning off the incessant and non-stop flow of news which majors on fear and inciting skepticism. I need to be up to date with information, but I don’t need fear-based commentary pounding me 24/7.
Secondly, I need to change my vocabulary. My words control my thoughts and I have power over what comes out of my mouth. I will declare my confidence in the Lord continually from my mouth.
Thirdly, I will find the time to meditate on God’s Word and not the circumstances around me. Let God be true and every man a liar.
Fourthly, I will position my ears to hear what builds up my confidence in the Lord. I have extra time to listen to preaching and teaching. I can read books that exhort my faith. I can feed my spirit appropriately.
Fifthly, I will purpose to practice “faith-based” praying and not “fear-based” praying. I will remind myself (and the Lord) of His great and precious promises.
I don’t want to waste these moments God is at work…
I refuse to throw away my confidence…
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