I am confident and unafraid.
Confidence. It’s something we all want and need. But what’s the source of our confidence? The world says it’s because of who we are and what we are capable of doing. But as Christians, we believe it’s because of who God is and what he has already done for us.
In Scripture (Isaiah 12:2), Isaiah declares that he is confident because his “strength” and “courage is the Lord”. And in the Scripture (Ephesians 3:2-12), Paul says we have confidence through our faith in Jesus (Ephesians 3:12). Of course, it’s easy to say that our confidence comes from God. But how can we make this spiritual truth affect the way we live each day? Here are a few suggestions.
Our true confidence lies in knowing, deep down, that we have a Father in heaven who loves us and is always with us. We can lean on him at all times, and trust that he will supply all that we need. So try to get into the habit of thanking God for his love and faithfulness. The more you consciously express your gratitude, the more confident you will become that God always has your back.
It’s easy to feel confident when things are going well. But when we face challenges that we don’t know how to handle, our confidence can quickly shrivel up. Again, you can make the conscious decision to surrender the situation to God. Even if you don’t “feel” any different, even if you keep taking back your surrender, keep it up. God sees your faith, and he will find a way to show you that he is still with you to help you and to guide you.
Finally, you can build your confidence in God by recalling stories about his faithfulness in the Scriptures and the lives of the saints. Remember how God parted the Red Sea when the Israelites were literally up against a wall (of water). Remember how God helped David defeat Goliath (1 Samuel 17:46). Remember how Mother Teresa pressed on against enormous odds to keep caring for the poorest of the poor. Tell yourself, “God helped them, and he will help me.”
We can never exhaust God’s strength and courage. So be confident that you can rely on the One who will give you all you need!
Word Among Us
Yes! Amen! Amen! Amen! “We can never exhaust God’s strength and courage.” It’s because we are made in His divine image that we have the victory in faith hope and love. Thank you, Fr. Maurice. And, thank you, “Lord Jesus, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us.” (adapted Jesus Prayer)