Finding Confidence

Confidence can take on many faces: self confidence, confidence in our life circumstances, confidence in the choices we make, confidence everything will be OK.  The list can go on and on.  Each new day we need to revisit what God tells us about confidence so we can rise up and face the day.  Where do you struggle with confidence?  I would like to think that each of us have some insecurities that live within us - I say this because I wouldn't want to be alone in this thinking.  Whatever your insecurities, God wants to meet you right there and free you. 

Hebrews 10: 35-36 says " So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised."  I find myself constantly throwing away my confidence.  God does not want us to walk around with uncertainties.  He wants us to persevere and stand tall with our faith in Him.  1 John 5:14-15  " This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him."  God tells us that whatever we might lack confidence in He will provide it for us.  I am not saying He will grant you your every wish -  to quote Oswald Chambers, "God is not some eternal blessing-machine for people to use".  He hears us and will provide whatever is best for us in His eyes.  Philippians 1:6  "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. "

Try to visualize God looking down on us.  How do you think he feels when we walk around with our heads down, feeling a lack of confidence in the person He created, feeling afraid of what might happen tomorrow and showing lack of trust in Him as our provider.  Do we want Him to see us like this or do we want Him to see us with our heads held high with a Christ-given confidence in who we are and what life has to offer?  2 Corinthians 7:16  "I am glad I can have complete confidence in you." 

Sometimes our greatest challenge is when we put confidence in others and disappointment follows.  This is a part of life.  It is hard enough to have confidence in ourselves, but also to have it in others is the greatest challenge.  As we get older, we experience the dreaded heartache of others not being truthful, faithful as a friend, & causing pain in our lives.  As a result, we begin to doubt and lose confidence.  I say to you don't place your faith in mere man.  When you doubt others, take it to the throne.  You may never be able to trust another person here on earth, but you can trust the One who is in complete control; and He has His eyes on this world.  It has always brought me comfort to know that if others are doing things to hurt you behind your back, even though you may not know about it, praise God, He does.  And believe me, He knows more about what to do with their wrong doing than you could ever dream up.  Hebrews 13:6  " So we say with confidence,  “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”   Confidence is a gift from God.  If you look to Him through all your struggles with certainty in yourself and the things of this world, He will lift you up.  Isaiah 43:2  "When you pass through the waters,  I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers,  they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze."  God is your protector and He is with you ALWAYS!