Confidence
Confidence
Comes from God’s strength, not our own.
(Jgs 7:2) Self-sufficiency is an enemy when it causes us to believe we can always do what needs to be done in our own strength. To prevent this attitude among Gideon’s soldiers. God reduced their number from 32,000 to 300). With an army this small, there could be no doubt that victory was from God. The men could not take the credit. Like Gideon, we must recognize the danger of fighting in our own strength. We can be confident of victory only if we put our confidence in God and not ourselves.
(Ps 2:4) God laughs, not at the nations, but at their confused thoughts about power. It is the laughter of a father when his three-year-old boast that he or she can outrun him or beat him in a wrestling match. The father knows the boundaries of power of his little child and God knows the boundaries of power of the nations. Every nation is limited, but God is transcendent. If you have to choose between confidence in God and confidence in any nation, choose God!
Confidence in the face of global destruction.
(Ps 46:1-3) The fear of mountains or cities suddenly crumbling into the see has the result of a nuclear blast haunts many people today. But the psalmist says that even if the world ends, we need not fear in the face of utter destruction, the writer expressed a quiet confidence in God’s ability to save him. It seems impossible to consider the end of the world with becoming consumed by fear , but the Bible is clear – God is our refuge even in the face of total destruction. He is not merely a temporary retreat, he is our eternal refuge and can provide strength in any circumstance.
Lack of it means us struggle with new challenges.
(Jer 1:6-8) Often people struggle with new challenges because they lack self-confidence, feeling that they have inadequate ability, training, or experience. Jeremiah thought he was “only a child” – too young and inexperienced to be with him. We should not allow feelings of inadequacy to keep us from obeying God’s call. He will always be with us. When you find yourself avoiding something you know you should do, be careful not to use lack of self-confidence as an excuse. If God gives you a job to do, he will provide all you need to do it.
How Holy Spirit gives us confidence.
(1 Cor 2:9) We cannot imagine all that God has in store for us, both in this life and for eternity. He will create a new heaven and a new earth (Isaiah 65:17; Revelations 21:1), and we will live with him forever. Until than his Holy Spirit comforts and guides us. Knowing the wonderful and eternal future that awaits us gives us hope and courage to press on in this life, to endure hardship, and to avoid giving in to temptation. This world is not all there is. The best is yet to come.
Let’s take a look at “conflict(s).