02/20/2023
Our trust should be in the Lord, but more than that, all of the confidence we exhibit is comprised of Him. If we trust in Him and exhibit His confidence, then we will be truly blessed. The doubt we once had will be gone, and the fear will have been overcome by the confident nature of our Lord. Oh, what a blessing this would be.
“The person who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence indeed is the Lord, is blessed.”
Jeremiah 17:7 CSB
In this way we will not only be fearless and without doubt, but our confidence will lead us to produce much fruit. Our trust coupled with the confidence that it fosters will make us bold, and courageous as we answer God’s callings, and do His will. We will succeed in our service to Him, and know that we will never fail.
“He will be like a tree planted by water: it sends its roots out toward a stream, it doesn’t fear when heat comes, and its foliage remains green. It will not worry in a year of drought or cease producing fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:8 CSB
When I was young I played several sports and was a member of various teams. Some of them had exceptional players and yet never won a championship, but others had players of lesser ability and did win. The difference between them was confidence, and playing with the absolute expectation of winning. Trust and confidence changed the lesser into the victorious. This is especially true in our faith… it is one thing to say that our God is great and that He strengthens us, but it is quite something else to take those words into heart, and live in His confident nature. Saying we can do all things in Him is one thing, but trusting in His promise so completely that we accomplish them are two very different things. Paul believed this; listen to what he tells us…
“I am able to do all things through him [Jesus] who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:13 CSB
In this way we go forth, not as people who are striving to become victorious, but as believers who are already faithful champions, and who have already become confident victors as we go about doing the will of God.
But, if we are listening to our own selves, and trust in mankind, then we do not experience the same real and unwavering confidence of the faithful… we turn towards the world, and away from the Lord; thus revealing that our confidence is a facade and it fails us. It has holes in its breastplate that allows doubt and fear access to our heart. There are chinks, and flaws, in the armor of man; whereas the armor of God is perfect and flawless in every way.
“This is what the Lord says: Cursed is the person who trusts in mankind. He makes human flesh his strength, and his heart turns from the Lord.”
Jeremiah 17:5 CSB
So in whom do we trust, and where has our confidence taken root? Are we still striving to achieve victory in Jesus, or has our trust in God made us victorious over sin, death, and the world, already?
“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
1 Corinthians 15:56-58 CSB
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the absolute trust and confidence we have in your Word and it’s unwavering truth. Thank you for your unwavering nature that allows us to trust in you always, and for your bold and victorious confidence that becomes rooted in us, and transforms our flawed earthly characters of fear and doubt into yours… ever fearless, without doubting any outcome, and righteous and Holy in every way. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who has made us victorious through Christ from the foundation of creation. Praised be your name for your Son Jesus who teaches us how to walk without fear, and to have confidence in your will; even in the face of death. Merciful are you and amazing is your grace. You breathed life into us, redeemed us in Jesus, and exhaled your Holy Spirit onto us. Your breath is our life, our walk, and the assurance of our victory in you, your Son, and your Spirit. In this we trust and have no doubt, in this we are confident and fear nothing, and in this we realize the hope and victory of eternity with you has already become our blessing. Your victorious love for us was, and is, and is to come… unbound from time, and forevermore.
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:37-39 CSB
Rich Forbes