I woke with so many questions this morning:
•Am I walking life with confidence?
•What does it look like?
•Is confidence freely given, learned or earned?
•Do I allow my circumstances to dictate my level of confidence?
•Who/what is that "someone" or "something"?
•If I lack confidence, how do I develop it? Can I? Do I need it?
As I began to think about myself...doing a self-assessment, if you will, I began by first looking at what being confident does not mean. Perhaps by looking at what it's not, I could determine where I land.
When one lacks confidence they are:
Hesitant, indesisive, vacillating, wavering, diffident (modest, shy), unassuming, doubtful, uncertain, unsure.
It's always easier to critic ourselves rather than boast about ourselves. It's more comfortable to tear ourselves down rather than build ourselves up. When I look at the above antonyms I'm surprised my name isn't there...for they describe me...they fit my inner personality. They are who I am. I walk closely with them.
On the other side is confidence. Described by these words:
Collected, composed, cool-headed, poised, tranquil, serene, unshaken, hopefully, optimistic, rosy, upbeat, desisive, resolute.
I went to two graduation parties this past weekend and what I saw were three confident young adults ready to take the world by storm. They had plans, dreams and desires. All three were resolute, cool-headed, unshaken and hopeful. I was genuinely happy for them. Them having a confidence that I've always desired but never possessed.
As I was writing I began to go down a road, that I realized, could make me very sad. I don't get a redo. None of us do.
But God....
This life isn't all there is!! There's more So.much.more! And with confidence I went to the Word of God.
"For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands."
2 Corinthians 5:1
My earthly tent is temporary! All the earthly confidence in the world will not secure my eternal house.
"Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked."
2 Corinthians 5:3
We groan..... true....this earthly life can often be hard, sad, tragic, unfair....we can lack confidence, direction and purpose. We feel vulnerable and naked. We often long for something more. Whether we know God or not there is a deep desire to know this heavenly dwelling.
"For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life."
2 Corinthians 5:4
We were created for Eden. Think about that. Eden was perfection! Every need met. Nothing else could be desired. And because of Jesus we will have that perfection again!
Isaiah's prophecy of that day is so beautiful:
"The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea."
Isaiah 11:6-9
And so we know this:
"Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord."
2 Corinthians 5:6
My struggle with confidence is because I struggle against the world. I'm placing my confidence in the world. My confidence is misplaced. This world is never going to give me the level of confidence that I already have in the absolute surity of eternal life.
"For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it."
2 Corinthians 5:7-9
Which brings a different definition:
Confident - Certainty and assurance of one's relationship with God, a sense of boldness that is dependent on a realization of one's acceptance by God, and a conviction that one's destiny is secure in God.
"So we make it our goal to PLEASE HIM, whether we are at home in the body or away from it."
2 Corinthians 5:9
"Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ."
Galatians 1:10
I am a servant of Christ. My confidence is in HIM not the circumstances of this world. That changes EVERYTHING!
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God."
Colossians 3:1-3
This life is not easy. Especially when we put so much of our energy into pleasing others. As a Christ follower we are commanded:
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Romans 12:2
It does not mean it's an easy journey. I am called to live IN the world not OF the world. When we are asked to go against the grain...to turn from what is popular, attractive, enticing...what looks fun, seems okay...well it's hard. Sometimes we might even feel left out, feel like we're missing out..."but we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Hebrews 12:2
He did it FOR me and for everyone who calls him Lord. And we can have confidence with great conviction, that what he began he will finish!
Have a beautiful day!
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