Unscathed

When you were growing up, do you remember your teacher, coach, or parents telling you all you needed to do was to believe in yourself. To trust your instincts and have confidence in yourself. As a result, we’ve grown up believing that the results lie in our ability to achieve a given end. In some ways, this isn’t bad because we don’t want to go through life timid and afraid to make decisions. However, culture tells [us we] should invest in [ourselves] further, love [ourselves] better and believe in [ourselves] more. Those aren’t inherently bad ideas … but the results are inconsistent (Kayla Ferris, Finding Confidence that God is Working).

The unfortunate truth is that if we spend our time putting all of our faith in ourselves, the results may be good. Or they may be very bad. There’s no knowing what that outcome will be because we aren’t in control of what happens tomorrow. We can’t see how the dominoes will drop or what turn the river will take. There has to be a better solution than me having greater faith in me. And thankfully there is. Because, friend, what I truly need is God-confidence (Kayla Ferris, Finding Confidence that God is Working).

If we want to see evidence of this, all we have to do is search the Scriptures to see all those who had tremendous confidence in God. During the exile of Israel, Darius, king of Persia, decreed that there would be no worship of other gods except to himself. Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before (Daniel 6:10 NIV). When Daniel learned of the decree, he immediately turned to God for help and deliverance. Daniel carried a confidence in God that went beyond anyone of his time. His prayers were overheard and landed him in the lion’s den to be devoured. However, his confidence in God prevailed and he walked out of that den unscathed. 

Many of us face our own lion’s den today. Problems we didn’t expect. Road blocks wherever we turn. Or maybe just ending up where we didn’t expect. Culture tells us that we can make it on our own. All we have to do is believe in ourselves more and try harder. But the truth is there’s no guarantee that will work out. Daniel believed that no matter what happened, God was in control of the situation. We can have that same confidence today. Instead of trusting your own strength, trust in the strength of the One who’s holding the plan in the palm of His hand. You may not come out unscathed like Daniel, but you can confidently walk into the unknown with the knowledge and experience that God has whatever comes next under control. Even if it’s in the lion’s den.