Keeping the Confidence. So easily said. The practice of it is much more challenging.
I again come to the analogy of athletics. Athletes are generally very successful when their confidence is high. When they are knowing that they can and will do something that has a positive impact. And even when they find themselves in a moment of failure, they understand that it is only a moment and that they will find the way back from that failure.
Our life with Christ is rooted in confidence. Not so much in our ability or our talent, but in the hope that regardless of where we might be the LORD is there with us. I have to know that I am going to prevail in all thanks to the LORD and His will and His watching over me.
“5Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.” – Hebrews 3:5-6 (ESV)
The writer of Hebrews in this passage is specifically identifying Jesus to be greater than Moses. Yet I am looking to verse six this morning. I am to have confidence in Christ as He is faithful over God’s house, the church to which I am. It is not me that I have confidence in, it is in Christ. He will always win out.
Here is where things get a little complicated for us has humans, we have to overcome failure and know that Christ does win. Our confidence is in Christ, not ourselves. I am a sinner and filled with failure. It is Christ who lifts me up and not myself. I will have moments of failure to which I must move on knowing that my confidence is in the LORD who does not fail. My failure is just a momentary setback that was likely of design to redirect or keep me from some calamity. Like the athlete who is confident they will overcome, I must as well. But, different from the athlete who is confident in their ability to overcome, my confidence is in Christ who will lead me through that which is challenging my view of success.
Failure is going to come, it is for sure. The way through the failure is to have confidence that we will overcome. Our confidence to do so should be in the LORD as He will not fail. I must keep the confidence in Him, knowing that He will lead me through whatever is upon me that may not feel like success.
Where are you putting your confidence? Are you looking to yourself to get you through the challenges and failures? What if you were to keep your confidence in the LORD knowing that He will not fail?