What does confidence mean?
Wikipedia defines it thus “Confidence has a common meaning of a certainty about handling something, such as work, family, social events, or relationships. Some have ascribed confidence as a state of being certain either that a hypothesis or prediction is correct or that a chosen course of action is the best or most effective”.
So many people started out the year with strong confessions of faith and a joyful expectation of great things. Their confidence was most probably based on the truth that God is faithful and able to do what he promised.
Fast forward to the second half of the year and the confessions are beginning to wane. Not as bold and strong as in the first and second or even third month of the year.
Just like Peter, many of us are looking at the wind; but can one see the wind? Yep! When you look at the boisterous roiling of the sea, you are “seeing the wind”.
But how can I not cast away my confidence when the bills I saw in January are still staring me in the face?
How can I “cast not away my confidence” when it seems like I take one step forward and two backwards?
What is happening? Do I not have enough faith? Have I not trusted God enough? Am I not working hard or smart enough?
I have a word from God for you today….
Do you know that the hours before morning are usually the darkest?
Cast not away therefore your confidence for it has a great recompense of reward! For you have need of patience that after you have done the will of God you might obtain the promise.
Having done all to stand; STAND!!!
The patience you need now is not the literal dictionary patience of putting up with a situation. It is rather the bible patience of staying consistent with what you believe. It is standing firm on that promise that God gave you without “looking at the winds”.
You started out the year standing on God’s promise; stay steadfast and unmovable on it. Do not be like the first grade child who planted a bean seed and kept uprooting it to see whether it was growing.
You have planted the seed of your confession, it’s time to water it with your praise; even the sacrifice of praise. Your tears are part of the watering but only if they are cried in praise and worship and not in complaints and bitterness.
Lift up your head! Look above the winds; look up! The one who gave you a word is faithful (Numbers 23:19…Take out 5 minutes daily for seven days to meditate on this verse).
