The Virtue of Confidence
There are times in our lives when our confidence in God can be incredibly rocked and challenged. The writer of Hebrews encourages those that were suffering great persecution and trial to: “not throw away their confidence” and to “hold firmly til the end the confidence they had at first”.
The complete text says:
“Do not throw away your confidence (that is our holy courage and boldness); it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.” [Heb 10:35-39] NIV
And in [Heb 3:14] it says“We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first“ and in the following verses the writer warns not to harden their hearts and therefore receive in themselves a rebellious and unbelieving heart towards the Lord.
King David, when challenged with enemies that would completely destroy him handled it this way…
“The LORD is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life — of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.
One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.
Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek. Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior. Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me,breathing out violence.
I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.“ [Psalms 27:1-14] NIV
There is no doubt that our enemy wants to destroy our confidence (if we allow him). He knows how glorious we can become when we put our complete confidence in the Lord. He knows the potential that is within each one of us to glorify our creator and (with great vigor) he attacks our courage and confidence in our Heavenly Father.
The Bible says that “the Lord will be our confidence“[Prov 3:26] and that “the effect (or outworking) of our righteousness (in Christ) will be (an inner) quietness and confidence forever“[Is 32:17].
And finally,
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. 8 He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes;its leaves are always green.It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” [Jer 17:7-8] NIV
Final Encouragement:
Continue to have great confidence in the Lord “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” [Phil 1:6] NIV
Blessings,
Steve
Enlightened Hope 
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