Active Theology

“Do not be afraid of sudden fear,
  Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; 
For the LORD will be your confidence
  And will keep your foot from being caught.” (Proverbs 3:25-26, NASB)

We put confidence in all sorts of things in life.

When I turn the keys in the ignition of my truck, I’m confident it will start and get me where I need to go. When I fill up my Quik Trip cup with Diet Mountain Dew, I’m confident that I will be reenergized and full of joy. When a new devotional from Active Theology is posted, I’m confident that I will be encouraged and refreshed.

We put confidence in our work, education, our talent, relationships, and money. We tend to believe that if we work really hard and know the right people and say the right things, life will work out the way we want it to. 

But what happens when the truck breaks down?
What happens when you end up being laid off from the job that you loved? 
What happens when old age begins to slow you down?
What happens when your life hasn’t turned out the way that you’d planned?
Unfortunately, life can be full of disappointments. 

People will let you down.
Possessions will let you down. 
Even you will let you down. 
But Jesus never will. 

In this Proverb, Solomon tells us not to be afraid of whatever challenging experiences may come our way. He even tells us to expect it. When you know something is coming, it helps you know how to prepare in advance. Our preparation for life’s struggles lies in where we put our confidence. Where do we put our trust and hope when life is hard?

Notice, we are not exhorted to put confidence in ourselves. Even on our best day, putting confidence in ourselves will wind up in disappointment. We don’t put confidence in our perceived righteousness, good works, or our family of origin. 

Instead, we are invited to place our confidence in the Lord. We put our ultimate hope and trust in God. The confidence that we put in Jesus for our salvation is the same confidence that we can have as we walk through life each day. We can confidently trust that God is guiding our life and cares for us moment by moment.

Our confidence is found in a God who is Sovereign over all of creation yet cares for the smallest details of our lives. Confidence in Christ gives us an unshakeable confidence in a world full of heartache and strife. May the Lord always be our confidence.

Pray: Father in Heaven, thank you for Your Word and the nourishment that it brings to our souls. Help us to continually put our confidence in Christ. Thank You for being our perfect confidence and our source of hope when life feels bleak. Thank You for never leaving our side and for walking with us each step of every day. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Song: “On the Throne” (feat. Kari Jobe) by Desperation Band

Ben is the Associate Pastor at Lawrence Heights Christian Church, Casey’s husband, and Baker’s dad.