Confident

I know what confidence looks like to me. I looked it up on dictionary.comjust to be safe. Confident means to be “sure, full assurance or strong belief. Confident is sometimes displayed as bold, presumptuous and sure of oneself.” I think the line between confidence and arrogance can be very thin. I see confidence as more quiet, subdued and consistent. I see arrogance as loud, proud and a bit in my face. There are things that I’m confident in because I’m trained and skilled in those areas. In any area of my skills and training, there is room for growth and learning. That means I can’t be “over-confident” even in the things I feel like I’m confident in.

King David was fleeing for his life because Saul was jealous of God’s blessing upon him. Saul was also jealous that David was so popular among the people. Saul definitely had an arrogance about himself. David had a confidence that came from walking with the Lord. He gave the Lord credit when he killed the lion and the bear as a shepherd boy. He gives the Lord credit for his military success as well.

David can call out to the Lord when he’s afraid with an unswerving confidence in God’s Power, God’s Protection and God’s Provision. Check this out….

¹ Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy!
    I look to you for protection.
I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings
    until the danger passes by.

⁷ My heart is confident in you, O God;
    my heart is confident.
    No wonder I can sing your praises!
⁸ Wake up, my heart!
    Wake up, O lyre and harp!
    I will wake the dawn with my song.
⁹ I will thank you, Lord, among all the people.
    I will sing your praises among the nations.
¹⁰ For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens.
    Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

¹¹ Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.
    May your glory shine over all the earth.(Psalm 57:1,7-11 NLT)

David penned these words when he was hiding in a cave from Saul. He found it in his heart to praise the Lord with singing and music even though he was hiding from Saul. He had a confident heart that the Lord had this situation under control. I could learn something here from David. I can’t always see God’s hand at work, but I know He is able to protect me. I know He is able to provide for me. I know He is Powerful enough to do whatever He wants to do. I can be confident when I trust in Him. He has a track record for sure. The Lord is faithful to those who trust Him. The Lord is faithful even to those who are unfaithful to Him. I am a testimony to that. He has known my heart for many years. He knows when I try to do things out of my own skills and ability. He knows when pride crowds out humility. He knows when my confidence turns to arrogance. I’m so thankful for His patience with me as I learn to be quietly confident in Him. He’s patient with me as I learn to lean into Him in every situation for confident direction that comes from Him. My confident trust brings Him glory for sure.

Pressing On!

Dwayne