Confiding to Have Confidence

UV 1375/10,000 Confiding to Have Confidence
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Philippians 1 v 6

Paul was confident that God who had begun a good work in the believers would continue it until they met with Christ in eternity. Paul’s early zeal that worked against the will of God had itself been transformed into the most energetic and enthusiastic outreach to people in different nations. He focussed his eyes on the crown of glory he would receive on the day he met with Jesus in His eternal kingdom. This was the basis of his confidence. He knew that the three words that Jesus spoke on the cross, “ It is finished” has a prophetic significance. The word confidence implies that we need to confide in God our hopes, our concerns, our challenges and our needs. When we confide in Him at every point in life, He will connect the invisible dots and make things happen. Each of us is being finished and polished as a jewel in the kingdom of God.

We are a multi-faceted jewel in God’s hands. Each aspect of our lives is being examined, the flaws and strengths identified, the potential discovered and we are being worked on to make the strengths stand out and the flaws removed. God is in the details of our lives. He most delights in knowing the inner workings of our own hearts. He desires to see a deep yearning for Him in our hearts. He desires to see a deep longing in our hearts to become like Him and like Jesus.

As the Lord works on us as a master craftsman, He dislikes seeing us yield to our own insecurity and our fears. He hates to see us grumbling or murmuring against him. Like the four qualities of a diamond, He is pleased to see in us 4 Cs: Calmness, compassion, creativity and courage. Our belief that He is with us as Immanuel or God with us and Ebenezer or Helper should make us calm even in the most adverse of situations, in the greatest crisis of our lives. Jesus expected the disciples to be calm when the boat they were travelling in was caught in a storm. Jesus might appear to be sleeping but He is in control as long as He is in our lives. He desires that we are compassionate people, not concerned only about our needs but burdened to pray as well as to act for people in need everywhere and to do what we can to help our neighbour or the ones who cross our paths every day. He expects us to be creative multipliers and not mere consumers of grace and peace. He wants us to use, grow and hone the unique talents and gifts He has placed in us. He wants us to face and efface our fears and live lives full of courage and faith. He wants us to be strong and bold.

Prateep V Philip