Confidence

I don't know about you, but when I'm facing a new challenge, I am on the short side of having "confidence". I find myself being disappointed in myself when I'm reluctant to tackle a new job. I can think of all kinds of reasons.....the main one being (and, you've read this often enough!)

I'm too old!

Someone younger can do the job much better!

I have too many commitments!

I'm retired! I'm supposed to be sitting on my front porch in a rocker reading or knitting!

I don't have time! I have to keep up with all the presidential race news, hurricane news, war news, or whatever the immediate issue that is being televised.

But when I face up to the nitty gritty truth, most times the reason is a lack of confidence in myself; that I may not perform to an expected level by friends and acquaintances.

This afternoon, I was visiting one of my favorite websites, www.heartlight.org . I happened upon this little devotional that was meant for me to read today. It only serves as a reminder to me what I already know. And, I ask..."If I know it, why do I need to be reminded?" Well...just chalk that up to human frailty; having a weak, forgetful mind. Thank God that He understands!!

************************

In the movie Star Wars, the character Luke Skywalker and his comrades are attempting to destroy the Death Star. One of the other pilots tells Luke he can’t make a particular maneuver because it’s too risky. Luke says, “It’s just like Beggar’s Canyon back home.” And, of course, you know what happens next. Luke hits the target and the Death Star is blown up. The message the audience gets is that being able to navigate through Beggar’s Canyon as a boy gave Luke the confidence he needed later when he faced a bigger challenge.
.
Believe it or not, Star Wars can teach us a Timely Truth about confidence. The experiences we face in life are often written off as a one-time event. However, our God never wastes an opportunity to help His children grow spiritually. The encounters of our lives that we overcome serve as confidence-builders that strengthen us, and even the failures we endure serve as what we often label ‘a lesson chalked up to experience’.
.
God knows everything about our lives... what we have gone through in the past, our current trials and triumphs, and our future obstacles and glory. We are given the example of God’s people who were overcome with despair and held in captivity. In Jeremiah 29, God proclaims through his prophet:

“This is what the Lord says: ‘Babylon will be powerful for seventy years. After that time I will come to you, and I will keep my promise to bring you back to Jerusalem. I say this because I know what I am planning for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future. Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you” (Jeremiah 29:10-12 NCV).

Today, remember to hold fast to the truth that when all seems out of control, we can have confidence that our God is watching and listening, and that he will use our experiences to become better followers of Him.

www.heartlight.org

Peace to your household....