Power In Confidence

I love to watch beginners.  It doesn’t matter what they are beginning, I just love to watch them as they gain confidence and realize they can do whatever it is they are striving to do.  Often the difference between being mediocre and amazing is confidence.

Baby goats and horses are really fun to see as they move past the wobbly steps to prancing and jumping. It only takes a second or two to make that leap in confidence.  My beginner song leading class is very similar.  Young boys and men go from timid to unabashed with the growth of confidence.  Often it happens during a song they are leading.  The courage found and developed carries one to skill and prowess within their endeavor.

It was always a puzzle to me that fearful people are included in the list of sinners that inhabit hell in Revelation 21:8.  Perhaps these fearful are those who are paralyzed into doing the least or nothing at all when duty calls.  Like the fearful, unprofitable servant of Jesus parable (Matthew 25:14-30).  Paul reminded Timothy that God didn’t give us a “spirit of timidity but of power and love and self-discipline” (1 Timothy 1:7).  Paul also told the Corinthians to “act like men” (1 Corinthians 16:13 ESV).

There are many fearful things for us to be aware of.  However, with the confidence that God gives we can face them not with wimpy, run for cover timidity but with bold, skillful giant slaying power.  I guess we can all buck up and square our shoulders and face Christian life with the courage of David the power of Joshua and the tenacity of Jesus.  I’m going to finish at the top! How about you?

Explore posts in the same categories: christian living, Discernment, Encouragement, leadership

Tags: Confidence, Courage, David, Jesus, Joshua, Skill, Timid

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