Strength in Confidence
In quietness and confidence shall be your
strength. (Isaiah 30:15)
The
source of our strength should come from always trusting God and putting our
confidence in Him. But we often rely on our own abilities, wealth, or social
networks for many matters in life. How far can they really take us?
From a
young age, David learned to trust in God. In 1 Samuel 17, this trust was put to
the test when he faced Goliath. Any boy at his age would clearly be hopeless in
the face of a lion, never mind in the face of a giant. But with great
confidence, David confronted Goliath. His confidence was not in himself, but in
“the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel” (1 Sam 17:45).
With this trust and confidence in God, it was not David who battled, but God
who battled through him.
On the
contrary, King Saul did not put his trust in God when Goliath challenged the
armies of Israel in the same incident. Instead, he recruited for a soldier to
fight against Goliath, promising the reward of his daughter and exemption from
taxes. From this, we see that Saul’s confidence was in his own political
status, wealth, and power. Not once during this ordeal did he remember to put
his trust in God. As a result, he was completely powerless in overcoming his
enemy.
Today
when we face challenges, we may also tend to first rely on other people, our
capabilities, or our own strength. But they will never take us far. Those who
put their trust and confidence in God, however, have the privilege of being
helped and strengthened by God Himself.
Therefore,
let us always kneel quietly before God in prayers, putting our confidence in
Him alone. In doing so, He will be responsible for us and ensure our
well-being. And we will no longer fail by trying to overcome challenges on our
own, but be victorious with the Almighty God on our side.
Reflection Questions
1. When
you come across a problem bigger than you, who do you turn to first?
2. How
has God proven to be faithful when you trusted in Him more than anything else?
