When I was in college, I got pretty good grades and often times studied less than the recommended amount. I had a class that I thought was easy and I knew the content through and through. So then the first major test came. So as any smart person would do, I did not study after all I am really smart and know the content so well. I show up to class and look at all the “not as smart as me students” who didn’t sleep because they studied all night. I sit down get my test and begin. First few questions were cake. Then question 5… I had no idea what the answer was. The rest of the test felt more like question 5 than the previous 4. Needless to say I was over confident which led to arrogance.
I am sure many of you have been in this spot before. You put your confidence in something that did not hold under pressure.
Psalm 18:28 You, Lord, keep my lamp burning;
my God turns my darkness into light.
29 With your help I can advance against a troop;
with my God I can scale a wall.
30 As for God, his way is perfect:
The Lord’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.
31 For who is God besides the Lord?
And who is the Rock except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength
and keeps my way secure.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he causes me to stand on the heights.
34 He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You make your saving help my shield,
and your right hand sustains me;
your help has made me great.
36 You provide a broad path for my feet,
so that my ankles do not give way.
This is a Psalm of David when God rescued him from King Saul. David had smaller and less trained army with way less resources. David was not confident in his past victories, which he won decisively in the past. He was not confident in his personal ability in battle and leadership. He led armies successfully and killed a lion and a bear as a teenage shepherd boy. David was confident in the Lord. David did not see himself weak in comparison to the Lord, but strong because the Lord was on his side.
My question for you today is not are you confident, but where do you find your confidence? If you lack confidence ask God for His strength and what He thinks about you… If you find confidence in ANYTHING but God, humble yourself and confess it. If you want to walk in ALL that God has planned for you, which is the greatest adventure of your life, LET GOD BE YOUR SHIELD, YOUR SWORD, YOUR STRENGTH, YOUR PASSION, AND WHERE YOU GIVE YOUR PRAISE. This is what you were created to do! To walk confidently as a child of the Resurrected Savior who created you to bring Him Glory and make His name famous. He will be found victorious and He has great things planned for you! Go to Him and let Him do something great in you.
Recklessly, obsessively following Jesus
Brandon Sereg
