“Therefore we are always confident knowing…” (1 Corinthians 5:6)

How would you like to be confident “always?” Confidence is not a feeling nor is it an assurance based upon circumstances. Neither confidence nor the lack of confidence is determined by circumstances. How is it possible to be confident “always”? II Corinthians 5:6 teaches us how: it is by “knowing.” Confidence is based upon knowing. The Bible alone does not give us confidence. Knowing the Bible produces confidence in our lives. Jesus did not tell us that the truth would make us free, He said knowing the truth would make us free.

In Philippians 4:11 Paul said, “…I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Notice, contentment is not based on the state we are in, but on what we have learned. Our knowledge of the faithfulness of God and His promises will carry us through the adversities of life. Confidence must not be based on something that shifts and moves from day to day, but on the rock solid foundation of the Word of God.

When our confidence is in the Lord and in His W ord, we can be certain He will come through. We can be confident whether we are hungry or we have plenty to eat. We can be confident whether we have money or we do not know where the next penny is going to come from. We may not know how the food or money will come, but we can have confidence that it will arrive. Knowing the faithfulness of God is our confidence.

David displayed his own confidence when he said, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread” (Psalm 37:25). When we are cared for by the Lord and taken care of by His faithfulness, we can boldly declare, “I will not be forsaken nor left begging bread.” Confidence will remain as an eternal stabilizer in our lives.

What do you need to be confident in today? Are you facing a financial struggle? Is your war with the demonic forces of mental oppression or physical sickness? Is the world’s report telling you things are impossible? Base your confidence on God’s faithfulness to you through the years. He has never let you down and He will not start now .

Perhaps you are in a conflict with your family; your husband, wife, or children are not serving the Lord. Perhaps you are content when your family members are temporarily yielded to the Lord and discontent when they are not. Remove your confidence from the circumstances and place it on the eternal Word of God. Find scriptures dealing with the exact problems you are facing and begin to confess, believe, and apply them to your own situation. Find a Bible character who went through a similar situation and came out successfully. God will do the same for you.

Find a contentment that cannot be shaken by your circumstances and rest in God’s power to change what you cannot.

Bob Yandian

Copyright 2009 by Bob Yandian Ministries.
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