Quiet Confidence

For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “in quietness and in trust (confidence) shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling. Isaiah 30:15 ESVUK

God doesn’t get it wrong. We often do, but never God, and let’s face it, He has our best interests at heart. And yet, at those times when we need assurance most, we lack confidence. Is it because we don’t trust Him? I don’t think so, but I do believe we don’t trust Him enough.

We all have a high respect for people we see as being quiet in their confidence of those routine matters of life which affect them. They stand out in the crowd of insecurity, and yet they may not have a strong faith, or perhaps they have no faith at all. We as Christians need to step back and admire these folks because we have more reason to be confident, but we shy away from stating it, just in case our desire or prayer doesn’t happen and we look foolish. Do your non religious friends use the same excuse? No, and neither should we.

We have every reason to be confident of our salvation, and for the most part I can see that confidence coming through in the lives of His earthly saints. But what about those things, closer to home and not about deep matters of faith? What about the ordinary and everyday stuff, and those things, and yes especially people who grace our path, but we are unsure of our own feelings and at a human level, we lack confidence? We certainly don’t want to barge in like a bull in a china shop and ruin what building blocks of relationship we may be trying to lay. A rash and presumptuous confidence is not a good thing either, and should be avoided at all costs.

Prior to the verse above, God is setting out His reasons for loving and caring about His people, and although they back off and don’t recognise God’s hand in their lives, He continues to work undeterred and undaunted. Confidence is lacking, but God clearly says, “in quietness and in trust (confidence) shall be your strength.” You can’t help but see and feel the strength and power of God as He tends to His faltering people. I love the promise that our gracious God is on our side, granting a quiet confidence and trust that He has it all under control. Now isn’t that enough to inspire confidence in the nervous and feeble hearted? Yes and Amen.