Scripture:
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Hebrews 10:35,36
Reflection:
The 1932 World Series will always be remembered for one iconic at-bat. It was the third game of the series between the New York Yankees and the Chicago Cubs. Cubs pitcher Charlie Root, the winningest pitcher in Cubs history, faced the legendary George Herman “Babe” Ruth. In this historic moment, Babe Ruth took strike one as the fans at Wrigley Field began to chant. Root then threw strike two, and the crowd erupted in a frenzy, taunting Ruth, hoping for a humiliating strikeout. But Ruth remained unfazed. He stepped out of the batter’s box, pointed his bat toward center field, and calmly addressed the jeering crowd. He then stepped back in, swung at the next pitch, and sent the ball 440 feet out of the park—exactly where he had pointed. Ruth had called his shot, silencing the crowd with an extraordinary display of confidence and bravado.
Confidence, however, is not just about boldness. The word itself comes from the Latin words “con,” meaning “with” or “together,” and “fidere,” meaning “faith” or “trust.” Before the 14th century, the concept of confidence was closely tied to having faith in God and in others. Sometime around the 15th century, the meaning started to shift, focusing more on an inward strength that represented a faith centered on the individual.
In today’s world, with all its challenges—the economy, our jobs, even our families—anxiety and fear often creep into our hearts, like water seeping through cracks in a foundation. We hear stories of people like Babe Ruth and think, “If only I had that kind of confidence.” But when we try to muster it ourselves, we often fall short, swinging for the fences, only to strike out.
True confidence cannot be rooted in ourselves. We need to return to the Godly understanding that confidence that comes from our connection with God and his word, and the lessons we learn from our relationships with others. To live and grow in confidence, we must abide in Christ and nurture the relationships firstly with him. Our families, our church family the team of people at work, and the friends that God has given us aid us in both perseverance and confidence. It is the testing of our faith that develops perseverance which gives us the confidence we need for life, family, and business. When your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
When your endurance is fully developed, then, as the Apostle James said, will our faith,(confidence in Christ) will be perfected and complete, needing nothing. Conversely, self-centered confidence is like a house built on sinking sand that will surely fail during the storms of life. (Matthew 7:24-27)
On Christ, the Solid Rock, we stand; all other ground is sinking sand.
David
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