Rooted confidence

Cursed is the man who trusts in man 

and makes flesh his strength, 

whose heart turns away from the LORD.  

He is like a shrub in the desert, 

and shall not see any good come.  

He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, 

in an uninhabited salt land.

But blessed is the one 

who trusts in the LORD, 

whose CONFIDENCE is in him. 

He is like a tree planted by water, 

that sends out its roots by the stream, 

and does not fear when heat comes,

 for its leaves remain green, 

and it is not anxious in the year of drought, 

for it does not cease to bear fruit.  

Jeremiah 17:5-8

Confidence.
It is having no uncertainty.
It's full trust.
It's being certain that a chosen course of action is the best or most effective.

Confidence in God is not something that comes naturally.  It's something that must be practiced and experienced.  The more you experience it, the stronger it gets.

What I hope to impart to you today as I share with you my journey, is hope. And to stir within your heart a desire to grow deeper.

When I was asked to talk about my confidence in the Lord at the Women's Ministry Morning Mingle, I had to really do some deep soul searching.  Yes, I am a Christian.  Yes, I love the Lord with all my heart. And yes, he is my everything.

But the past two years of my life have definitely tested my faith.  I have simultaneously experienced an extremely difficult refining process in my marriage and I have experienced the loss of a very close loved one due to an ugly and aggressive cancer.

In the midst of my suffering, I had to face some really tough questions.  Do I truly believe what I say I believe?  Do I believe that God has my best interest in mind?  Do I believe that God truly cares for me and is interested in every single little detail of my life?

As I began to ask these questions, the voice of God went silent.  I went through a drought.  And I felt alone in the desert.  But my heart did not turn away from the Lord.  I did not grow anxious.  I did not cease to bear fruit.

Within the past few months I can honestly say that God has allowed this season in my life for a very specific reason.  It was during that time that he revealed to me my roots.  They were on the surface.  My confidence in him was only as deep as I allowed my roots to grow.

When times got tough, I spent more time asking others to pray for me than actually going to the One who was actually able to help.  It was almost like I was more confident in their prayers or even what they had to say about my problems.  I would find myself reaching for my phone to text someone.  Or picking up the phone to call a friend.

There is nothing wrong with going to others.  I believe it is so important to have fellowship with one another, but the question remains:  Who or what am I turning to FIRST?  The answer is where I find my confidence.

Of course I would pray.  I prayed a lot. But my prayers were on the surface.  I would ask the Lord to heal my marriage.  I would ask the Lord to heal my brother-in-law.  I would unload all of my burdens, lay them at his feet and then quickly walk away to attend to the stresses of the day.

I didn't take the time to dig in.  To dig into God's word and to wait in his presence.  Not waiting for an answer to all of my problems and life's questions, but to wait for him to give me what my soul so desperately needed.  To experience and gain the peace, the strength, the wisdom, the understanding, the guidance and love that I needed in order to face the storms of life.  A peace and strength that could only come from God alone.

Now, with each passing storm I am learning to dig in deeper.  To draw near to him first and foremost. Only seeking others after allowing my roots to be completely saturated by him.  My confidence in the Lord impacts how I handle and respond to life.  I can read the Bible and see who God says he is.  I can read all of the countless stories about what the Lord has done for others, but until I experience that for myself, my confidence in him will not grow.

It's a journey.  I am already planted by the water, but which direction are my roots growing? As my roots grow deeper in Christ, a new habit is being formed as I am gaining confidence in him and who he is and who he will always be.  I am finding that I am naturally turning to him first because that's all I know to do.  Because that the direction that my roots are traveling... toward him.  Toward the stream of living waters.  

So if you ever come to talk to me about your problems, from now on I will always ask:  "Have you talked with the Lord about it yet?"  And if you haven't, I will gently redirect your roots.  To go and spend time with the Creator and Lover of your soul.  To wait and seek his face.  The more you get to know God, the more confidence you will have in him.  For I have confidence that he is able to do far more than I could ever do.

You Will Not Abandon My Soul

Psalm 16

Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
    I have no good apart from you.”

3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
    in whom is all my delight.[b]

4 The sorrows of those who run after[c] another god shall multiply;
    their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
    or take their names on my lips.

5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
    you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
    in the night also my heart instructs me.[d]
8 I have set the Lord always before me;
    because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being[e] rejoices;
    my flesh also dwells secure.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
    or let your holy one see corruption.[f]

11 You make known to me the path of life;
    in your presence there is fullness of joy;
    at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.