“So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’ ” (Hebrews 13:6)
I’ve never jumped out of an airplane before, so this is purely a guess. But I’d suppose there is a difference in the level of confidence felt between a first-timer and veteran jumper. Once they leave the plane, both will display trust in the parachute by pulling the ripcord; what else can they do other than plummet to their deaths?
But the newbie will trust the parachute with a thrill of hopeful fear: “Boy, I hope this chute opens! Boy, I hope I don’t die!” The experienced jumper will be much more confident that the chute will open and operate exactly the way parachutes usually work. His faith is not mixed with nearly as much fear about what gravity can do to him.
What’s the confidence level of your faith in God? How convinced are you that the Lord is with you, that he is your helper, that no person can hurt you in any way that will matter in the long run – because you belong to God forever? How much of your faith is mixed with fear?
Let’s choose to be confident in him today and enjoy the ride because he is completely trustworthy.
Think: Is it possible for us to have our full faith in God but for our confidence level to waiver from day to day? Have you experienced a growth in your confidence in the Lord as you’ve seen him provide for you through more difficult days?
Pray: Ask God to help you to become more and more confident that he is with you, helping you, every day. Ask him to help you to trust him so much that you become less and less afraid of anything that might hurt you.
Do: The writer of this verse had read Psalm 118. Take a minute to do the same thing.