Hope, Confidence and Faith - Part Three

 

In this last part of Hope, Confidence, and Faith for the New Year, I want to draw our attention to two verses from our reference texts that tie the dots of our discussion together.

Hebrews  11:6:

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

We have seen clearly that you have to have confidence (faith) in God.  This confidence is based on God’s nature – He is unchanging – He is true, among other attributes.  By looking back at the victories he’s won for you, you can turn off all fears that may hinder you from facing the New Year with confidence.  If he did it yesterday, he can do it today. 

God is merciful and supreme over our lives.  But as seen in the above verse, faith is a key requisite in pleasing God.  Anything you do outside of faith is bare ‘works.’  God is interested in you putting your utmost trust in Him, and believing that as you trust him, he will reward you.  He will reward the work of your hands, the thoughts of your mind, the work of intellect.  As you give yourself to the New Year, you have to diligently subject everything – everything to him. 

What is your anticipation for the New Year?  Do you have a  plan - a strategic plan that you intentionally want to follow through?  (An all-round document that addresses your wholistic development (spiritual, social, financial) and work (whether employed or in business).  If you don’t have one, this is an opportune moment for you to draft one and commend it to God.  In part 1, I mentioned 1 John 5:14-15 which points out that our confidence (faith) is based on the fact that if we call on God in accordance to his will, we know that he hears us, and if we know that he hears us, then we have our petitions granted (paraphrased).  It all goes back to faith!

Two more scriptures in conclusion:

‘Now the just shall live by faith.…’ (Hebrews 10:38b)

This is an interesting entry into the text, especially because of the portions of scripture seen in Part Two about suffering (verses 32-34). Who is the ‘just’ person.  According to the Benson Commentary, this refers to one who has been ‘pardoned and renewed, or justified and regenerated, and therefore is humble, meek, sincere, resigned to the will of God and relying on His wisdom, power and goodness and faithfulness.’  This person shall then live by faith.  Rather, his support system shall be faith.  In the midst of uncertain times, during sufferings, trials and all manner of life challenges, he shall embrace godliness and a holy life.  Faith then becomes the rail that all such a person hangs on.  Faith becomes essential such that it cushions him/her from retreating to ungodliness, for God has no pleasure in him who turns away (from faith – trusting and depending on God), he whose confidence is on another or anything else, except God.

Finally, the author of Hebrews points us to our reference of faith, Jesus: 

‘… let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the ^]author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God’ (Hebrews 12:1b-2).

In the New Year, make Jesus your reference point – have confidence (faith) in Him.  Commit your plans (that are founded in His will) to Him, and be ready to endure all manner of distractions, because, with Him, all things are possible. 

(Look out for my upcoming book on ‘Position for Change in the New Year.’  It brings out deep revelations into exploits of faith as clearly seen in Hebrews 11,)

Happy New Year!

‘Hope and Confidence and Faith’ - Part Two

 

In Hebrews 10: 35, the Bible records,

Do not, therefore, fling away your [fearless] confidence, for it has a glorious and great reward (AMP). 

This scripture is preceded by the author's reminder of his audience about the sufferings they had faced.  He puts it this way:  ‘remember the earlier days, when, after being [spiritually] enlightened, you [patiently] endured a great conflict of sufferings, sometimes by being made a spectacle, publicly exposed to insults and distress, and sometimes by becoming companions with those who were so treated,’ (vs 32-34).  Undoubtedly these were turbulent times for the audience.  They had gone through times that saw them endure great conflict to the extent of being a public spectacle.  We may not exactly know what kind of challenge these were – but it was a hard time for the people. 

The author writes then to give hope and encouragement to his audience.  From such a downcast state, how does he get them to embrace a changed mindset so that they can face life with certainty, with hope.  It is here that he reminds them that they have got to remember what aided them in overcoming their great conflict of suffering – their confidence – their confidence in God. 

Dear reader, 2023 is just a day away.  You may be apprehensive and wondering how it will turn out.  Looking back, you may have had numerous, if not enormous amounts of suffering.  You may have lost your source of income, you may have lost a loved one, you may have faced some form of emotional instability due to constrained relationships, or any other kind of negative outcome that debilitates you to an extent that you feel trapped.  Trapped in a snare that cages you in fear of the new year.  Like the author of Hebrews, I write to ask you to call into remembrance your victories in the previous year (s).

Even before I go further, just think of the fact that God has blessed you with life – the oxygen that you are breathing day after day.  During the COVID-19 pandemic, we got to learn of how expensive oxygen is, something that we have taken for granted yet we can’t live without.  I dare you to start from day one of January 2022 till today.  Great!  I am sure that you have more reasons to thank God. 

At the beginning of last year, the Lord helped me to start numbering my days – what do I mean, on the 1^st of January, I knew that I had 364 days remaining in the year.  I think I lost track somewhere in quarter 3 but picked it up in quarter 4.  It is indescribably the feeling I have looking back at each of those days and what God did in each of them.  It completely thaws my spirit to see God’s hand and faithfulness in every single day of the last 364 days.  Words fail me to express my gratitude.  I can only bless and worship God.

Now, you may not have journaled every single day.  But you have lived for 12 months in 2022.  Pick month by month and see the victories of God in your life – if you like it – your achievements or accomplishments.

Do you think it is because you were so smart that your business brought you the returns it did?  (And even if you are, who has given you the ability to be smart?)

Do you think it is because of the insurance cover you have that today you are healthy? 

Day after day you have traveled, whether driving or by public means – who secured you from incidents and accidents?

What is that hidden power behind you being here today?  Isn’t that the power of God?  Is he not the one who caused your contract to be renewed when others were sent home? 

Now, let's face the fears for the new year – where is your confidence?  Is your confidence in your abilities?  Is it in your connections?  Is it in your business or employment? Is it in your medical insurance?  Where is your confidence?

If your confidence in anything that can be shaken, unstable in nature? Then you have reason to be fearful.  For indeed everything is uncertain.  Tomorrow is not guaranteed, leave alone 1^st of January 2023.  But I know who holds it – He is certain.  He has a track-record of completing what he begins.  He’s proven.  If your confidence is Him, I can guarantee you – you have no reason to fear.  Look back at 2022 – see what he has done, and ‘Do not, therefore, fling away your [fearless] confidence, for it has a glorious and great reward!’ 

Continued in Part Three.

DEALING WITH CERTAIN (UNCERTAIN) CHANGE IN A NEW YEAR

Year after year, world over since creation, it is expected that there will be a 1^st of January – a beginning.  A beginning of what on one part, we certainly are aware of – it's a new year, but also we are uncertain of – how– because days are not in our hands and so we do not know what the future looks like.  They are in the hands of the creator, God. So we can only hope, and trust and maybe, plan about them. 

This three-part series addresses the hope, confidence and faith we have in both the certain and also the uncertain. 

Certainty

Naturally, towards the end of the year many people, I believe almost everyone except young children who are still maturing, have great anticipation for the new year.  We know without a doubt that the current year we are in will end and behold a new one – a new phase.  So there is anticipation based on both internal as well as external factors. 

Internally, some positive plans can be a major motivation to see the next year.  An expectant couple is in anticipation of a child.  A student (candidate) expects results to propel them to move to the next level.  A diligent worker expects some form of promotion at their workplace. 

On the flip, there could be some negative internal factors that cause one to anticipate the turn of the year.  These include poor health, emotional instability, and negative family-related issues with children and spouse as well as other relatives.  Anyone experiencing turbulence in these or other areas hopes and trusts that as the year ends, the new one will bring good tidings.  A relief of some sort.

There are also external forces that influence anticipation for change including inflation, economic crunch, financial instability and ill health or death of a loved one, or pandemics such as CORONA as experienced in the last two years.  All these present one with anticipation – a yearning and longing to see things change for the better.

Uncertainty

Let me just repeat that – everyone is certain that the year will one d
ay end and a new one set in.  That we are sure of – one hundred percent.  However, as much as we are certain of that truth, there is an uncertain bit about it!  The how – how will it be?  This, in many cases, brings anxiety, especially when one is faced with challenges as seen above. 

Now, isn’t the how about the ‘unseen hand of God?’  Isn’t it about His supernatural workings that we don’t see; that which causes the sun to rise in the morning and set in the evening?

Let’s talk about ‘Hope and Confidence and Faith’ in a New Year…continued in Part Two.