Confidence.

(Written Monday, 4/1/13)
 
I can’t believe I’m at the beginning of Month 4. I’m leaving for a new continent! What happened in the past three months? That’s not really a rhetorical question; I’m asking myself.
 
I have grown. I have changed. But I’m not quite sure when that happened. It’s just been such a gradual and continuous transformation that it went by unnoticed, for a while. I liken it to that feeling you get when you look in the mirror one day and realize, “Huh. My hair got long”—you never take note of the growth until the change is so evident or until you take a moment to actually stop and look at yourself.
 
The greatest change that I’ve witnessed in myself is a growth in confidence. Some of you at home are probably confused because you believe that I was already pretty confident before the Race. This isn’t untrue, but I think that the foundation of my confidence has been renewed and strengthened. 
 
“But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit” (Jeremiah 17:7-8).
 
I love this passage. It’s saying that if we truly trust God, if He is the source of our confidence, then…
 

• We “will be like a tree planted by the water that sends its roots by the stream” – we will position ourselves in a healthy place, ready to receive from God and desiring to grow
  • “Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22).
  • “…be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:17-18).
• We “do not fear when heat comes” – we are not afraid when faced with trials
  • “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
  • “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).
• Our “leaves are always green” – we are resilient; no matter what happens, we choose joy and hope in God
  • “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds…” (James 1:2-3).
  • “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-5). 
• We “have no worries in a year of drought” – if we are struggling or going through a dry season in our lives, we do not worry
  • “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear…who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?…Therefore do no worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:25-34).
  • “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”  Philippians 4:6-7)
• We “never [fail] to bear fruit” – we always display evidence of the Holy Spirit in our lives (mind you, this does not mean that we are perfect)
  • “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…” Galatians 5:22-23).
  • “Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit…Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:17-20).

Team JIM (Luminous + Reckless Pursuit) among the Carpathian Mountains!