Encouragement for Today

June 24, 2024 Finding Confidence That God Is Working KAYLA FERRIS Lee en español

“When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.” Daniel 6:10 (ESV)

I’m discovering that self-confidence is a fickle friend. Sometimes I have it; sometimes I don’t. Sometimes it serves me well; other times, it misguides me.

Confidence in myself is unreliable because, honestly, so am I. Culture tells me I should invest in myself further, love myself better and believe in myself more. Those aren’t inherently bad ideas … but the results are inconsistent.

There has to be a better solution than me having greater faith in me.

And thankfully there is. Because, friend, what I truly need is God-confidence.

Trusting in God’s ability, faithfulness and love changes everything. God-confidence means I look to Him first, not myself. It means He fuels my faith (Hebrews 11:1), He quenches my fears (Psalm 27:1), and He alone stands unshakeable (Matthew 7:25).

Perhaps no one knew this better than a man named Daniel in the Bible. Attempting to conspire against Daniel, Persian officials decreed it illegal to pray. The penalty? The offender would become lion food.

But Daniel 6:10 says, “When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.”

Amazing. Daniel didn’t wring his hands, wondering what he should do. He had complete confidence that God was at work in the situation, and no matter the outcome, he would continue trusting God. We, too, can develop that level of confidence by growing in two areas that shaped Daniel’s entire life — knowing God and experiencing God.

Like Daniel, we can increase our knowledge of God. Daniel was constantly praying and studying God’s Word (Daniel 6:10; Daniel 9:2). The more we know about God, the more our confidence grows. Reading about God’s character strengthens our trust. Declaring God’s goodness builds our belief. We can soak our hearts and minds in His unshakeable Truth.

We can also experience God at work. Daniel personally witnessed God’s faithfulness, saw friends saved from a fiery furnace, and was held by God through worldly power struggles (Daniel 1:9; Daniel 3:26; Daniel 5:29-30). We can trust God enough to step into situations we feel called toward but don’t necessarily feel capable of navigating on our own. In places where we most need God, we experience Him at work, and our confidence in Him increases exponentially.

Knowledge and experience grow our God-confidence. And that kind of confidence will never fail us.

God, You are powerful, faithful, loving and true. I want to build my confidence in You. Guide me toward the knowledge and experience I need to grow a God-confidence that will never fail, no matter what life throws my way. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

We know faith requires trust, but sometimes don’t we just want proof? When we haven’t seen God move in our lives in a while, it’s tempting to wonder if He’s really there or whether He hears our prayers. If you’ve been in this place recently, our new study is just for you — Daniel: Finding Confidence That God’s Power Is at Work. As we study Daniel together, we’ll discover just how capable the Lord is and how much careful attention He gives to everything in our lives, both big and small. Get your study guide today!

ENGAGE

To connect with Kayla Ferris and see what God has been teaching her, you can check out her website at www.manna2go.com or find her on Instagram @kayla.j.ferris.

FOR DEEPER STUDY

Jeremiah 17:7, “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him” (NIV).

Daniel 6:27, “[God] delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions” (ESV).

What is one area of your life where you would like to increase your confidence that God is present and working? How might you do this through knowledge and experience? Share with us in the comments!

© 2024 by Kayla Ferris. All rights reserved.