Hope in Christ

Then you will know that I am the Lord. Those who hope in me will not be disappointed.   Isaiah 49:23b NIV

I was talking to a co-worker today about confidence and how it paralyzes people. He was struggling with being fearful of saying the wrong thing so he just doesn’t say anything at all. All afternoon I looked up articles on confidence and found classes on public speaking. It really hit home because it touched on something I think many leaders including myself struggle with and I wanted to help. 

Then I got home and started the study and it made me think of the lack of confidence that Renee talks about in her book A Confident Heart and Renee’s question at the end of Chapter one that asked if I ever felt like the following statements:

“It’s too hard.”
“I might as well quit.”

Of course the answer is yes, I think we all have thought those thoughts at one time or another.  I am pretty stubborn though and I know that God has placed me where I am with a purpose. So I really have to use my antidote for insecurity and frustration and pray for God’s guidance and continue to step in confidence to be secure in the promise that God makes in Isaiah 49:23. I try to look for God's purpose in each day and in helping others it takes my focus off me and my insecurities and onto where God wants it to be, Him and his children. 

Somewhere in my bible studies I heard of the acronym JOY, Jesus, others, you that reminds us to do just that.  "Then you will know that I am the Lord. Those who hope in me will not be disappointed. " Isaiah 49:23