REPOST FROM SEPTEMBER 3, 2026

 Mary Lynne Webb

September 3

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CONFIDENT

I started to use the word “weird” to describe a “coincidence” in my quiet time this morning, but decided that was wrong on so many levels. Let me explain. Our Sunday School lesson for this week will be out of Daniel 3-6. As I read this morning I saw that Nebuchadneezer was content and prosperous before God humbled him. He had placed his confidence on earthly things, wealth, success, comfort, power… Then as part of my own reading of scripture, I read Hebrews 11.  The following verses immediately paused my reading. 

Hebrews 11:1

Amplified Bible

11 Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].

Hebrews 11:3

Amplified Bible

3 By faith [that is, with an inherent trust and enduring confidence in the power, wisdom and goodness of God] we understand that the worlds (universe, ages) were framed and created [formed, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose] by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

“Fath comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses.” Like the disciples in Luke 17:5  and the father in Mark 9:24, I prayed that God would increase my faith. 

I absolutely believe what we would call the basics. I believe God spoke the world into existence in 6 literal days, and on the 7th day He rested. I believe the miracles in both the Old Testament and New Testament actually happened. I believe that God Himself, the Son of the Trinity, took human form to be the perfect substitutionary sacrifice for my sin and yours. I believe He resurrected, spent time with the disciples, ascended into Heaven and makes intercession for us. I believe that when I die or when Jesus returns for His church, I will spend eternity in Heaven with Him. I believe that all the prophecies are true and have either already been fulfilled or will be fulfilled. I believe that all scripture is inspired by God and we should take every word of it seriously. I believe that when we pray according to His will, He will answer. But, here’s where I struggle. I’m not particularly confident that my heart is tender enough for Him to speak His will clearly to me on what I should pray for. (There is one thing I can pray for with absolute confidence. That is for people to be saved. 2 Peter 3:9 teaches that He wants all to come to repentance.) In Matthew 21:21 and Mark 11:23 Jesus tells His disciples that if they have faith in Him, they can (pray) and the mountain can be cast into the sea. I don’t have that kind of faith. As I contemplated this, I wondered if we (I) sometimes are more academic in our faith than empowered in our faith? Even in that, I am an elementary student who loves school but is not a star pupil. So, what is the answer to this dilemma? Verse 3 says, “By faith [that is, with an inherent trust and enduring confidence in the power, wisdom and goodness of God]...” I closed my eyes, asking God what He wanted me to learn from this phrase. The word “confidence” was stuck in my brain. CONFIDENCE. Over and over my brain thought, even heard, “confidence.” To be completely honest, this kind of focus on one word is not typical of what happens when I pray, so thus, the temptation to use the word “weird.” I ask myself and I ask you if we have complete confidence in God. Not security. Not money. Not family, Not property. Not intellect. Not success. Not comfort. Not friends. Not even church family. Complete Confidence in God. Enduring confidence in the power, wisdom and goodness of God. That is the description of true faith. 

Hebrews 11:5-6

Amplified Bible

5 By faith [that pleased God] Enoch was caught up and taken to heaven so that he would not have a glimpse of death; and he was not found because God had taken him; for even before he was taken [to heaven], he received the testimony [still on record] that he had walked with God and pleased Him. 6 But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.

I want to be like Enoch. Don’t you? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to  walk so closely with God that we transition seamlessly from earth into Heaven? Verse 6 explains how this is possible. We must believe that God will reward those who earnestly and diligently seek Him. We seek Him through Bible study, prayer, obedience, worship, reverence. 

Hebrews 11:24-25

Amplified Bible

24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 because he preferred to endure the hardship of the people of God rather than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.

The pleasures of sin. Stop right there. What did Moses give up to follow God? What do we give up to follow God? The pleasures of sin. The "coincidence" is that the passage in Daniel showed us that God humbled Nebuchadnezzar by taking away his pleasures of sin.  My personal definition of sin is anything we say, think, or do that is outside of the perfect purpose and will of God. That may not be the dictionary definition, but it's what makes sense to me. Of course, the pleasures of sin can be the big ones: adultery, murder, stealing… But the pleasures of sin can be working in the yard, cleaning house, reading a book, even sitting in a church pew if God had another plan for us in that particular moment in time. That’s a hard thought. 

As often happens when I write a blog/post, I have no concise closing that fits the standards of written language. I simply conclude by saying that confidence in God, walking closely with Him, trusting Him completely, obeying Him in everything is worth whatever perceived loss of the pleasures of sin that others may think we have experienced.

Philippians 3:7-16

Amplified Bible

7 But whatever former things were gains to me [as I thought then], these things [once regarded as advancements in merit] I have come to consider as loss [absolutely worthless] for the sake of Christ [and the purpose which He has given my life]. 8 But more than that, I count everything as loss compared to the priceless privilege and supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord [and of growing more deeply and thoroughly acquainted with Him—a joy unequaled]. For His sake I have lost everything, and I consider it all garbage, so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him [believing and relying on Him], not having any righteousness of my own derived from [my obedience to] the Law and its rituals, but [possessing] that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 And this, so that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely] and [in that same way experience] the power of His resurrection [which overflows and is active in believers], and [that I may share] the fellowship of His sufferings, by being continually conformed [inwardly into His likeness even] to His death [dying as He did]; 11 [a]so that I may attain to the resurrection [that will raise me] from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained it [this goal of being Christlike] or have already been made perfect, but I actively press on [b]so that I may take hold of that [perfection] for which Christ Jesus took hold of me and made me His own. 13 [c]Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have made it my own yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the [heavenly] prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us who are mature [pursuing spiritual perfection] should have this attitude. And if in any respect you have a different attitude, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us stay true to what we have already attained.