Where Is Your Confidence?

Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.

-Psalm 42:5-6

Between being sick, dealing with challenges at work, and running at the limits of my concentration with wedding plans and the responsibilities of life, I've been reminded of something.

I'm not Superman.

I don't have what it takes. I can't alter the arc of the universe; I'm just a man. It's a hostile world. The obstacles are too big.

God wants to strip away our self-reliance - until there's nothing left for us to do but trust God, love people, and put one foot in front of the other. I don't know where I'm headed, but I'm walking. I have ideas, but I don't have answers. "The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps."

God doesn't expect us to keep up with him. He expects us to trust him to carry us when we get tired. He expects us to trust him for the strength to carry others when they get tired. And he expects us to give him the glory - not just verbally, but to understand deep inside that it really belongs to him.

Climb on
A back that's strong
You can't get what you want
Climb on
A back that's strong

-Caedmon's Call (Shawn Colvin)

When we're discouraged, it's usually because we're looking to ourselves too much. "Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed."

Look to God, and see if you don't feel better. And yes, I believe feeling better is scriptural.

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