WE CAN BE SURE-FOOTED WITH GOD'S HELP

How sure-footed are you, spiritually? He wants us to put our confidence in Him rather than wholly on ourselves.

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVES             by Sally Bair

Yak confidence

In most child alphabet books about animals, the Y page shows a great, hairy yak. These Asian mammals make excellent pack animals because of their surefootedness over rough terrain.

"YakTrax" is a great product on the market for people like me who are fearful of falling on ice or snow. These ingenious devices slip over one's shoes or boots easily. Their rubberized, flexible frame holds rows of steel rings that grip ice and snow when contact is made. Because I keep them on my boots all winter, my confidence level soars and I picture myself, like the yak, traversing icy slopes. No longer do I fear walking on slippery walkways or snow-covered ice on the streets and roads.

Confidence can come from many directions. Unfortunately, I tend to depend only on myself too often. If you have a lot of self-confidence, perhaps you can relate to that problem. It truly can be a problem, because sometimes our own confidence and strength—whether physical, moral, emotional or spiritual—isn't enough to rightly see us through a tough situation. Then where can we place our confidence? 

The world is full of wrong teachings and wrongdoers who would have us depend on and place our confidence in them. The Bible, however, says we should place all our confidence on Jesus Christ. "Do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught." (Proverbs 3:25-26) 

Since we tend to slip and fall easily on our walk through life, how good it is to know we have a sure confidence in the Lord. The Psalmist David wrote that the Sovereign Lord has been his confidence since youth. And the apostle Paul, in his letter about putting on God's armor so we can withstand the attacks of Satan (See Ephesians 6), includes foot protection. He says we must shod our feet with the preparation (or firm foundation) of the Gospel of Peace.

We all need firm support as we stand our ground against any problem. Like the yak's surefooted hooves, our spiritual feet can take us over the rough terrains in life when we wear God’s Gospel of Peace. What firmer foundation can we find?

Lord, we thank you for the Gospel of Peace, which keeps us sure-footed against the weapons of the enemy. Help us remember to wear Your armor—Your truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, and Your Word—each day, for we cannot depend on the confidence of our own flesh. You are our confidence. In Jesus’ name, amen.