"I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." Psalm 27:13
I’ve never been avid basketball fan. Growing up playing basketball outside with my friends, when we picked who we were going to be for our one-on-one games, everyone would pick Micheal Jordan, not me I would always picked Dennis Rodman because he was the rebel of game. So being laid up these last few weeks resting from being sick, I’ve run out of things to watch. So I’ve come down to documentaries. I recently got around to watching the The Last Dance, which follows the 1990's Chicago Bulls led by Michael Jordan. It highlights the ups and downs of their legendary dynasty.
What caught my attention in the documentary was Michael Jordan's confidence. There were times that people would quote him saying something like, "I'm not going to let us lose." And then he single-handedly would turn the game around. Or halfway through a playoff series, he would say, "I only brought one suit with me because we are only playing one game." And then the Bulls really would win to close out the series. Some people could say he was arrogant, but I found it intriguing that he didn’t struggle with absolutes. I was impressed at how confident Jordan was time and time again. He didn't say things like I hope we win; he said, we WILL win and then make sure it happened.
There is a part of me that envies his confidence. I envy the idea of being so sure of my capabilities that I don't have to qualify my hopes. I envy being so sure of my skills that nothing can stand in my way. It sounds like a dream, right? As believers, we have something even more certain to hold onto where our confidence is not dependent on our skills or abilities. We don't have to put in countless hours or work harder to achieve. Our confidence rest in the One who spoke the world into existence. The One who effortlessly split the sea (more than once.) The One who intentionally formed and breathed life into us. Our confidence is not in our abilities but God.
King David wrote Psalm 27. However, at the time, David was just a small shepherd who trusted God to use him in whatever way God saw fit. David eventually became a king and had to fight for his life more than once. He did many important things (as well as his fair share of regrets), but Psalm 27:13 was a declaration of David's confidence - not in himself but the Lord.
God is working all around us every day. We often focus on the challenging and frustrating moments causing them to stick in our minds on repeat, but what would it look like to confidently see the goodness of the Lord throughout our day? Our world is broken. Sin entered in, and things are not how God originally intended them to be. We can quickly become engulfed with the hurt and despair that exist all around us, or we can remain confident in all ways God is faithfully working for redemption. What are you placing your confidence in, and what security does it provide? How do you see God working in the world around you?
Prayer: Father God, thank you for Your deep and unconditional love for me. Thank you for Your deep and unconditional love for the people of this world. I know that You are working, and I know that I often fixate on the brokenness instead of looking for your redemption. God, I pray for eyes to see Your goodness and confidence to spill out as I lean not on my understanding but on the truths I know about You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
