Whitney sought a foothold and pulled herself up, then changed her hand grips and found another foothold above the previous one. Slowly she inched her way up the 40-foot climbing wall. Though only her first attempt, the four-year-old showed no fear.
Dad recorded the feat, and the video is available on YouTube.
We marvel that such a young child could climb with such confidence. But Whitney knew she was tethered to a rope held secure by the belayer, who also gave wise advice as she climbed. And Dad offered encouragement the whole way up and down.
When she touched ground again, Whitney’s broad smile indicated her delight in conquering the wall.
And the preschooler’s experience proves:
Security, wisdom, and encouragement
contribute to confidence.
What held true during that preschooler’s rock-climb holds true for us in life. We need a strong Belayer to keep us secure, wise instruction to help us succeed, and inspiring encouragement to help us persevere.
Security
First, our Belayer is God himself. He holds us fast and will never let us go.[1]
And just as Whitney’s security did not depend on her gripping the rope, our security of help, strength, and heaven-to-come doesn’t originate with our grip on God, but his forever grip on us.[2] What we cannot do for ourselves, he has accomplished.[3]
Just as Whitney put her trust in the belayer, we must actively trust God to be our lifeline.
Wisdom
A short distance up the wall, Whitney glanced toward the floor. The belayer wisely advised, “Don’t look down, Whitney! Keep looking up!”
She didn’t look down until the belayer gave her instructions for the descent.
God also offers wise advice through his Word. He wants us to know:
- True wisdom comes from him.
- It begins with reverence and humility before God, to be in awe of his holiness, his power over all things–including life and death.
- He gladly provides this gift to all who ask.
- Whoever heeds his wisdom will dwell secure.[4]
Encouragement
Last, we have a Father who encourages us, just as Whitney’s dad encouraged her. Again, what we need is found in scripture—passages such as these that inspire hope:
- “I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I shall not be shaken” (Psalm 16:8).
- “The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (Psalm 46:11).
- “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart” (Psalm 27:13-14).
Of course there are hundreds more, assuring us that:
When I allow fearful thoughts to whirl in my mind, I’m really asking, Is God going to see me through this?
How much better to affirm that God will hold me fast until he’s ready to take me home to heaven. He will provide the wisdom and guidance I need for what lies ahead, just as he has in the past. And His Word will continue to offer encouragement, to inspire and strengthen.
Truth leads to confidence.
What contributes to your confidence when facing challenging situations? Please share in the comment section below!
[1] Psalm 37:23-24
[2] https://www.seeyouinheaven.life/secure-forever-in-christ/
[3] Romans 8:3-4
[4] Proverbs 2:7; 1:7, James 1:5; Proverbs 1:33
Photo credits: http://www.youtube.com; http://www.heartlight.org; http://www.flickr.com (Noah Berger); http://www.heartlight.org; http://www.canva.com; http://www.commons.wikimedia.org.
From the Inside Out 