OUTLINE:

The Source of Confidence
We have confidence in the things we fear the most. Ask yourself, why would we have confidence in them in the absence of fear? We have confidence that there’s something to fear/respect, something real and powerful (e.g., God).

Fear Is a Learned Behavior
Injury is an experience, something we learn about. Once injured, we have cause for fear. Anyone/anything that is able to harm us becomes a source of fear. (Lk 12:4-5; Ps 27:1-4)

Heb 12:7
It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

The Source of Confidence
We have confidence in the things we fear the most. Ask yourself, why would we have confidence in them in the absence of fear? We have confidence that there’s something to fear/respect, something real and powerful (e.g., God).

Fear Is a Learned Behavior
Injury is an experience, something we learn about. Once injured, we have cause for fear. Anyone/anything that is able to harm us becomes a source of fear. (Lk 12:4-5)

Confidence Is a Function of Fear
Without first fearing the Lord appropriately (not that perverted fear the Roman Catholics teach), we are destitute of confidence. The very best we could hope for is confidence in the flesh, which is hope minus substance. (ref: Php 3:3b)

Fear Is a Learned Behavior
Shall we live in fear of all things injurious to our person, then? May it never be! We shall only live in the fear of God! There’s a big difference. (2Ti 1:7)

Ps 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the defense of my life;
Whom shall I dread?

Fear Is a Learned Behavior
Shall we live in fear of all things injurious to our person, then? May it never be! We shall only live in the fear of God! There’s a big difference. (2Ti 1:7)

The Dichotomy Of a Household
We are protected from without, but exposed from within. Fear is framed this way in order to protect us. To “dwell in the house of the Lord” (Ps 27:4) is to live comfortably and confidently. (2Sa 24:14; Ps 41:4; 51:3-4; Ps 23)

Ps 23:4b
Your rod [symbol of discipline] and Your staff, they comfort me.

The Dichotomy Of a Household
We are protected from without, but exposed from within. Fear is framed this way in order to protect us. To “dwell in the house of the Lord” (Ps 27:4) is to live comfortably and confidently. (2Sa 24:14; Ps 41:4; 51:3-4; Ps 23)

Crawl if you must.

So. Be. It.
Accept who you are. God makes no mistakes. Depend wholly on the grace of God to sustain you, even if you’re crawling towards the finish line! (2Ti 4:7; 1Co 15:10)

Humility
Humility quickens sanctification; arrogance frustrates it. His Word clearly states that He gives grace to the humble, but is opposed to the arrogant. God chose your life - it’s arrogant to buck His choices.

So. Be. It.
Accept who you are. God makes no mistakes. Depend wholly on the grace of God to sustain you, even if you’re crawling towards the finish line! (2Ti 4:7; 1Co 15:10)

2Ti 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
And;
1Co 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I [Paul’s humility on full display], but the grace of God with me.

Respect God’s Choices
God has made divine choices regarding YOUR life. He’s also given you faith to sustain you (Ro 12:3, 6).