Philippians 1:6 - The Assurance that Brings Joy and Peace

AsI have been thinking about this, I want us to finish with the thought todaythat our confidence is not in ourselves. Paul’s confidence was not in himselfor even in the Philippians. His confidence was in God. That is so important. Ifyour confidence is in yourself, you will always struggle with doubt, becauseyou know your weaknesses and you know your failures. But when your confidenceis in God, it changes everything. Godis not limited by our weaknesses. He is not surprised by our struggles. He isnot discouraged by our failures. He knew everything about us before He savedus. Yet He still saved us, and He will keep us. I could not help but thinkabout the prayers of the Bible, both Old Testament and New Testament. Thesaints often began their prayers referring to the fact that God createdeverything.. For example, Psalm 121 says: “I will lift up my eyes to thehills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, who madeheaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved. He who keeps youwill not slumber.” Howpowerful is that? God spoke the world—the universe—into existence by the powerof His Word. If He could do that, do you not know He knows who you are? Heknows every molecule, every atom in your body. He will take care of you, and Hewill keep you. Psalm 124 says almost the same thing in verse 8: “Our help isin the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” The saints, as theyprayed, knowing they needed help, referred to God as the Maker of heaven andearth. Why? Not because God needed to be told He made the heavens and theearth—He already knew that. I am convinced they said that because they werereminding themselves that their confidence was in a God who is so awesome, sopowerful, who is the Creator.  NoticePsalm 146:5–6: “Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whosehope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all thatis in them; who keeps truth forever, who executes justice for the oppressed,who gives food to the hungry. The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners.” Again,the person praying expressed his or her confidence in a creator God who isalways working to take care of the needs of His creation. Evenin the New Testament, when the Apostle Peter and others were being persecutedby the Pharisees and the Sadducees and the religious rulers, they gatheredtogether with their church group in the upper room and prayed. Acts 4:24 saysthat they began their prayer with acknowledging God’s awesome power in creation:“So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord andsaid, ‘Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all thatis in them.’” And then they went on to make their request for boldness andprotection. Their confidence was in the God who made everything. Myfriend, your hope should not be in your ability to hold on to God. Your hope isin His ability to hold on to you. When we have this kind of confidence, itgives us something every believer needs, and that is assurance. When we areconfident that He who began a good work will complete it until the day of JesusChrist, we do not have to live in constant fear or uncertainty about ourrelationship with God. ReadRomans chapter 8:31-39. What can separate us from the love of God that is inChrist Jesus our Lord? There is nothing that can separate us. Our salvation isnot fragile—it is secure because it rests in the hands of a faithful God. Letus live with confidence—not in ourselves, but in God. That confidence produces anassurance that brings peace. It brings stability. It brings joy. Youcan rest in this truth today: God is not finished with you yet, and He neverwill be. Be assured, have confidence, and keep your eyes on God. Godbless and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day!