Confidence and Hope
Confidence
In Psalm 131:1, we saw that David humbled himself before God. He knew there were things He did not understand things too high for him. He acknowledged that before the Lord. David had confidence that God could take care of the things that were too high and lofty for him and things that were outside of his understanding. He said, “Surely, I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.” (verse 2) When a child is very young, it has some responses to things it cannot understand or control. If it is hungry, it cries; when it is wet or dirty, it cries; when it wants attention, it cries. As a child grows older and is weaned, it learns how to do some things for itself and how to respond to situations. To some extent, the child can entertain itself and spend some time playing or doing things alone. The child can take care of his everyday bodily needs, and he can feed himself. He also learns to wait and expect his parents to take care of situations that are beyond his control. David was like a weaned child. He nurtured himself in God’s law, encouraged himself in the Lord and learned to wait on the Lord to help him.
Hope
As a child grows, his confidence grows also. As his confidence grows, his hope increases. He has expectations and things that he desires and is certain that he will attain these things. He works hard and waits for success. As we grow in our spiritual lives, our confidence grows. As our confidence grows, our hope increases. Our confidence is in the LORD and in Him do we hope. We nurture ourselves in the word of God and encourage ourselves in the Lord and commune with Him as we develop our relationship with Him. We confidently expect that He will give us what we need and take care of the situations that are beyond our control. David had this hope, and he desired that all Israel should have it too, “Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever.” (verse 3)
We can have confidence and hope in the Lord because we know that He will take care of His own and that He only wants what is best for us. “11) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12) Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13) And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13) We humble ourselves before God; we have confidence that He will care for us; and we wait for Him to hear us and answer our prayers to give that which is good. His desire for us is peace and an expected end – hope for this life and assurance of eternal life. Thank You, God!