When I was twenty years old, I lived through a dramatic event that affected my life. My country, the Dominican Republic, a Caribbean island where I was born and raised, was hit by a category five hurricane. The damage and destruction that this storm caused to our country was huge. Most of the trees in the city were down, a lot of people lost their homes and properties, and many people were seriously injured or lost their lives. Even though my family and I were relatively unharmed, I vividly remember thinking how life was so fragile and how little control I had over my life and my future.
This situation and others raised questions and concerns about life. My mind was crowded with thoughts of worry, anxiety, and fear, and I felt that I had no answers. I was frustrated and depressed, thinking that my life had no meaning. At one point I cried to God and decided to get answers. I searched every religious denomination that I heard about in the country.
After I searched for more than five years and almost gave up, an uncle told me that one of his friends from the United States was coming to the country to run a Bible class. This believer presented The Way Ministry’s Foundational Class, which I was part of, and I received great deliverance. This experience changed my life forever. I learned to love and trust God, and I received true answers that set me free. That happened more than twenty-five years ago, and since that point, I have successfully faced many storms and challenging situations. The Word of God I have learned has helped me to build a confident life, having my trust and confidence in God.
Let’s go to the Word to see that it is God Almighty’s absolute will for us to live a joyful, confident life, free of doubt, worry, and fear. We’ll look at how to develop a personal relationship with our heavenly Father by way of His Word and how to build an undisturbed mind-set of trust and confidence in God so that we can be victorious in any circumstance.
God’s Word is full of promises that tell us of His will for a confident life without worry. One of the great promises of God is that He will keep us in perfect peace as we stay our minds on Him.
Isaiah 26:3:
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
We stay our minds on Him by staying our minds on His Word. That’s how we have perfect peace, which is God’s will for our lives. In order for us to see this wonderful promise as a reality in our lives, we need to know God and learn to trust and love Him. The Book of Proverbs gives us a wonderful admonition with regard to trust.
Proverbs 3:5 and 6:
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
We trust God with all our hearts and acknowledge Him in all our ways; then we have the wonderful benefit that He definitely shall direct our paths.
I John 5:3:
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
We love God by keeping His commandments.
Psalms 46:1 and 2:
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.
This psalm reflects the protection that God is able and willing to provide for us. No matter the situation we face or how big the challenge, God is our refuge and strength—He will always be there in times of trouble. These are tremendous promises that show God’s will for us to live with peaceful minds as we trust in His ability to help us.
Now how do we build our confidence in our heavenly Father? We develop a personal relationship with Him. This is possible because of all He’s given us.
II Peter 1:3:
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.
He has given unto us everything that pertains unto life and godliness so we can have a true and vital spiritual relationship with Him. We build this relationship by getting to know His Word, delighting in the Word, and being doers of the Word.
We get to know and recognize God as our heavenly Father by studying the Word faithfully. When we apply the knowledge from the Word, we find wisdom and understanding. With that, the Book of Proverbs promises that we are happy, or blessed.
Proverbs 3:13,21-26:
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
Now we can live with confidence and without fear. What wonderful assurance from our loving heavenly Father! We have a personal relationship with the Creator of the heavens and earth Who promises us that He will be our safety and confidence.…
This is an excerpt from the May/June 2011 issue of The Way Magazine.
Copyright© 2011 by The Way International. All rights reserved.
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