Elect Lady's Corner

As we look at recent history, I don’t think we have ever witnessed such uncertainty on every side. Nations are trembling; morality is collapsing; families are under attack; truth is being challenged; fear is spreading like wildfire. Confusion has become the language of our culture; and many hearts are failing because of what they see unfolding around us. Yet none of these things must overwhelm the people of God. Jesus warned us that these days would come. In Matthew 24, He described wars, rumors of wars, pestilences, deception, lawlessness, persecution, and hearts growing cold.

These are not merely headlines but they are heavenly alarms reminding us that God's Word is true and that His return is drawing near. The question is not whether difficult times will come but the question is: “Will your confidence remain when everything around you is shaken?” The Body of Christ needs more than information about prophecy, but we also need supernatural confidence that endows us from the Holy Spirit. Confidence is not arrogance, or just positive thinking or denying reality, but it is confidence in God our Father the Creator of the Universe.

Therefore, we have the settled assurance that God is exactly who He says He is and He will faithfully accomplish everything He has promised. So, as believers we must have the confidence that is a firm trust in God. Trust is choosing to rely on God while confidence is the unwavering assurance that He will never fail. Trust is the decision made while confidence is the result of repeatedly discovering God's faithfulness. Trust says, "Lord, I'm placing this in Your hands" while confidence declares, "Because You have never failed me before, I know You won't fail me now." 

Confidence grows every time God proves Himself faithful. Every answered prayer, every valley survived, every battle won, every impossible situation becomes another stone in the believer's spiritual foundation. That’s why Paul boldly declared: "being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6) Notice Paul did not merely hope God would finish what He started, but he was confident. Our confidence must never be built upon favorable circumstances because circumstances change overnight.

Our confidence must never rest in governments because kingdoms rise and fall. Our confidence cannot be rooted in our finances, our health, or even in people, because these things can disappoint us. Our confidence must be anchored in the unchanging God. Paul demonstrated this confidence while awaiting trial in Rome. Though imprisoned, chained and facing uncertainty, Acts 28:31 tells us he preached "with all confidence." Prison did not imprison his confidence because confidence does not come from comfort but it comes from conviction.

Likewise, Paul testified in 2 Timothy 1:12b: "for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” Notice he did not say, "I know what I believe" but he said, "I know whom I have believed." Confidence grows through relationship; and when you truly know God, you stop panicking every time circumstances change. One great demonstration of confidence occurred during Paul's voyage to Rome.

The ship was destroyed by a violent storm, but even though experienced sailors were on board they lost hope. Fear consumed everyone on board but in the middle of the chaos, Paul stood with remarkable confidence and declared: "Be of good cheer..." (Acts 27:22) But how could he encourage others when the storm still raged? It was because his confidence was greater than the storm because He had heard from God. Confidence hears God's voice louder than the noise of the wind.

The same confidence was seen in young David standing before the giant Goliath. David possessed no military reputation, no impressive armor, and no worldly advantage. Yet he boldly proclaimed to a giant almost 10 ft tall: "Thou comest to me with a sword... but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts..." I Samuel 17:45) David's confidence was not in his sling but it was in his God. Many believers are trying to face today's giants armed only with human wisdom, political opinions, emotional strength, or natural ability. 

Those weapons will eventually fail. Our confidence must remain in the Lord God Almighty. One of the enemy's greatest weapons in these last days is intimidation. If he can’t destroy your faith, he will try to destroy your confidence. He whispers: "What if God doesn't answer? What if you lose everything? What if you're standing alone? What if this trial never ends?" But God's Word answers every fearful whisper. 1 John 5:14-15 says: "And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. and if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.”

Wow! What a promise! There are moments when our emotions question what our faith already knows. Our feelings may fluctuate, but God's faithfulness never changes. This is why believers must not allow emotions to become the final authority. Feelings may change but God's Word does not change. The Apostle Peter also reminds us in 1 Peter 4:12: "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you…"

Trials are not evidence that God has abandoned you. But often, they are evidence that He is preparing you. Fire doesn’t destroy pure gold, but it reveals it. Likewise, these last days are revealing who truly belongs to Christ. God is raising up believers who will not bow to cultural pressure, compromise biblical truth, or surrender to fear. He is looking for men and women who will stand with holy confidence regardless of what society says. That is why again Paul commanded believers to: "…be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God..." Ephesians 6:10-11) 

The armor of God is not merely defensive equipment, but it is a declaration that we belong to Heaven's victorious army. We are not victims trying to survive until Jesus comes but we are victorious soldiers called to occupy until He returns. As darkness increases our confidence should increase; as deception grows our discernment should deepen; as persecution rises our courage should become even stronger. This is not the hour to retreat but this is the hour to stand. The world does not need frightened Christians.

It needs confident believers who know their God, know His Word, know His voice, and refuse to compromise. The days ahead may become more difficult but the Word has forewarned us. The same Bible that predicts increasing darkness, also promises increasing grace, increasing wisdom, increasing, strength increasing peace, and increasing victory for those who remain in Christ. The confidence of the believer is not rooted in escaping every storm, but our confidence is rooted in knowing Who will walk with us thru every storm. 

The God who preserved Noah thru the flood, protected Daniel in the lions' den, walked with the 3 Hebrew boys thru the fire, strengthened David before Goliath, encouraged Paul during the storm, and raised Jesus from the dead has not changed. He remains the same yesterday, today, and forever. So, stand! Stand when others compromise, stand when others quit, stand when others panic, stand when others doubt, stand not because of your strength, but because of His.

And remember, the last days do not call for fearful believers but they call for fearless believers; and when your confidence is anchored in Christ, no storm can sink you, no giant can intimidate you, and no darkness can extinguish your light. So, stand boldly... stand faithfully... and above all, STAND CONFIDENTLY!