We live in confusing times and the only solution is confidence in Christ. Instead of depending on self or the advice of others we need to look to the Lord for direction. I love this story told by Dr. Paul Chappell that illustrates this point:
While driving in a remote camping area, the father of a vacationing family came across a large sign that read, “Road Closed. Do Not Enter.” The man proceeded around the sign because he was confident it would save them time. His wife was resistant to the adventure, but there was no turning back for this persistent road warrior. After a few miles of successful navigation, he began to boast about his gift of discernment. His proud smile was quickly replaced with humble sweat when the road led to a washed-out bridge. He turned the car around and retraced his tracks to the main road. When they arrived at the original warning sign he was greeted by large letters on the back of the sign “Welcome back, stupid!”
Sometimes we can have utmost confidence in ourselves to figure out issues or fix problems but we let ourselves down. Confidence is only as good as the object it’s placed in. When going through life, the wise person places their confidence in an unchanging, all-powerful God.
When you face a problem or come upon life’s challenges, what’s your first course of action? God desires that you would turn to Him for strength and place your confidence in Him. As He reminds the believer in 1 Peter 1, your salvation is bought by His powerful blood and He alone has the strength to help in your daily life.
The human reaction to difficulty is self-reliance, but God wants you to be Jesus-reliant. Man can plan and scheme but only God controls the situation entirely. Take a few minutes now to lay your problems before God. Give up your control of the situation, and place your confidence in Christ’s plan.
