Shame in Confidence

They are ashamed because they were confident; they come there and are disappointed. Job 6:20

How often do we unknowing put our faith and trust in things that just don’t deliver? We can continually feel the hurt and disappointment of unmet expectations and hope, leaving us bewildered and believing that God must not care about us.  When we put our trust in things that cannot sustain the weight of our trust we entertain doubts and lies that God is not with us and God is not for us and we begin to direct our disappointment towards God. I mean, if God can do anything then why isn’t he helping me?

But the truth is that our blame is misplaced because God’s promises never fail. When we put all our hope and trust in him, even in the midst of suffering God is faithful to deliver us. If there is anything we are to learn from the life of Job, it’s that we can lose absolutely everything and still find hope and strength in God.  We can feel ashamed about having confidence in things that fail us.

In this season I was so sure of some things that I was so wrong about. I had placed my hope and assurance in things other than God alone and I feel ashamed and foolish. I thought that I could work and strive my way to being enough.  Shame does not come from God so we can repent of that shame and of having confidence in the wrong things. Instead, we must place all our hope and assurance in the Lord.  He is so good and unfailing, especially in the midst of our suffering.

Lord, Help me to put my hope and confidence in you alone. No matter what I see in the natural, no matter what circumstances I am in, I put my hope in you, Lord, by looking to you.