Confidence That Keeps Us Standing | Qualities of Women Who Trust Jesus Series

“I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.”
— Psalm 27:13

Most of us know that we have 206 bones in our bodies, which form the human skeletal system, but did you know that only 10% of the earth’s animals have a skeletal system? The other 90% are invertebrates, who don’t have backbones (Holland, 2017). Working together, the bones of our unique skeletal system form a framework that holds us up. Without it, our bodies would have no defined shape and would not be able to move or function (Seladi-Schulman, 2019).

Sometimes it can feel like I have no defined shape. Moments of physical exhaustion have left me feeling like a blob of oatmeal spilled out on the couch. Mental, emotional and spiritual distress can have a similar effect. In fact, in the Psalms, David describes this human condition: “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me” (Psalm 22:14).

Various triggers can leave us with this shapeless, poured-out feeling of distress.

It can show up as grief over the loss of a loved one,

or fear when something endangers our sense of safety or comfort,

or sadness over what could have been.

It can come as the feeling of inadequacy.

It can appear as a response to a real threat… but in some cases this strength-draining, heart-melting distress can also happen in response to an imagined threat (i.e. what if thinking).

It can show up when God’s promises are not matching up with our current circumstances.

It can feel like persistent sadness, negative thinking, low self-concept, and a complete lack of motivation.

But the same guy who penned the words of heart-melting distress in Psalm 22 teaches us how to handle it in Psalm 27:13, “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” If we look close enough, here’s what this passage unravels for us. Just like our bodies, our souls have a framework that holds us up, gives us shape and helps us to move and function.

The skeletal system of the soul is confidence.

In the King James Version, Psalm 27:13 starts off with, “I had fainted unless I had believed…” This translation is trying to capture the concept of the original Hebrew word. In more modern translations, the word is translated “confidence,” but its true meaning is more closely related to the idea of being sustained, supported, and held up.

When we are at our weakest, when strength alludes us and our hearts are faint, it is confidence in God’s goodness that holds us up and enables us to move forward.

Earlier in Psalm 27, David describes being attacked, abandoned and oppressed. Talk about distress! It seems ridiculous, but I can feel all those things in a single afternoon. Even normal days are hard and have a sneaky way of sucking the life out of us.

But confidence in God is what gives strength to our spiritual bones.

Take note: this confidence in not in ourselves, but in God’s goodness. It’s an assurance that what God says is true, and it’s the choice to focus on that truth. It holds us up when we feel as though we’re collapsing. It nourishes us back to health, and speaks the language of hope to our weary souls.

Because God is good, we can trust that we’ll see his goodness “in the land of the living”— the here and now. It’s part of our inheritance, Sister. Distress may leave us feeling deflated, but confidence in His goodness keeps us standing. In the name of Jesus, we are confident.

REFERENCES:

Holland, Kimberly. “15 Fun Facts About the Skeletal System.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 2017. https://www.healthline.com/health/fun-facts-about-the-skeletal-system

Saladi-Schulman, Jill. “Bone Function: Why Do We Have Bones.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 2019. https://www.healthline.com/health/bone-health/bone-function

For Your Journal

Find It:

In this portion of your journal, write out a Bible verse. You can find a verse that fits a current life situation or use the one we used in today’s devotion.

“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”
— Psalm 27:13

Fix It:

In this portion of your journal, pull out a few key words from the verse you chose above, or summarize the verse in your own words. Write it in pretty lettering or sketch something that will help you visualize the meaning of the verse and fix it in your mind. Repeat these words to yourself throughout the week to remind you of the truth contained in the scripture. Here are some options:

My confidence is in God’s goodness

Remain Confident

Feel It:

In this portion of your journal, write out a prayer. The goal is to absorb the meaning of the Bible passage and let it take root in your heart. Ask the Lord to let his word change you by the power of his Spirit so that you begin to feel like the new person you’re becoming in Christ. Surrender any areas of your life that you are trying to control.

Heavenly Father, in moments of distress, help me to remember that you are good. Give me an unwavering confidence in you that will hold me up when my inner man is faint. Thank you for being trustworthy; help me to trust that no matter what happens, I WILL see your goodness play out in my life. Help me to be a person who’s confidence in you inspires faith in the lives of the people around me. Amen.