Confidence with a Capital “B”

“The wicked flee when no one pursues,

but the righteous are as bold as a lion.”

~Proverbs 28:1 (NRSV).

Wonder with me for a moment... can we be situationally wicked or righteous? Perhaps being wicked or righteous are not so much statuses that are reached with entirety, but are loaned to us—adjudged to our disobedience or obedience.

This is explained partly by way of fear—as a method for living—for the former, and faith for the latter. Those living in fear are more prone to take shortcuts and act selfishly, whilst those proffering faith can hold out faithfully, at least to the demands of the situation.

Faith Leads to a Discerning Boldness

Faith is trust. Trust is action-oriented and it’s manifested often in confidence. That is to be bold, but in accord with wisdom, which is discernment.

Because it has both boldness and discernment, faith resembles a beautifully handcrafted sword, the blade of which has been skilfully hardened and tempered. It has the properties of both strength and resilience. This is faith blessed with wisdom.

Faith, Poised and Balanced

Foolishness isn’t known to this form of faith as its boldness acts according to purely the desires of its purveyor and not the situation. Faith holds the unique situational tensions expertly.

Most of all faith is known because of its propensity not to worry when all around it are quacking in their boots. Somehow faith refuses to see what it sees and chooses instead to see with eyes of hope, with thoughts of love.

From such a perspective faith is beautifully positioned. This only adds to its bold confidence, for it sees from afar what is almost certainly coming, and it fears not, for fear would defeat the purpose of life.

Faith, consequently, is perfectly (read “appropriately”) bold. Its seamless chant is open to the mysteries of life and it cannot see things skewed and for want of balance.

For everyone, an appropriately-bold faith is the perfect accompaniment for every true life success.

© 2010 S. J. Wickham.