Gradually, you’ve heard…less and less about our nation’s hopes, our dreams, and our vision of the future…It’s clear that the true problems of our Nation are much deeper — deeper than gasoline lines or energy shortages, deeper even than inflation or recession…The threat is nearly invisible in ordinary ways. It is a crisis of confidence. It is a crisis that strikes at the very heart and soul and spirit of our national will. We can see this crisis in the growing doubt about the meaning of our own lives and in the loss of a unity of purpose for our nation.
The erosion of our confidence in the future is threatening to destroy the social and the political fabric of America… In a nation that was proud of hard work, strong families, close-knit communities, and our faith in God, too many of us now tend to worship self-indulgence and consumption… For the first time in the history of our country a majority of our people believe that the next five years will be worse than the past five years.
As you know, there is a growing disrespect for government and for churches and for schools…and other institutions. This is not a message of happiness or reassurance, but it is the truth and it is a warning. – Excerpt from President Jimmy Carter’s speech to America, July 1979.
Just as to a nation, loss of confidence constrains Christians’ capacity to operate in God’s grace. All God’s promises are products of His multi-dimensional grace which His children can access and receive through trust and confidence. “Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward,” Hebrews 10:35.
To a Christian, lack of confidence damages the liberty to approach the Throne of Grace, it cripples the desire to receive from God, it freezes the passion to use the gifts of the Spirit, and it alienates some from engaging in kingdom missions. Lack of confidence limits God.
Crisis of confidence is a malaise rooted in condemnation. 1 John 3:21-22 says “Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, then we have confidence in God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.” How can we deal with condemnation? Here is the treatment pill; “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit,” (Romans 8:1). “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).
This form of confidence will not come by standing on any human ideology, philosophy, or political affiliation. It comes only by knowing and living by the truth of God’s Word. To all people and nations, what will guarantee hope for future security. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)