Our Power Over Fear

by Timothy Howe

But Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope

Heb 3:6 NLT

Fear can be debilitating. it thwarts dreams and keeps us from accomplishing all that God has in store for us. This week, we have seen how fear can be overcome. Hebrews 3:6 tells us that we have two weapons in our arsenal against fear. These represent the power that we have over fear - confidence and hope. 


Confidence and Hope
On their own merits confidence and hope are powerful things. Confidence instills within us the ability to tackle the challenges that life throws at us. Hope stirs us up to endure. I have seen people in terrible circumstances who exhibit both of these characteristics and I have seen people in much less severe difficulties surrender any ounce of confidence or hope that they would make it. It is at least in part matters of choice and attitude.


Confidence in...
What gives us confidence. Many times we are able to muster self-confidence in order to persevere in the midst of trials. Self-confidence is a powerful character trait. Yet, it is limited by the truth of our limitations. We may possess a strong self-confidence, but there will come a time when we come to the point of our incapability. At that moment what do we do?


Confidence in hope...
The passage above tells us where to place out confidence in order to extend it, to make it go beyond ourselves and our limitations. We are to place our confidence in hope. This is a hope that our limitations are not the limitations of our realities. We have so much more that is available to us that just what our skills afford us. What we desire to achieve that we are not really capable of falls into the realm of hope. 


Confidence in our hope of Christ.
Ultimately, our hope is in the One who is most capable. The confidence we have is not just there is something better out there, but that there is a "best" out there that is available for us which empowers us. This "best" is Jesus. Christ offers us an ultimate reality that far exceeds anything we are capable of on our own.


Know that when fear comes, you have something greater. You have confidence and hope available for you and more importantly, you have the Author of each present with you. He is your power over your fears.


May you demonstrate confidence and hope in Christ today.