Confidence

We say that we are “confident” when we believe that we know something is true or is going to happen the way we expect it to.

For example, we are confident that the sun will rise tomorrow morning. Why are we confident that the sun will rise tomorrow? (What is the basis for our confidence?)

When you fly on an airplane, are you confident that the plane will stay up in the sky for the whole flight? How confident are you? More or less than about the sun rising tomorrow morning? What is the basis for your confidence about the airplane?

I am confident that my mother will love me tomorrow and even a year from now. Are you confident that someone loves you today and will love you a year from now? Who is that person, and why are you confident of their love? What could change your confidence about their love?

What confidence do you have in yourself? How would you finish the sentence, “I am confident that I can . . . . . “ Maybe you are confident that you can get good grades in school this quarter, finish an important project and do a good job, or that you can handle any problems that may come to you. What are you confident about?

What areas are you not confident about? How would you finish the sentence, “I am not confident that I can . . . . “ For example, I am not confident that I can be peaceful when I’m rejected by a friend. I am not confident that I can avoid getting angry when someone yells at me. I am not confident that I can play a song on my guitar without making a mistake. How about you?

Do you remember situations in your life where you either gained or lost confidence in something or someone? Do you remember situations in your life where you either gained or lost confidence about yourself? Please share one or more of those situations with your conversation partners.

Paul, a teacher about Jesus, was in prison and in danger of death when he wrote about his confidence:

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you, will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ” Philippians 1:6

“ . .I shall not be put to shame in anything, but . . . Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. . . I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. And convinced of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith . .” Phil 1:20-25

****What do you think about Paul’s view of death and life?