Resting -- Hope Chronicles 72

I recently took this picture of Katy. I love it. The amazing thing is that she didn't even stir when I took it. Yes, I was trying to be quiet so I could capture the moment, but I thought the whir of the camera and the flash would wake her. If it did, she didn't let me know about it.

In some ways this is a picture of trust to me. Katy was sprawled out on one of our favorite and softest blankets. Mali was nearby, but Katy still spread out. She often doesn't do this when Mali is near because Mali is a pouncer.

One thing to know about cats is that they often take awhile to warm up to you. Staring directly at a cat may seem aggressive. Sometimes, that is why cats choose to go to those who ignore them. The go on their own terms.

They also do not often show their bellies. No, it is not a self-conscious thing. Rather it is self-protection. It's harder to escape from a prone position and their bellies are vulnerable spots. So, either this blanket was too inviting to pass up or Katy was trusting enough of me and Mali to relax into the softness.

This is a picture of rest -- relaxing even in the midst of something hard. I think of Psalm 23. God makes the write lie down in green pastures but then go through the valley of the shadow of death. In the end, God provides a banquet in the presence of the writer's enemies. I always wondered about this. But someone explained it once that once someone entered that person's house, they were under their protection. Thus, they could relax and enjoy the feast. Or in Katy's case, stretch out on the softest blanket around because she knew she was safe.

Do I rest in God like that? Do I stretch out and show Him my tender places? I long to say "Yes" but I know there are times when I am too busy protecting myself rather than letting Him protect me that I do not fully relax into Him.

Where there is trust there is rest. Where there is trust there is hope because we know that a feast awaits even in the presence of enemies. There is hope because God has called us his.

Where To Find Confidence

I'm part of an on line study of this book by Lisa Whittle hosted by Lelia. If you want to join the fun, click the graphic to get to Lelia's site.

Confidence. I'm not sure if I have it or not. Sometimes, I do a pretty good job of putting it on like a new pair of shoes or a nice top. While those things can help me feel more confident, they are not likely to change my actual level of confidence. Lisa is right -- confidence is more than an attitude. I'd say that it is a place of the heart.

I started out saying that I wasn't sure if I had confidence or not. Give me a crying child and I'm usually pretty good at making them smile. Give me a project to work on. I'll go at it with my whole heart. In grad school I opted to do the completely optional master's level thesis.This involved lots of research, sending out surveys to 1,000 counselors across the nation, putting in the data, analyzing it and then presenting it to my thesis committee.

Going before the committee should not have been such a big deal to me. You see, my chair had suggested I put in proposal to present my finding at the national American Counseling Association conference. We had handouts for 30. When 175 people poured into that room, I was quaking. But I put on my best face and walked to podium and started rattling off the data and showing the carefully made slides. And then there was 20 minutes for questions. I surprised myself by answering confidently. My professor was pleased and the program was a success.
After working on it for a year and half, I was still nervous presenting it to my committee.

So, why was I so nervous about 3 committee members? I think it was that after 4 years of grad school (part-time) they knew me. They knew I had good days and bad days. They knew I was always prepared for class and did good presentations, but interpersonally, sometimes my confidence slipped.

I find it so much easier to "put on my game face" for those I don't know rather than those I do. Still, I made it and passed their questions without missing a beat. But I was a wreck before hand and right after!

Lisa writes about finding confidence in God. I think she is correct there. That is where we are to find it. Lisa didn't use this story, but it came to mind as I was reading. David was a man with confidence. Even as a child, he faced a Goliath with a handful of stones because he was so angry that the Philistines were insulting his God. He was a shepherd boy, overlooked by his family. Yet, even then he relied on God.

Saul was the king of Israel at the time. At one point, God tells Saul that He is going to give Saul's kingdom to David. It turns into a man hunt. One night David and his little band of men are hiding in a cave and an unknowing Saul comes into sleep. David had the opportunity to kill the man who was hunting him. But rather than do that, David simply cuts off a piece of Saul's robe and the next day shouts to Saul about having the corner of his robe. More simply put, David was saying, "Saul, I had an opportunity to kill you but I chose not to. Your death will be up to God, not me."

That is confidence because he chose to leave it all up to God instead of making something happen quickly. David expresses this confidence in God beautifully in Pslam 23:4-5 (NIV):

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies . . . .

David recognizes two things here. First, God does not promise a life without hardship. Second, God is the provider and protector. Because David could lean into that, he could let Saul go in the cave that night.

I'm not very good at resting in those things. I often get caught up in making things happen, in doing them my way. I am far from patient. This chapter challenged me to leave behind the facade of confidence for the confidence of resting in God.