Where is your confidence?

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by water that sends out it roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8 I think this is one of the most beautiful verses I have ever read.

As I shared yesterday I grew up in church, but I didn't come to know Christ until I was in my 30's. I played the game. I could give you the p.c. answers  (I guess a church girl would say the biblically correct answers)  but there was no confidence in the Lord.

I knew in 2003, when my dad died, that something was wrong. I felt that part of my soul had died as well. My confidence was in Dad. Don't get me wrong....I'm  a Daddy's girl. My heart is breaking as I write this. He was my friend, he was my confidant....well he was my Daddy. I talked to him about everything, my hurts, my worries, my hopes and my dreams. When he was gone I felt like I was without a shelter, without a place to run. That is when I knew that I didn't have a Father...a Heavenly Father. 2003 was my year of drought. I realized my leaves were not green...I was bearing no fruit.

I remember that year so vividly. I won't relive all of the pain for you because it was ugly! It don't know how my poor marriage survived. I have no doubt that the Lord hovered over our household giving my sweet husband the mercy and wisdom to deal with his lost wife. "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18 

The Lord remained close. He became my friend. He became my confidant. He became the one I ran to with my hopes and dreams. "He answered when I called, He gave me relief from my distress; He was merciful to me and heard my prayers." Psalm 4:1

It is with confidence that I say..."When I pass through the waters, He will be with me; and when I pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over me. When I walk through the fire I will not be burned; the flames will not set me ablaze." Isaiah 43:2 I hope you have found this same confidence in our Savior!

What is your story? Have you gone through your drought? Has your confidence in the Lord been tested? Have you had to honestly evaluate yourself before him? I hope you call to Him. I hope you root yourself in Him.

"I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the saints to grasp how wide and how long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17-19

Until next time...