COME CONFIDENTLY
by April Boyer
As a writer, I recently faced a
confusing decision, and a daunting challenge. I was
nervous, and I admitted it to friends. One friend
responded "trust in yourself." and another said "Trust
in the Lord."
My inclination was to trust in God, for I felt little
confidence in myself in that moment. However, is that
what God wants from our talents? If we have no faith in
the gifts God has given us, how can we use them
effectively?
Some would even say trusting in one
self is arrogant, and counter to what God expects of us.
"Pride goeth before a fall." After all, He wants us to
depend on Him.
Trusting in God, and trusting in one’s self can be
the same target. God gives us the tools to be the best
that we can be, whatever that is. He gives us the
promises that arm us in facing conflict. He enables us
to face fear, to face rejection, to face any possible
negative response from the world. In II Timothy 1: 7, we
see that God does not give us fear, but power, love and
a sound mind." His words are for our continual
growth in knowledge and wisdom, so that we can act; with
confidence and good sense. He does not intend us to be
helpless, but ‘equipped’ as in II Timothy 2:15.
"Study to show thyself approved…a workman that need
not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of the truth".
He gives us the ability to understand His word and use
the truth that is in it, not just for the purpose of
spreading that word, but for daily use and
guidance. He has equipped us to be the person he
designed with the very personality he planned all along.
These include all the strengths necessary for any given
chore. And- he has given us the promise that if we do
His will, the result will be right. "Commit thy way unto
the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will bring it to
pass." Psalm 37:5
II Corinthians 12 reminds us that we are part of the
body, part of the whole, and that the body or the church
needs all its parts. As writers, we supply written words
that contribute to the body. God gives us the talent to
be writers. He gives us the personalities required to
write what we write. Even those results can be
different, focusing on different audiences or on a
different need at a specified time. Our talent might be
for humor, for bible history, for applications of the
scripture, for evangelizing, or for teaching. These are
all a part of the whole. So, would God go this far and
deny us the opportunities or the tools to complete the
job? Try to write an article without the pen or pencil,
or these days- without a computer. Do it with no paper,
no ink. no thought process, no heart for the matter at
hand, no vision.
God has a goal for our skill in the body. He has a
purpose to be completed.
When my friends told me ‘trust in
yourself’, and ‘trust in God’, they were both right.
*
If God has blessed you with a talent that you are not
using because of your doubts, know that the gift came
from Him. Will you ignore this gift from a friend? Will
you thank Him for it?
April
Boyer lives in the mid Ohio Valley with her husband of
31 years, her two grown children and two precious
grandchildren. She is the director of the Ashland
Area Christian Writer's Guild, now five years old, and
a minister for writers at the above website. She has
published essays, profiles and nature topics in a
variety of print and regional magazines,
newspapers and e-zines. A current essay can be seen
at ChristianRoadsMinstries usclargo.com A book of
poetry with devotionals called Someone Who Knows Me,
and a line of greeting cards is due out late this
year.
