Confidence

One Friday morning, a verse from the first reading at Mass caught my attention; it was Hebrews 10:35: “Therefore, do not throw away your confidence; it will have great recompense.” I was especially drawn to the word “confidence,” and although it kept popping up all weekend, I didn’t feel inspired to write about it. The problem was that I couldn’t get past the thought of a football coach giving a dramatic half-time pep talk to his discouraged team, trying to build up their confidence in themselves. Certainly, self-confidence has its rewards, but I knew that was definitely not what the Letter to the Hebrews had in mind. I tried not to think about it, but this was a verse that refused to be ignored.

I eventually gave in and decided to do some research. I started with the introduction to the Letter to the Hebrews which says that, although the author is unknow, he was clearly a first-century Christian who was trying to encourage the Jewish converts to Christianity who were being oppressed and persecuted. No wonder it sounds like a pep talk! By Monday afternoon, I had accumulated 3 pages of definitions, quotes, and Bible verses. When I looked up Hebrews 10:35 at Bible Gateway. com, an interesting link popped up: Hebrews 10:35 in all English translations. There were an amazing 61 English translations on the site; and as I scanned down the list, I noticed this one: “Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward.” I also found these alternatives for the word “confidence”: boldness, fearlessness, courage, confident trust, and bold faith.

Then I entered the word “confidence” hoping to find some examples in the Gospels, but there was only one listed, John 16:33. “In the world you shall have distress: but have confidence, I have overcome the world.” So, naturally, I checked the 61 translations of this verse, too, and found these alternates to “have confidence”: take heart, trust, be courageous, be undaunted, be encouraged, be brave, and be unshakable.

In all my searching and note-taking, I had come to understand Hebrews 10:35 and what it means to have confidence in God, but I had forgotten my own #1 rule: KEEP READING: always read the verses that come before and after the one that speaks to you. The very next verse reads, “You need endurance to do the will of God and receive what he has promised” (Hebrews 10:36). To confidence, courage, and faith, it is necessary to add endurance.

Hebrews 10 ends with these strong words of encouragement: “We are not among those who draw back and perish, but among those who have faith and will possess life” (Hebrews 10:39). In his first-century pep talk, the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews urged his struggling readers to trust in God and be courageous. His words ring true for us too. He reminds us that we have good reason to be bold and to persevere in faith: we know our confidence will yield a “great and glorious compensation.” So………

BE UNDAUNTED!

“… let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith… so that [we] may not grow weary or fainthearted.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)

BE UNSHAKABLE!

“For you are achieving the goal of your faith, that is, the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:9)

AND HAVE CONFIDENCE!

“Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence [courage, boldness, faith, and trust] is in him.” (Jeremiah 17:7)

“I’ll Not Be Shaken” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vsg-pLr3iyE

Hebrews 10:35-36 from the Amplified Bible: “Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward. For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised.”