I had been doing well in my university classes and assumed that my upcoming logic exam was no big deal. A lukewarm sense of complacency settled over me. You might sum up my attitude as “I got this!”
Unforgiving reality showed me I most certainly did not have this. My grade for the term plummeted. It seems my academic philosophy contained a fallacy or two.
The historical account of Joshua ultimately shows how Israel unwisely banked on success with a “we got this” attitude. As they prepared to cross the Jordan River and enter the Promised Land, they sought God’s guidance and followed the priests who carried the ark of the covenant. (The ark represented God’s presence.) And in Joshua 6, as they made ready to “attack” the stronghold of Jericho, the ark was once again by their side (Joshua 6:6-7). So far so good.
But after the city walls miraculously crumbled, a man violated the direct command of God and took some of the plunder (Joshua 7:1). Then Israel compounded their mistake. The men who went to scout out the next military target returned and said, “It won’t take more than two or three thousand men to attack Ai. Since there are so few of them, don’t make all our people struggle to go up there” (Joshua 7:3). We have no record, however, of Israel consulting God on this one. Well, except for seeking Him after their humiliating defeat! (Joshua 7:4-9). Who knows what the outcome might have been if they had asked God for guidance?
We’re strange creatures—exhibiting a range from fear and timidity to conceit and hyper-independence. But God created us to live in community with each other and in reliance on Him. As we make it our habit to seek Him, He tells us, “Relax, I got this!”
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Luke 21:25-38
More:
Read Matthew 14:22-33 and look for Peter’s fascinating combination of faith and fear.
Next:
What’s the difference between healthy confidence and unwise complacency? In what areas of your life are you prone to be overconfident?
mcengstli7 on September 8, 2015 at 6:49 am
healthy confidence…..letting the Lord be my rock. focusing my every need on Him. asking Him for everything. living and serving others through Him. depending on Him for everything. unhealthy complacency………letting myself come before God. in any way i am. i need to personally, entrust my every daily decisions on God. in prayer and on my knees. daily life activities get in the way of me doing this mainly along with laziness. i know what i need to do, but sometimes simply forget. i pray, now, that God be on my mind always and every place i go, to have Him to draw upon for my every need and when i make every decision. Lord i ask this and trust you will help me with this. help purify my mind to clearly see you always. i love you Lord Jesus and i thank you for everything you are to me.
Gary Shultz on September 8, 2015 at 7:28 am
I like what mcengstli7 has to say. I often go through the day doing what I have to do. Letting common sense be my guide. Sometimes we have to do that, but there other times we should be turning things over to God’s oversight. Staying close, seeking Him must be our guiding influence. God always “got it”. Thanks
Tim Gustafson on September 8, 2015 at 7:35 am
mcengstli7 draws a very nice distinction between healthy and unhealthy confidence. The shift from one to the other can be so subtle, but it makes all the difference. I’m with Gary: God’s always got it!
nattykins on September 8, 2015 at 7:38 am
I agree with both of you. I find myself of being this all too often. Instead of trusting God will get me through a situation,and that I don’t spend as much time in prayer as I should. I also realize that I stress by putting too much on myself, instead of trusting in Him. I pray a similar prayer, that God will guide me and help to realize that I’m not alone in this crazy journey called life. God Bless.
Mike Wittmer on September 8, 2015 at 8:41 pm
So true–I am never so vulnerable as when I think I’m not. 1 Corinthians 10:12 says “if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”