On Confidence in God

First Point - We can not distrust ourselves too much, neither can we have too great confidence in God. God refuses nothing to those who trust in Him. Our confidence in God is a proof of our love for Him, for we trust those we love. Nothing proves our gratitude for His kindness, His power, His wisdom and His providence, like confidence. His power is infinite; can we fail if He assists us? His wisdom is infinite; can we go astray if He guides us? His kindness is infinite; can He forget or neglect us if we rely on it?

Second Point - I am weakness itself; therefore I have reason to distrust myself. But God is all-powerful; therefore I have reason to trust in Him. Confidence unites 74 Meditation for the Nineteenth Day me to God and God to me. Hence it is that the prophet assures us, that they who trust in God will divest themselves of their own weakness, and will be clothed with the strength of God. "They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength" (Isaiah 40:31). A man full of confidence in God becomes, in a certain manner, strong with the strength of God Himself. Can he, who is powerful with the power of God, be discouraged by obstacles? Can he, who is rich with the riches of God, lack anything in his necessities? Thus the prophet declares that they who hope in the Lord, "they will soar on eagles' wings; they will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint." (Isaiah 40:31) If, then, you are wanting in strength, it is because you are wanting in confidence.

Third Point - Just as the power and strength of God never appeared so great as when it brought light out of darkness, and the most beautiful works out of nothingness, so the virtue of confidence never appears so great as when it so fortifies man that he finds motives for hope in the face of despair. A man upheld by the virtue of confidence never hopes more, nor fears less, than when all appears lost. He never gives himself up more perfectly to God than when all the world forsakes him, and when even God Himself seems to forsake him. Hence it is that holy Job cried out, "Although He should kill me, I will trust in Him." (Job 13:15)

Pray often for the virtue of confidence, since by causing you to hope for all things, it will cause you to obtain all things.

Know ye that no one hath hoped in the Lord, and hath been confounded. - Sirach 2:11

The faith of Christians causes them to hope for those things which appear impossible. - Tertullian

- text taken from Meditations for Every Day in a Month, by Father François Nepveu