Confidence: A Snowball Lesson From "The Bishop's Wife"

 

"It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes."
Psalm 118:8-9

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Again, during this holiday season, I reference the Christmas classic, “The Bishop’s Wife.”

And I happen to see a lesson is confidence from a scene involving Dudley, the angel, (played by Cary Grant) and the bishop’s daughter, Debbie.

Debbie, because of her small size, is rejected by the other children playing in the snow.

 

It’s then and there Dudley encourages Debbie to throw a snowball, which, of course, is helped along a bit by the angelic curveball magic. And poof! Instantly the children are stunned, clamoring for her to be on their “team.”

Even though Debbie had no clue Dudley was an angel, amplifying the power of her snowball, I started thinking about the confidence issue. Sometimes God gives us a little boost in this department.

And why wouldn’t He? After all, look at His thoughts:

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Jeremiah 29:11

So, it stands to reason that He’d be our confidence when ours is naturally flagging.

"For the LORD will be your confidence,
And will keep your foot from being caught."
Proverbs 3:26

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It’s something to remember daily; confidence in God doesn’t fail. It’s a challenge, this time of year, to bear that in mind. Self-reflection, personal inventory and all manner of recrimination seem to dominate the landscape this time of year.

Perhaps this year wasn’t a good year for you. Perhaps you experienced some personal failures which have shaken your confidence. The story of you isn’t over. Please remember God has/is your Victory.

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 15:57-58

 “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

1 John 5:4

He doesn’t fail- and He won’t fail you.

“O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvelous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.”

Psalms 98:1

May you be reminded of that Truth every single time you see a snowball!

“Thine, O LORD is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.”

1 Chronicles 29:11

Copyright © 2014 by Sheryle Cruse