On the Shoulders of GiantsSample

Shaped in Confidence

Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. -Psalm 27:3

When my older sister attended Atlanta University graduate school—now Clark Atlanta—she rejoiced to never hear the word can’t.

On her campus, “nobody thought you were stupid or couldn’t succeed. Everybody treated you as if you could do anything you set your mind to accomplish.” In support, her professors “were all knowledgeable and capable,” and guest speakers were high achievers “who encouraged us to follow their example.”

Coming from Colorado, where de facto segregation limited opportunities for “minorities”—and from a Midwestern, mostly White undergraduate college where her life dreams were dismissed—she found it life-changing “to be treated as if you were worthy of having high aspirations” and could achieve them.

The HBCU experience “built your confidence and your faith, so when you graduated, you believed nothing could stop you.” Inspired, she earned yet another degree, a Ph.D., at another university, overcoming prejudice experienced there through “a greater faith in God.”

Her assurance points to the confidence David put in God. “Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident” (Psalm 27:3).

Rather than place confidence in ourselves, the psalmist’s message encourages us to place our confidence in God. As David extolled, “The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” (v. 1).

Patricia Raybon

Whose stories have encouraged you?

Our Mighty God, we place our confidence in You as we go forth by faith to achieve our best in You.