Confidence: A Devotional From Sanctus RealSampel

David was a man after God’s own heart.

He was also an adulterer, a murderer, a law breaker, a liar, a manipulator, and a thief. Not a bad rap sheet.

He was alternately sinner and saint; a man of desire – who followed those desires to do things incredibly wrong and self serving – but also a man passionately moved by the Creator and His Creation. David seemed to understand grace, hope, and mercy better than most people of his time, probably because he required so much grace, hope and mercy for himself. 

No one is perfect. We all have flaws. Yet, David shows us that God has never looked for perfection, He looks for people who want to be with Him, like Him, and ultimately live in His perfection. 

In Psalm 42, David describes his desire for God. This is such a perfect example of why David moved God’s heart. The rest of Psalm 42 is alternately a cry for help in David’s despair, and a declaration of hope for the future. It reads like a man wrestling with the reality of his humanity in light of his confidence in God’s great grace, mercy, and love.

Today, may you understand that the God of Creation is not deterred by your perceived failings; He’s only interested in your confidence that He can help make it right. You are not finished. Your past does not disqualify you from being a thriving part of God’s kingdom, in fact, it may help you in helping those who struggle as you do. 

Today the future is wide open, so are the arms of the one who holds that very future. Run into those arms, forgetting the things which are behind: press toward your Father, be safe in his arms. You are not done, for you will yet praise Him!

So give us a heart like David; passionate, yet pointed directly at our Father. And give us Confidence that your arms are always wide open.