Subtitle: The Remarkable Grit of a God-Fearing Woman
By Mary A. Kassian, 2021, Nelson Books
It’s counter-intuitive to fight fear with fear. In The Right kind of Confidence, Mary A. Kassian explains how we can conquer apprehensive fears and anxiety by growing in the reverential fear of the Lord. Contrary to how many think of it today, confidence is not a feeling. Rather, the strength of our confidence is based on the strength of the thing or person we are putting our confidence in. In a word, confidence is trust. The right kind of confidence is trust in God.
We can put our trust in things (our abilities, savings, reputation, status, health), but these are all fragile. Or we can trust in the Sovereign Lord God, who is unshakeable. Kassian’s formula for confidence is simple: rely on God more than we rely on other stuff. That’s not to say storms won’t come, because they will and they have, as Kassian shares through personal stories. When storms come, we can be at perfect peace, fully confident because our trust is in our unshakeable God.
This book is not just about confidence, but also trust, God, the fear of God, Christians’ identity as God’s children, and our inheritance of life without apprehensive fear.
The fear of the Lord is a tricky concept to explain, but Kassian captures it well. She describes different “facets” of the fear of the Lord and has inspired me to grow in each of them: awe, obedience, devotion, worship, and trust. She includes practical steps and cautionary guidance for growing in the fear of the Lord and thus in confidence.
I love words and appreciate it when a concept is described in a way that captures the full meaning and nuances. Kassian provides those kind of descriptions for a better understanding of confidence, diffidence, and the fear of the Lord.
Throughout the book she weaves together familiar Bible stories in such a way as to facilitate revelation, to see something one has not seen in the Scriptures before, and to invite one into deeper trust (and worship) of God.
The story of Moses especially stood out to me this time: Moses was feeling insecure and pleaded with God to send someone else to free the Israelites from Pharoah and Egypt. God responded rather differently to the self-affirmations prevalent in western culture:
“God didn’t engage Moses in a rah-rah, shot-in-the-arm, ‘I-know-you-can-do-it-Moses’ coaching session. He didn’t list all of Moses’ past credentials and accomplishments. Quite the opposite, in fact. He rebuked Moses for hinging his confidence on his own ability.”
Mary A. Kassian, The Right Kind of Confident, p. 120.
And then God reminded Moses about who He was – God Almighty, I AM. “Moses didn’t need a new or bigger view of self. He needed a new and bigger view of God,” (p. 121). There it is. Another reminder to keep our eyes on God.
So, has this book changed my life? I’d say it has deepened my understanding of the fear of the Lord. It has challenged the way I think about confidence and invited me to trust God more. It has left me with unforgettable stories and metaphors that help to describe spiritual concepts. So yes – it has changed my life. Not in a dramatic way, but like a seed: in time it will bear fruit in how I relate to God and to the storms that will come.
Grace and peace to you in Christ,
Sandi
PS. If you find yourself needing reminders to focus on God, sign up for my twice-a-month emails in the sidebar. I love writing them, because they force me to keep my eyes on God and off myself.
