So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Hebrews 10:35-36

When I was starting out in my adult life, I would hear people describe the journey ahead as a rollercoaster - highs and lows, twists and turns, and a few bumps along the way.  At the time, rollercoasters were fun and exciting, so surely the adventure ahead would be as well. And it often has been. God is gracious and generous. He blesses us with seasons of joy and delight.   

It’s only when we’re on this rollercoaster, however, that we realize just how bumpy it can be at times. The plummet to the bottom of our threshold for difficulty comes fast. The climb out seems to take so much effort. The unexpected loop-de-loops make me nauseous.

Whether it’s career challenges, relationship woes, health problems, unmet expectations, or a host of other issues, life requires so much more endurance than I thought it would, even when it comes to faith.

This rollercoaster has hidden tunnels that are dark and scarry.  They seem to never end. They can bring us right to the edge of losing our faith that Jesus really has it all under his control, giving up, and reverting back to what we’re comfortable with or what we think will make things easier for us.

But Jesus, in the seat right next to us, tells us not to lose hope. There will be an end to this and beauty awaits on the other side.

We’re not the only ones who need this hope. Early Christians needed it just as much because life wasn’t always rosy for them, either To a group of discouraged and persecuted Christians about to cast away their confidence in Jesus, and revert to their old Jewish practices, the writer of Hebrews says to preserver with confidence. Keep doing the will of God. Don’t give up. You will receive what God has promised.

Confidence in this passage connotes cheerful courage, outspokenness, and boldness. It sounds as though the writer believed his readers didn’t just have to barely crawl to the finish line, but could march there with joy. Even though they were being put in prison, publicly insulted, and having their possessions taken from them, with the promises of Christ feeling so far away, the author’s message was ‘”Keep your confidence in Christ!”

This seems quite difficult to me. When we’re in those lowest valleys with barely enough strength to get through the day, how can we have cheerful courage? When we’re rejected for our faith, how can we continue on with boldness? When we’re living through one more day without the miracle we’re praying for, how can we be sure Jesus really is all we need?

We can look at the broader context of our passage to get some helpful tools for times like these:

1. Look to the Past

The writer reminds his audience that they had made it through a prior time of persecution by keeping their confidence in Christ. They had been able to endure joyfully because they knew that what they had in Christ was eternal and superior to what they had lost on earth.

The Lord had proven himself faithful, and would be again. Because of what God had done for them in the past, they could faithfully endure and press forward. Faith’s forward focus is based on what God has done in the past.

2. Look to God’s People

The writer reminds his readers of all who had gone before them and kept the faith. From Abel to Rahab, God’s people had endured by faith in God. Their confidence was based on the future promise of Christ. Their faith was based on solid hope and certainty of what they could not yet see (Hebrews 11:1). If the ancients could keep their confidence in Christ through faith, so could they, and so can we.

3. Look to the Promise

The power of Christ was proven at the cross. Salvation was promised and delivered and the writer of Hebrews reminds his readers that Christ is coming again. Faith in Christ is powerful to save because Christ is powerful to save. We can keep our confident faith because Christ came, died, rose in victory, defeated death and sin, and he is coming again. There will be an end to every hardship and heartache, and our faithful endurance has sure reward in Christ.

In Ephesians, Paul told his audience to take up the shield of faith. The shield he had in mind was one used to protect a soldier from massive attack  - the kind that was meant not only to injure, but confuse and cause panic as well. The enemy’s tactic was to launch a multitude of fiery darts. When the soldier’s shield caught fire, he’d be tempted to ditch it, leaving himself exposed to life ending warfare.  

Knowing he cannot totally destroy those in Christ, our enemy is set on weakening us. These persistent efforts to cause fear and unbelief  - to make us believe the dark tunnels and never ending spirals down are proof that Jesus is not who he says he is - can only be blocked by the shield of faith. Only the shield of faith can block and extinguish the enemy’s flaming arrows. It is faith in Christ and his promise to ultimately end all chaos, hurt, pain, sickness, brokenness that can block the attack and carry us through.   

When the path God has called us to seems unclear, rocky, frightening, lonely, or even a dead end, God calls us to keep our confidence in him. He calls us to persevere with joyful boldness. Because our faith, as small as a mustard seed at times, is in the unshakable, unchanging, all powerful, eternal and returning King, we can endure and hold on to hope in every season.

How will you praise God for what he has already carried you or God’s people through in the past? How does this encourage you for the future?

In what way does the promise of Christ’s return help you take a bold and joyful step today?