Contents. Days 1 5: God Confidence Is Real Confidence Days 6 10: God Confidence Changes Us... 33

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2 Contents Days 1 5: God Confidence Is Real Confidence... 9 Days 6 10: God Confidence Changes Us Days 11 15: Consequences of Not Having God Confidence Days 16 20: God Confidence Helps Us in Difficult Relationships Days 21 25: God Confidence When the Unexpected Happens Days 26 30: God Confidence Helps Us through Health Crises Days 31 35: God Confidence in the Midst of Loss Days 36 40: God Confidence in a Variety of Situations Bonus Day

3 DAY 23 One Adventure after Another So, my dear brothers, since future victory is sure, be strong and steady, always abounding in the Lord s work. 1 Corinthians 15:58 tlb Rachel gave her heart to Christ when she was a little girl, so her God confidence has been growing for several years. He has always been so faithful and kind to me, she says. When I was just fourteen years old, I felt God s call to missions. Most of Rachel s family members are dedicated Christians, but none of them is in full-time ministry, so this announcement from a teenager was hard for them to accept. After all, she could certainly be a strong Christian and serve God in a variety of places like millions of others do. But full-time ministry? My announcement was simply shrugged off, Rachel says, and everyone assumed I d go to college and become a teacher or a writer. And after a while, I even started to buy into that. It s what made sense. Rachel s dad works at the state university, so tuition for her would be free. I attended my first year there and was miserable, she says. It wasn t because I didn t like the school or the subject matter; it just didn t feel right to me. I knew there had to be more. 40 DAYS TO Complete God Confidence 107

4 Her parents couldn t help but notice how unhappy she was and told her that she could apply to some ministry schools. But they told her she could only attend if one of those other colleges could give her a full scholarship since she could attend college for free by staying local. This seemed impossible to me, Rachel says. My grades were good, but my test scores weren t full-ride material. Still, in the midst of the doubt, I could feel God working and adding to the faith I already had. It was exciting! Rachel began her search, and by April of her freshman year, she stumbled on Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri. I d heard of it, she says, but I honestly never considered it. After all, Missouri was a long way from my home state of Ohio. But my God confidence began to grow. As she viewed their scholarship page, she read that one full scholarship was given each year to incoming students. She grinned when she noticed that her test scores were good enough to qualify her for application. Time was running out, Rachel says. I only had a couple of weeks to apply for the school and the scholarship. I was scared. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but God assured me that He was in this. She prayed over the envelope containing her application before dropping it into the mailbox. I told Jesus that I wanted to be in the center of His will. My utmost desire was obedience, Rachel says. 108 SUSIE SHELLENBERGER

5 Deep in her heart, she had decided that she d move to Springfield and attend CBC no matter what, but she prayed that God would touch her parents hearts and move them to know this was His will. I knew that without this scholarship there would be a lot of stress on my family, a lot of arguments, and a lot of debt. I didn t want that, but I knew beyond doubt God was in this. I couldn t turn away from it. Though Rachel thought it seemed highly unlikely she d get the scholarship, she continued to pray for the sake of her parents. During Fourth of July weekend less than a month before she would be moving Rachel received a phone call from an administrator informing her that she had been chosen for the scholarship. I cried on the phone with him, she says. I was so overwhelmed at God s goodness! He had heard and answered my prayer. Not only would I attend debt-free, but I d be in an environment conducive to missions work, and He had provided confirmation for my family. I felt God was telling me and my family once and for all that He had called me and we were never to question that again, she says. And because He has called, He will be faithful to meet my needs. My responsibility, Rachel says, is to trust, obey, and follow even when the steps are risky and don t seem to make sense. A few years later, Rachel moved to Seattle without a 40 DAYS TO Complete God Confidence 109

6 car, a job, or a place to live to help with a church plant. Within a month, she had secured a job as a nanny with a family that has become like a second family to her. More than once, God has provided all I ve needed in His perfect timing, she says. Three months from now, Rachel will move to Guadalajara, Mexico, to teach preschool. Again, this is completely out of my comfort zone, she says, but I have total God confidence that He s in charge. This is the joy and beauty of life lived with Christ! It s one big, wonderful adventure. We don t always get to see what s coming next, but He is so faithful and kind and good to us. With every crazy step of faith we take, we get to see more of His character. The adventure continues to unfold as we keep our God confidence strong even though we don t always know which direction we re headed next. My life with Him is far more amazing than what I ever could have planned on my own! That s the result of God confidence. 110 SUSIE SHELLENBERGER