Humility rather than confidence is the apparel of security.
In the security of lives going well, we can often envisage ourselves acting supremely in future difficulties or suffering the present peril of others.
We should learn from Peter. Christ told Peter of his future denial of Him, and Peter argued that he would not fail Christ in His hour of need. When Peter was with Jesus (life going well), he was confident of his ability to handle the future.
What Jesus knew, and Peter failed to see, was that the future challenges to Peter’s faith would not happen in the security of the present. Peter’s faith would be challenged when Jesus was forcibly taken from Peter’s side, leaving Peter ever so alone. Also, Peter would be encircled by Christ haters, and the sun would have given way to the darkness of night. In that crucible of temptation, Peter would fail and weep over his pride.
Humility and trust are always more suitable than confident predictions.
“And again he denied it with an oath, I do not know the man. And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times. And he went out and wept bitterly” (Matthew 26:72, 75).
