There is comfort as well as liberation from anxiety in the assuring words of Isaiah, "In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength." These words were spoken by the prophet when rebuking the rebellious Israelites for their folly in trusting in idolatrous nations for help in warfare and forsaking the Lord their God.
The idea of strength from the material viewpoint conveys the impression of great power. To seek it in "quietness and in confidence" is to change the basis of thought from the material to the spiritual, a thing as difficult in Isaiah's time as it seems to be in our restless age. To stay quietly at home and trust in the Lord when the greater part of the world is seeking to increase strength and power through invasion, warfare, or civil strife, and putting its trust in princes, is not an easy thing for any nation to do. It appears not to be an easy thing for the nations of the world to subscribe to at the present time. Yet Isaiah's words ring as true today in their spiritual application as they did many centuries ago. Men and nations must re-establish their confidence in the power of God and the government of the one Mind, if they would be saved and realize the never-failing source of strength and wisdom.
In the material way of thinking the world's estimate of the word "confidence" refers to reliance on physical strength, material things, or personal influence, whereas Jesus gave to the world the unfolding spiritual ideas expressed in the Beatitudes and the blessedness of having confidence in spiritual strength. "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for their's is the kingdom of heaven," is the first beatitude. Others are, "Blessed are the meek;" the "pure in heart"; the "peacemakers"; those who are "persecuted for righteousness' sake." Evidently Jesus' estimate of true values included meekness, humility, receptivity, and righteousness. When our first and greatest desire is to fill our consciousness with spiritual love and the gracious qualities of the Christ-consciousness, we are praying for divine blessings, and the reward or answer will be the calm, serene confidence in the truth that brings freedom. In the first epistle of John we read, "Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God."
