I have worked for the State I live in for eleven years. During that time, I have held various positions. I am currently in the Auditing department and have specifically been conducting audits on Childcare facilities. When we, as auditors, arrive at an establishment, one of the items we are required to ask the Contractor is, do they have a Multi-Hazard/Emergency Preparedness Plan in place. This is a part of the Contract that they agreed to when they signed it and submitted it to the State. The plan needs to be detailed, specific and readily available to the teachers and the parents of the children in attendance. Most of the requirements, especially this one, are included in the contract with the safety of the children in mind.
The detailed plan should include but is not limited to what is their plan is during a major storm or during a tornado warning? The safest place in the facility must be designated in writing; What will be done in case of a fire? They must conduct documented fire drills with the teachers and children regularly, to teach the children the routine so there will be less panic if anything should occur; Where are the emergency exits located in the building? If they must evacuate, an address to where they will be taking the children must be preset, as well as the means by which they will transport the children; they must have local public service phone numbers included in the plan, and must not just rely on 911, as well as a list of the parents phone numbers, and the method by which they will be contacted. This must all be kept up to date, and distributed to all parents and employees when they initially join the facility or when updates are made. A copy should always be posted and readily available at the center.
When these things are taken care of and sufficient thought has gone into creating the best plan for your specific center, the children, parents, and employees can feel confident that they are prepared, and that they will be all right if anything unforeseen should happen. Though the children are under school age, and will not understand everything, they will notice the confidence and calm reactions, or lack thereof from the employees.
One of the first jobs I had when my husband and I were newly married and had moved to Miami, Florida to work in a Spanish church, and we began adulting, was at the Federal Reserve Bank. Though I worked in the Adjustments Department, tracking down lost transactions, and did not work directly with cash, everyone that worked there had to have ‘the talk.’ This was training in what cash really looks like. Each bill was gone over carefully, and we were instructed to take our time and study them very carefully, up one side and down the other, and memorize every nuance. The message that they would repeat was that this was real money that had come straight from the mint, and if you knew exactly what to look for in the ‘real’ then you would have no trouble spotting the ‘counterfeit’ right away with confidence. However, the opposite was not true. I am not sure if they give this speech to those working in every aspect of the banking industry, but if not, they should. It is a powerful lesson.
The former CEO of the 7-11 stores, James Keyes, stated, “Confidence comes from preparation.” This is seen in the first example of the emergency preparedness plan, which can apply for any establishment, and again in the cash handling example, and this can apply to almost every scenario in our lives. When I was a youngster growing up in the church, we were always taught this lesson as it relates to the truth, which was strongly emphasized and reiterated during my Bible College years. To know the truth, you must study the truth, not every false doctrine or lie that exists in the world. We know and believe the Word of God, aka the Bible as we know it, is truth, because it has withstood the test of time, it was written by over forty men over a span of fourteen hundred years without contradictions, and the prophecies therein have, and are coming to pass. If you engage in reading and studying it diligently, when you hear something false being said, preached or taught, it is going to stand out to you immediately. However, if you have not taken the time to be prepared you are vulnerable to being confused and misled. 2 Timothy 2:15 admonishes us, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Ephesians 4:14 says, “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” Though reading inspirational books and articles can be beneficial to you as well, if you do not know truth first, you will not know what is contrary to truth, and you will not know what to ‘shuck’ and what to ‘shell,’ or what to ‘keep’ and what to ‘toss’. Having the knowledge of the truth under your belt is a confidence booster.
An additional lesson by extension of the above principle, that I taught to our young people once I began ministering was a similar concept with another twist, but something that hit home with them because of their annoying, raging hormones. This was during the eighties and nineties when Nancy Reagan’s slogan, “Just Say No” was prevalent. It was being used to encourage the young people to say no to the use of illegal, recreational drugs. However, it could be used for anything that was contrary to moral truth as well. My lesson to the youth was that if you study the word of God, establish what is right, set your principles and boundaries ahead of time, when temptations come your way, which they inevitably would, then saying ‘no’ would be a ‘no brainer.’ It would be an easy decision that could be made with confidence and pride if you will, because not only was truth known, but the consequences of not obeying was also seen clearly in the word of God that they had already studied. There would be no scratching of the head, sweaty palms, nervous thoughts, anxiety, and fear in the equation at all. A prepared and established mindset and resolve makes for a confident Christian, old or young.
The beauty of relationships in life, whether they are with a parent, sibling, child, spouse, extended family member, neighbor, or friend, is that a bond is formed. Spending time and making the effort to get to know someone else can become an unbelievably valuable commodity, though we do not necessarily approach it that way. This builds confidence in you to know that someone else knows you exist, knows you, and sees you, and it forms an unspoken ‘emergency preparedness plan’ for anything unforeseen that may occur in the future, to them or you. We have heard the stories from our grandparents of how if they were lacking something, they would ask the neighbor if they could borrow it, whether a cup of sugar or a tool, or the car. The only way they would ever be able to do this is because a trust and a bond was already formed. If you have not put the preparation in, and something should happen to you such as a flat tire or you run out of gas, who are you going to call? Will you panic, or can you pick up the phone with confidence knowing that the person on the other end will help you out of the jam you are in and come to your aid? Friendships are well worth nurturing for the good times and the bad. To be seen and known builds confidence.
The reason someone can make a simple statement like, “I am going to bake a cake today” with confidence, is because they know they are prepared. They know they have their favorite recipe handy, they have purchased the ingredients, they have the necessary pan and utensils, and they have a working oven. This does not only apply to those dedicated ‘from scratch’ bakers. Even if they are using a box mix, they still need eggs, water, and oil, etc. Those who are prepared do not have to panic or get into a tizzy if unexpected guests drop by, or the pastor asks you to host a small group meeting in your home on short notice. Those who lack preparation will live in a state of anxiety, because it is a thief of confidence.
Lack of preparation can steal from you your ability to advance in your life, whether at home, church, employment, your calling, or ministry. You could have a calling of God on your life but cripple yourself by not putting the time in to prepare; therefore, you cannot move forward. By way of example, imagine you are called to be a teacher, and low and behold, you are asked to speak at a meeting, imagine that! If you are familiar with the topic, you might be able to ‘fake it to make it’ and feel comfortable, but if it is a subject, you are not familiar with, you might be very hesitant. However, the only way to expand yourself and your reach is to accept the opportunity in either scenario, and allow preparation to become your closest friend. When you tackle the unfamiliar and stretch yourself and it goes well, it is an enormous confidence inoculation. It is told to Theology students in Bible College that to prepare for a 30 minute sermon, that they need to put in 3 hours of study. With that in mind, not all of what they read, learn, and glean in their study session will be able to be shared in that sermon; however, it is to prepare their heart and mind and it will benefit them by building their confidence through knowledge and preparation. Which will in turn make the delivery of the sermon more interesting and persuasive, and it will be knowledge and truth based instead of opinion based. The speaker will eliminate the time fillers of repeating and rambling. They will be able to fill in your outline with knowledge, instead of having to read everything verbatim. If you step out by faith, the benefits will not end there, you will build confidence that will translate to future sermons, lessons, and your entire ministry and career will flourish.
Paul had confidence during his lifetime of ministry. He stated, in 2 Corinthians 11:24-30, “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watching often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.” His confidence was built through the hard knocks of life that he had gone through. One trial prepares you for the next and perpetuates confidence.
Paul, even while in prison, claimed he was confident. Let us see why. Philippians 1:4-8 and 13-17 he tells us, “Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace. For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preaches Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.” He was confident because of the bond he had built in his relationship with the Lord and with the saints he had mentored. He had walked the walk and talked the talk; therefore, he was confidently ready for the next step in his life, which was death. He said in 2 Timothy 4:6-8, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
David was not afraid when he heard Goliath shouting out and ridiculing the army of God and flaunting himself as all that and a bag of chips. He had gone through preparation in His life when he had killed the lion and the bear and had complete confidence in the Lord. He had volunteered to go out and fight Goliath, and King Saul consented after discussion with one requirement that he would wear his armor. 1 Samuel 17: 38-40 says, “David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee. And Saul armed David with his armor, and he put a helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword upon his armor, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him. And he took his staff in his hand and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.” David was greatly confident because he was prepared. It was not because of any armor protecting him, but the slingshot and stones were his proven weapon, along with his relationship with the Lord, and these are what gave him assurance that he would conquer. Keep in mind, preparation is an individual proposition and acquisition.
When we have prepared ourselves in our Christian walk, through prayer, fasting, and study of the Word of God, we can live with confidence daily. Colossians 3:15-17 says, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Our confidence comes from our relationship with the Lord and the opinions of others cannot change that. Prepare your heart each morning to greet the world with assurance as seen in Hebrews 13:5-6, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” You can have this certainty even when life takes you by surprise, because you have a prepared heart and mind to go forth with confidence in Jesus Name and conquer. Start compiling your emergency preparedness plan today!