The Confidence Weapon: Climb Again

By Drake Hunter | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again…’
~ John 3:7 ~

The last few weeks, we watched Jack and Jill go up the hill… and come tumbling down. It was a picture of humility and trust. A reminder that sometimes the first step toward God is the fall that wakes us up. But Jesus doesn’t just leave us at the bottom of the hill. He looks at us—like children—and says, “Now… begin again.” Because the goal is not just to fall and feel sorry…The goal is to become something new. That’s where a different childhood rhyme helps us see what Jesus is teaching:

“The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout.
Down came the rain and washed the spider out.
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain…
And the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again.”

At first glance, it sounds like the message of being born again isn’t just a teaching effort—He’s teaching transformation. It’s not about trying harder; it’s about hope and renewal, inviting you to embrace a new source of life that transforms you.

Now, here’s the difference: the spider doesn’t climb again because it decides harder…it climbs again because climbing is now in its nature. And this is what many miss about the Christian life. We think confidence comes from trying harder, doing better, or proving something. But Jesus teaches something entirely different: Confidence and security are the fruit of a new birth. Just like a peach doesn’t strain to produce fruit…it simply yields to the life of the tree. So it is with you. When you are born again, you are grafted into Christ—the true source of life. His strength becomes your strength. His stability becomes your security. His life becomes your foundation.

Okay…what about the rain in this little riddle? “Down came the rain and washed the spider out…” You see, life still hits. Temptation still comes. Pressure still builds. Old patterns still try to pull you back. But here’s the shift: The rain no longer defines you…because your source has changed. Therefore, “Out came the sun and dried up all the rain…” Christ is that sun. He doesn’t just help you recover—He restores your footing and renews your strength. And now—because of who you’ve become in Him—You don’t stay down. “And the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again.”

Now the big reveal. Hello, “Revelation of God!” This is the Christlike confidence. It’s not loud. Not arrogant. Not self-produced. But steady. You know SECURE, and unshaken at the core. Because it’s not built on your performance…it’s rooted in your new identity. You don’t climb again to prove something…you climb again because something in you has changed or, better yet, transformed.

Now, for the war tactic: You must yield to the source. Stop trying to manufacture confidence. Instead: Yield to Christ daily. Abide in His truth. Trust the life growing within you. Because confidence in Jesus’ style is not about pushing harder…it’s about remaining connected.

Okay… here’s my final thought. To build true confidence, focus on abiding in Christ daily—remaining connected to His truth (commands) and trusting His life within you, which brings steadiness in all circumstances, giving you a new nature that produces a quiet, steady security rooted in your transformed identity. No matter what comes, you will always climb again because of who you are in Christ.

As always…God is here. God is able. God is good.

Pastor Drake

I’ll be continuing this conversation later this week on the Just Sayin’ podcast, where we’ll take a deeper look at The Confidence Weapon: Climb Again.

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so, we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.