When we think about confidence, we tend to think about the person we see in the mirror. We think of our previous accomplishments and the things that brought us satisfaction once. We imagine ourselves with our heads held high, walking securely.
As we train ourselves to be righteous, we must acknowledge that being confident, as society defines it, is not a true definition. Knowing the real meaning of confidence can be a blow to our ego, but it’s necessary we learn and correct the source of our confidence.
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
Hebrews 12:11
It doesn’t come naturally. We must shift our minds, and later this will produce external results that will impact our everyday decisions.
Confidence in the Lord
God is the source of true confidence. He is someone that can be relied on. We can put our trust in him because he has a history of faithfulness.
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.” (Jeremiah 17:7)
Leaning on God to help us feel secure and comfortable shows true confidence. God has proven himself throughout generations.
“As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.”
Psalm 18:30
In the Lord, we can be confident of our next step, breath, or decision. God’s word says he is not susceptible to outside influence or disturbance. He is a firm foundation for our feet.
Proverbs 14:26 reminds us that “Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge.”
While some individuals may thrive in change, we all feel secure having constants in our lives. God is that constant because he never changes.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8
Trusting Him, even when we’re afraid
A lot of us have experienced betrayal from people who are close to us, finding it hard to trust again, but God reminds us in his word that he is not one of us. In no way or form is God human. We can trust that he is Lord, so he will never lie to us.
Numbers 23:19 says “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?”
We can also be confident in the Lord, knowing that he will always provide. In scarce times, we can trust that just like he provides for the little birds, he will also come through for us and provide for our needs.
Matthew 6:26 says “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
Furthermore, God is our healer. Whether we’re struggling physically or internally, God says in his word that he will restore us. He will become that comfort we need during a heartache.
“‘But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the Lord, ‘because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.’”
Jeremiah 30:17
Also, we trust that God is our deliverer. Despite the battles that David faced in the Bible, he was confident that God was his rock, fortress and deliverer.
As we’ve read, God has the power and ability to secure our lives. With every problem we have, God always provides a way out. With every need we encounter, God is the solution because he has the ability to help us in every way.
Once we know that with God in our lives we lack nothing, then we can confidently say that God is our mountain top. In other words, we don’t need something outside of who he is to make us feel like we’re on top of the world. Let’s remember that those feelings are temporary and will have us on a constant roller coaster if we rely on them.
Why can’t we be proud of our own accomplishments?
We can’t have confidence in ourselves because we’re not reliable, it’s a wavering feeling. We feel it one minute, then when situations deteriorate that feeling is gone. It’s a false belief that we will always have self-assurance.
That temporary feeling comes from trusting in our abilities, qualities, wealth, resources, etc.
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”
Jeremiah 17:9
In the highs of life, our hearts can make us feel like we’re invincible and will hold ourselves higher than we should. This thought of us can easily become an idol as we worship our own abilities. This sets our feet on the wrong foundation.
“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:11
Separating the relationship between work and confidence may be hard because after all, isn’t that why we work so hard to achieve? If we aren’t performing to our expectations, then we lose joy. The word teaches us that our achievements are vanity.
Ecclesiastes 1:14 says “I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.”
Every activity under the sun will disappear when we’re gone. It doesn’t mean we can’t give the best of ourselves to something, but it’s a call to set our priorities in order.
We are confident that everything will work out
We can say we’re confident everything will work out for our good because we serve a God that is faithful. Our confidence is not in ourselves but in Him and that makes everything different.
“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 1:6
Whether things naturally seem to be going great or we might experience an unpleasant situation, our confidence will remain. Even if life doesn’t give us the results we were expecting, our attitude toward life won’t waver because we know God has us right where we’re supposed to be. It’s enough for us to have our names written in the book of life.
Those times, when all we can stand on is the word of God — are the best time — because it shakes and humbles us. Although it may not feel pleasing and others may question us, we will not walk defeated because our identity and conviction are defined by God.
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”
James 4:10
Let’s remember that God never does something to make us miserable or to play with our feelings. When we humble ourselves and learn to see that we’re already at the highest mountain top, which is God, he will lift us up. When he lifts us up and puts us in high places, then we can glorify his name knowing that he is the one that opened doors when we couldn’t. It comes full circle.
In this time, don’t lose hope in the one who desires the best for you, in the one that loved you first. Let’s lose and shake off the hope and reliability we have in ourselves, and replace it with true confidence in the Lord. Hope in God because he is perfect, flawless, he shields the one he loves, he never changes, he doesn’t lie, he always provides, he restores, delivers, and is sufficient for us.
Prayer for Confidence
Lord,
Thank you because you are a reliable God. You are my provider. You’ve done it before, and I know you will do it again. Thank you for loving me first and allowing me to know you. Today, I surrender and let go of all the confidence I have in myself and ask you to help me rely on you. When my confidence is shaken, remind me that you are my rock, and I don’t have to fear the future or the present because you are sufficient for every moment. Help me trust and stand in you completely, despite my wavering feelings. In the name of Jesus, Amen.