Confidence is something many people spend their lives chasing. Lots of money is spent every year by people trying to look and feel more confident. But true confidence doesn’t come from what is external; confidence is at a deep, soul level, within us. And true confidence isn’t purchased, achieved, or earned, it is given to us as a gift from God. Jesus Christ is the only solid, secure foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11) on which we can have true, lasting confidence.
That said, we can do things that can help keep our confidence in Christ strong, as there are many things that will consistently try to come against us, and tempt us to doubt. We need confidence to endure the tests, trials, and storms that all of us will face in life. A few months after I started Life with the King in 2019, I wrote a post called Confidence in the Promises of God about the confidence that comes with believing God’s promises in Scripture. I shared three key promises to rely on, and today I want to offer something deeper still. Here are three ways (there are many more!) to build confidence in our Lord, Jesus Christ:
1. Seek the Depth To Which You Are Loved By God
We are so incredibly loved by God. He loved us so much that He gave us the written Word, an enduring love letter written for us to know His heart towards us. He loved us so much that He gave us His Son, Jesus, to die so that our sins could be atoned for by His blood, shed to save us from death (Romans 8:2, Hebrews 2:14). He loved us so much that He gave us the Holy Spirit, to give us power, comfort, wisdom, and discernment as we seek to live according to God’s will for us. The Holy Spirit dwells within all believers (Acts 2:38, Romans 5:5, 1 Corinthians 6:19). These are just a few of the ways we are cared for and protected by God; there are countless ways He forgives, shows grace, and is kind in uniquely personal ways to each of us on a daily basis. Caring for us and protecting us was His plan all along. “When I thought, ‘My foot slips,’ your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up” (Psalm 94:18). God’s love protects us. As the Truth about the depth of God’s love for us becomes clearer, our confidence can do nothing but grow! We can be confident in God’s love for us.
2. Develop a Trusting Relationship with God
It is our relationship with God that brings us joy and light (guidance, clarity) in life (Psalm 97). We have confidence that we have final victory over evil and idolatry (Psalm 97:9-11) because of who God is. Scripture often refers to knowing God’s name, which means knowing His character, what He is like, and what He cares about (for more, see the Characteristics of God series). To Truly know what God is like, we need to go to the Source Himself. We can’t rely on other people’s relationships with Him, we need to get to know Him for ourselves. Seeking out His heart by talking to Him, and earnestly listening for His voice, build relationship with God. In that relationship, trust and confidence of the security of His love can grow. “And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you” (Psalm 9:10).
3. Believe and Rely on God’s Forgiveness
God’s forgiveness forms the foundation of our confidence (Psalm 99:8). “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight” (Ephesians 1:7-8). We rely on being forgiven by God through Jesus Christ. We easily forget what an amazing luxury it is to be forgiven. It is our state of being forgiven that allows us to confidently walk with Him. Being forgiven means we are securely within His grace, because of our relationship with Him.
To recap, revelation of God’s amazing love leads to trusting relationship with Him, which leads us to living confidently in a state of knowing we are forgiven. This isn’t something we do once in life, it is something I’ve had to start fresh with many times. But every time, God wipes the slate clean in His merciful forgiveness. He is ready and willing to help us to strengthen our confidence daily. We can deeply experience the freedom and victory Jesus has already gifted to us by living confidently and being confident in Him.
Confidence doesn’t originate in us, it comes from God Himself, who is the Source of who we are. It seems to me that we are only as confident as how much we trust in His love, relationship, and forgiveness.
May God help us confidently overcome through Jesus Christ and our full reliance on Him! Amen.
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14).
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