We all would like to be more confident, wouldn’t we? What would it feel like to know you knew the right answers to the quiz at school? How would you feel if you knew what to say to your crush?
If we’re honest, confidence for many of us can feel like it’s lacking. Maybe you want to try out for the basketball team, but you wonder if you’ll crack under the pressure of the crowd watching you, so you don’t try out at all. How many times has a lack of confidence stopped you from doing something?
Where does confidence come from?
Where do you go to get confidence when you lack it? Does your confidence come from having the right clothes or the right friends? Is it from likes or followers? What determines how confident you feel on a day-to-day basis?
The Bible describes the person who builds their life or confidence on anything other than God’s word as someone who builds their life on the sand.
But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” – Matthew 7:26-27 (NIV)
When we build our confidence on superficial things such as the number of followers we have, or how popular we are, we are building our lives on the sand. When those followers follow someone else more interesting or funny, where will you go to get your confidence?
Instead, the Bible encourages us to build our confidence in Jesus.
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. – Matthew 7:24-25 (NIV)
When we build confidence in Jesus, we won’t be shaken by the things of life. When followers leave, you can remain confident because Jesus is the foundation for your confidence. When friends are fickle, you can know that you’re still loved because your confidence is in Jesus.
Jesus is a firm foundation, and when you build your confidence in Him, you are going to stand when the storms of life come your way.
Lasting Confidence is Found in Jesus
If you want confidence that will stand the test of time, then choose to root your confidence in Jesus. Go to your Bible and build confidence in who Jesus says you are. Building confidence through who Jesus says you are will stand the test of time.
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 (NIV)
Jesus isn’t finished with you yet. He’s got good things in store for you, and wants to help you develop the confidence to step out and do those things.
Followers will come and go. Friends will leave you and clothes will change. However, one thing doesn’t change and that’s God’s word. So get to know the Jesus of the Bible and build confidence in Him. He is the one thing that won’t change or give up on you!
Go Deeper
If feelings of doubt or low self-esteem have plagued you, we’ve developed a 5-day devotion to help. God wants you free from doubt, free from low self-esteem so that you can go out and do the things He has called you to do. This 5-day devotion is full of scripture to help you begin to see yourself the way God sees you.