Confidence

Has anyone ever told you that you have too much or too little confidence? Too much self-confidence makes one seem arrogant. Too little confidence seems that one lacks self-esteem. What exactly is confidence? According to AI copilot, the definition of confidence is, "The feeling or belief that one can have faith in or rely on someone or something: the state of feeling certain about the truth of something."

We put confidence in ourselves and other people. We depend on our abilities to get our work done. We trust our parents to guide us and take care of us as children. We put confidence in our teachers in school to have the right answers. We have faith in our pastor to teach us the truth.

We must be careful and not put more confidence in people than we do in God. The Bible says in Psalm 118:8, “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man." Proverbs 25:19 states, “Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint." People can let you down and disappoint you, but God is ever- present to help.

We must also be cautious about putting too much confidence in ourselves. Philippians 3:3 says, “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." Sometimes our flesh can lead us astray and cause us harm.

God is the ultimate One that we can put our trust and faith in. His Word is forever settled in heaven, and it will never pass away. It is eternal. God is the Word (John 1:1).

Psalm 65:5 declares, “By terrible things in righteousness wilt Thou answer us, O God of our salvation; Who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea." Every creature on this planet can have this confidence, if they so desire.

We can be confident of God's protection. Proverbs 3:26 reads, “For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken."

We can confidently approach God. Ephesians 3:12 says, “In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him.”

We can rest assured that God hears us. 1 John 5:14 reads, “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us.”

We can believe that God is a refuge for us in our time of need. Proverbs 14:26 assures us, “In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge."

I will admit that, as a human, I sometimes lose confidence in God. When I am going through multiple trials at once and I can't see God at work or answering my prayers, I am tempted to give up faith. The Bible urges us not to lose faith or give up our confidence in God, for we shall be rewarded. Hebrews 10:35 says, “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward." Hebrews 3:6 states, “But Christ as a Son over His Own house; Whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” Hebrews 3:14 reads, “For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end.” 1 John 2:28 says, “And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.”

Keep pressing the battle, dear friends! Be confident that the Creator of all heaven and earth, the Mighty God, the King of kings and Lord of lords is on your side!