Confidence will make everything in your life easier. Your relationships will work better, you will solve problems more effectively and you will perform better at work. Confidence, however, is an elusive pursuit. Many of us have too low a view of ourselves, while some of us mistake self-focused pride for confidence. As believers in Christ, we have limitless reasons to be confident. We are adopted children who have the same standing with God and equal access to his presence as his only son, Jesus. So why don’t we use our faith as a source of confidence more often?

Always There For Us

I have raised three sons who know they have access to me when they need (or want) it. When they were growing up, I told them I would always answer their phone calls. It didn’t matter if I was in a meeting, on a project or taking a nap. If they needed to talk, I was available. I, of course, hoped there was a good reason behind the call, but I would’ve answered the phone regardless. I wanted them to trust that I would always be there for them in the moments big and small.

We have that same relationship with God, except he is more talented and more available than any human can be. At any time of day or night, in any circumstance you find yourself, you can reach out to God and he will welcome you into his presence (Ephesians 2:18).

Gifts From God

In addition, you have been supernaturally gifted for your part in God’s plan. That means you can accomplish feats during your life that are bigger than you and beyond your natural abilities. Our confidence, therefore, is not just based on happy thoughts. It is based on the reality of who we are in our relationship with Christ (1 Corinthians 12:7).

Christian living, therefore, is about living out who we already are in Christ rather than trying to please God by improving our behavior. Our identity in Christ is secure, and his gifts are already within us. But those gifts need to be trained by life experience to bring them to maturity. Peter addressed this process to the believers in his day in 2 Peter 1:3-4. His advice shows us who we can activate God’s plan for building Christian confidence through the following practices:

• Remind yourself daily that “His divine power has given you everything you need for a godly life” (v. 3).
• Reinforce your “knowledge of him” (v. 3) on a regular basis.
• Review God’s promises as a habit (v. 4).

Trust And Loyalty

When I think about how confidence empowers our lives, I think of Rob and his son. I met them at a social event where I casually asked them, “What do you like to do in your free time?”

Much to my surprise, their response was, “We hunt bears.”

“Really, you hunt bears?”

“Yes, but we do it with cameras.”

“What do you mean, with cameras?” I asked more than a little bewildered.

“Our dogs will chase a bear into a tree. We then approach the tree and take our pictures.”

“Aren’t you concerned the bear will jump down from the tree and maul you?” I naively asked.

Their answer was simply, “The dogs would never let that happen.”

They knew the capabilities and loyalty of their dogs, which created remarkable confidence in them. In the same way, confidence will grip your life when you become acquainted with the capabilities and loyalty of your God.

You may also be interested in Obedience Of Faith: Trusting God To Catch You When You Fall