Confidence is trust and assurance. Where should we place our trust and assurance? The Bible gives only one right answer to that question. We are to place our trust, assurance, and confidence in God alone.
Does this mean that we are not supposed to have any self-confidence? No, we are not meant to be wimpy and indecisive. What it does mean is that we do not trust in ourselves or anything else above trusting in God.
Learning to trust
We all have to learn how to completely trust an invisible God. It seems much easier to get our confidence from things that are much more tangible. Money, health, success, job and people are all things that we think we can rely on and have confidence in. But these things can be unpredictable and undependable; they can change and let us down.
We can’t rely on ourselves
Even the Apostle Paul had to learn how to fully rely on the Lord. Here’s what he says in 2 Corinthians 1: 8b-9:
“We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.”
It seems that God, at times, may allow us to be in a situation that is “far beyond our ability to endure” so that we might also learn to rely on Him alone.
Jeremiah 17:5, 7 tells us exactly how God feels about man placing his confidence in himself rather than the Lord:
“This is what the Lord says: ‘Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord. (vs. 5) But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.’” (vs. 7)
The answer to the “why” question
Inevitably we ask, “why”? What’s wrong with depending on things like money, strength, power, intellect, health and people?
The reason we must trust in God above is that God is sovereign over everything. He is higher and greater than all these things. Not only that, He loves you and me and is faithful to overcome the things that fail us or come against us. He is able to sanctify us and ultimately save us from all of our enemies.
“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
Trusting God
Trusting Him means that we want His will, not our own. As Believers, we want God’s will because He is our Master, King, Lord, Savior, Redeemer and God. We have chosen to securely place our confidence in Him alone. He is powerful and faithful!
“For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.” Psalm 33:4
Laurie Driesen 