“Way to go for it!”
I’ve heard some variation of this encouragement every other day since announcing an event I’ll be hosting. Friends and family keep commenting on how I just “go for it”, but what they don’t know is that I’m terrified.
I am totally unqualified to throw an event like this. In fact, if it weren’t for a fierce dependence on Jesus I wouldn’t be throwing the upcoming event at all.
What may look like confidence and fearlessness to others does not stem from confidence in myself. That’s right, I am not confident in my own ability. What I am confident in is Christ. Confidence in Christ is the only way I could ever accomplish, say or do anything impressive in this lifetime. I know that my God will see me through. He has won the war, so any enemy that comes my way will be conquered. He gave me the big, audacious dreams in my heart and if I pursue them He will give me the means to make them a reality.
Victory and success are garuanteed with God. Victory and success as far as the two depend on me? Those odds are questionable. Honestly, my own ability and knowledge will fail me. But God never will. That is why my confidence is not rooted in who I am or what I do. My confidence is rooted in Christ.
Do you too, long to anchor your confidence in something more solid and sure than your own human frailty? Let’s drill into the promises we’ve been given when we root our confidence in Christ.
Why Confidence in Christ
Apart from God, you will fail. That’s kind of a scary thought, isn’t it?
You see, God didn’t create us to be self-sufficient. He didn’t created us to be self-reliant. We weren’t programmed with the ability to pursue and accomplish the dreams and desires of our heart without some help. That is why rooting our confidence in ourselves is so dangerous.
Are you an incredible creation? Yes.
Are you capable of doing crazy amazing things? Also yes.
I would never want to communicate that you are not capable or worthy of chasing down a dream or goal. I simply wish to make the point that you were created to need God. Apart from Him, incredible things are possible but they are not sustainable.
More than that, I have to wonder how much more incredible any of our deeds or accomplishments could be if they were an offering to God? An ambition lead by Him and carried out for His glory…(but that is a topic for another day).
How Can we be Confident in Christ?
It takes a lot of practice, will power and effort to root your confidence in Christ. It means laying down your own wishes and desires in order to trust that God has got your back. When we place our confidence in ourselves we are limited to our own ability and know how. When we place our confidence in Christ we become more than conquerors.
You are more than a conqueror through Christ (Romans 8:37). let that sink in for a moment. What does it mean to be more than a conqueror? Notice the Bible doesn’t say you are more than a conqueror through good deeds, education, certification, qualifications or relationship status. You are more than a conqueror through Christ and Christ alone.
There is literally no enemy or obstacle that you will face that cannot be overcome through Christ. When we pursue our God-given calling we are bound to face adversity. If we are relying on confidence in ourselves that adversity can take us out of the race. When we root our confidence in Christ, we can’t lose!
Knowing you are a conqueror is the ultimate source of confidence. Through Christ, you can’t lose. And that kind of confidence should empower you to go forth boldly. So how do we cultivate that kind of confidence?
Submit everything you do to Him. Any great idea, any dream or desire, submit it to God first. Let Him lead, and if He halts the process trust that He knows better than you do. The how of confidence in Christ is a culmination of daily decisions to pause and defer to God. Simply put, allow Him to lead.
When things get scary, tough, or exhausting, trust in Him.
What Now?
Take the pressure off yourself! And boldly approach God. Boldy pursue the big dreams He has planted in your heart.
I love the verse below because it reminds us to not only anticipate victory in Christ but to approach God confidently when we are in need of grace. When we do mess up, when we do fall short, we don’t have to sit in our guilt and shame. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross we can approach God confidently and receive the help we need!
How amazing is that?
I’m Not Confident in Myself
I don’t know about you, but I’m not confident in myself. I will fail and I will falter, but my God never will.
What would it look like from this day forward to place your confidence in Christ?
I imagine you’ll feel a lot less stress, anxiety, and pressure to be all the things you need to be in order to chase down your big dreams. Or, I bet that you will find a source of confidence to actually get started in the pursuit of the big, scary things you want to do!
With God on our side, we don’t need to be all the things. We simply must let go and let God, trusting that He is fighting our battles and ultimately, winning the war.
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