When you think of the word “confidence,” what comes to mind? I tend to think of fancy business suits and powerful people with lots of knowledge, or people who are very comfortable in their own skin and don’t need anyone else’s approval. Sometimes, we get worldly confidence mixed up with what God is calling us to. Instead of running to the Lord in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9), we feel like we must muster up our own confidence, or at least be confident from a place of personal strength and knowledge. Instead, God is calling us to Himself. He is calling us to trust. In the original language, the word “confident” in verse 3 of Psalm 27 means “to trust” (Literal Word app, based off ESV translation). This same word is used by David for “trust” in Psalm 56:3: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You” (Literal Word app). Godly confidence is not based on our own ability, but is grounded in trust in our God. 

Just as it is based in God, Christ-centered confidence results in glory to God. Sometimes I feel like confidence is a tool to use for my own success, when really it allows God to reach others for His Kingdom through us. When we are confident in who God has called us to be and what He has set before us to do, we are free to share God with others because we aren’t preoccupied with pleasing everyone and winning their approval. When we know that God has already approved of us through Christ and that His Spirit lives in us to accomplish His work (Phil. 2:13), we aren’t worried about our “status” but can gratefully and humbly serve God. We can join with David in being confident regardless of our circumstances, because we know that we will dwell with the Lord forever. We will see God’s goodness in the land of the living, just as Psalm 27 declares.  

What’s holding us back? Let’s allow God’s confidence to flow through us today. May our Christ-based confidence lead us to hope, freedom, and joy as we seek and rejoice in our Savior (see Romans 15:13).