Question 1

Why can I be confident?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 27:1The Lord is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?Psalm 121:8The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.You can be confident because God promises to watch over you and protect you. Your confidence comes not from your physical circumstances (how you look or what you achieve), but from that inner assurance that God is by your side, making his wisdom and power available to you daily, and working out his plan for your life.Philippians 4:13I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.You can be confident because Christ is your strength. This kind of confidence is not pride, but rather, complete security in knowing that God has called you for a specific purpose and has given you all that you need to carry out that purpose.Numbers 23:19God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?Psalm 118:8It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people.You may worry about putting your confidence in God when you’ve already been hurt by people you trusted. However, God is far more trustworthy than any person. He is not human, and he keeps his promises without fail. That is why you can be completely confident in him, because he has never broken a single promise. He will always do what he says.Zephaniah 3:17“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”John 16:33“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”Romans 8:38I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.You may wonder if you can put your confidence in anything when you look at the state of the world. There are dangers, trials, and sorrows. Yet God promises his light, his peace, his presence. Confidence comes from knowing with certainty that your eternal future is secured. When you know that this life isn’t all there is, you don’t need to fear what happens to you here on earth.1 John 2:1-2My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.1 John 3:1See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!You can be confident because God loves you unconditionally. No sin you have committed can cause God to love you any less.Romans 12:6In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.1 Corinthians 12:1, 4, 6-7, 11, 18, 22, 27Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this. . . . There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. . . . God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. . . . It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. . . . But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. . . . In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. . . . All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.You can be confident because God promises to use your gifts and abilities for his kingdom. You are specially created to serve him. Recognize, appreciate, and exercise the gifts and abilities God has given you. Don’t miss out on the joy of using them for God.

Question 2

What if I’ve lost my confidence in others, especially those who have broken a trust?

Accepted Answer

Proverbs 18:24There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.Proverbs 25:19Putting confidence in an unreliable person in times of trouble is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot.It is important to love others and give them the benefit of the doubt. But it is foolish to depend on someone who has a record of failed trust. The Lord seeks to restore relationships, rebuilding broken trust over time, through repentance and spiritual growth.

Question 3

What’s the difference between healthy confidence and unhealthy pride?

Accepted Answer

2 Chronicles 26:16When he had become powerful, he [King Uzziah] also became proud, which led to his downfall. He sinned against the Lord his God by entering the sanctuary of the Lord’s Temple and personally burning incense on the incense altar.Unhealthy pride is the ingredient that turns healthy confidence to arrogance and cockiness. Thinking you can do no wrong or make it without God will lead you to act without accountability and seek less and less of God’s help. These are warning signs that confidence has turned to arrogance!

Question 4

How can I have confidence in the face of life’s greatest hardships?

Accepted Answer

1 Peter 5:7Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.You can have confidence even during the hardest times because God knows your troubles and cares about you.Romans 8:38-39I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.God assures you in Scripture that even the powers of hell cannot keep his love away from you. You can have confidence, even in your most frightening times, that God is with you, no matter where you are.Philippians 4:11-13Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.Life has its ups and downs, and material comforts come and go. But no matter what situation you find yourself in, God promises to give you the help and strength you need. You can be confident his love for you will never change.

Question 5

Is there anything I can do to cultivate greater confidence?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 112:5-8Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly. Such people will not be overcome by evil. Those who are righteous will be long remembered. They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.Following God’s principles gives you the confidence of a clear conscience. You know you are doing right, and you know God will ultimately reward you for doing so.Proverbs 3:5-6Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.You gain confidence by trusting in the Lord over your own understanding. He desires to guide you. When you ask God to show his will for you, he will reveal it to you. And when you follow his guidance, you can be confident you are going in the right direction!Job 19:25“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.”1 John 3:2Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.You gain confidence by standing strong in your faith, knowing that you are God’s child and that one day you will be with him forever in heaven. Such assuredness will help you confidently live for him today.

Question 6

What happens when I lose confidence in God?

Accepted Answer

Job 23:3“If only I knew where to find God, I would go to his court.”When tragedy strikes, people often immediately question why God allowed it. You might wonder whether God still loves you. Losing confidence that he is there with you and cares about you puts you in danger of pushing him away, separating you from your only real hope. When tragedy strikes, move at once toward him, not away from him, and you will gain both comfort and perspective.Hebrews 10:35-36So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.Faith is confident assurance that what you believe is really going to happen. When you begin to lose confidence in God, turn to his promises in the Bible, patiently endure whatever is happening, and continue to do his will. As you take confidence from the promises he has already fulfilled, you will develop greater faith that his future promises will be fulfilled.Matthew 11:28Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”When you begin to doubt God, you should run to him and not away from him. How else will you discover how much he really loves you?John 14:1-3“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”Losing confidence in God may cause you to disobey or even to forfeit the eternal blessings he is preparing for you.

Question 7

What is the reward for trusting God and putting confidence in him?

Accepted Answer

Jeremiah 17:7“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.”John 14:1-3“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”Those who trust in God are rewarded with many personal blessings in this life (less fear, deep comfort, greater hope) and the ultimate blessing of eternal life.Psalm 112:1, 6-8Praise the Lord! How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying his commands. . . . Such people will not be overcome by evil. Those who are righteous will be long remembered. They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantlyWhen you remain confident in God, he promises that you will be able to face fear, bad news, foes, and whatever else may come your way triumphantly

Question 8

How does a leader’s confidence affect others?

Accepted Answer

1 Kings 18:33-39[Elijah] piled wood on the altar, cut the bull into pieces, and laid the pieces on the wood. Then he said, “Fill four large jars with water, and pour the water over the offering and the wood.” After they had done this, he said, “Do the same thing again!” And when they were finished, he said, “Now do it a third time!” So they did as he said, and the water ran around the altar and even filled the trench. . . . Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. . . . Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.” Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench! And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The Lord—he is God! Yes, the Lord is God!”A leader’s confidence in God can literally change everything. Elijah’s boldness on Mt. Carmel began to liberate the nation from the wicked influence of Baal worship. Your confidence that God’s principles for living work will give you a foundation from which to lead, inspire those who follow you, liberate them from unhealthy practices, and ensure positive consequences that always come from godly living.