Confidence is one of those words we toss around all the time. We tell our kids to have it before a test or a big game, we hope to carry it into a job interview, and sometimes we even try to fake it when life knocks us flat. But the kind of confidence the world sells us—one that depends on how well we perform, how we look, or what others think—crumbles the minute circumstances shift.
The good news? God offers us something sturdier and that is built to last. The Lord invites us to a confidence that isn’t built on our strengths or our reputation but on who He is. That kind of confidence anchors us when the winds of doubt blow and gives us courage when everything else feels shaky.
The Shaky Ground of Self-Confidence
I still remember sitting in my car in my early twenties before a speaking event, staring at my notes, and thinking, What if I mess this up? What if no one understands what I’m saying? My heart was pounding. I tried to pep-talk myself into confidence—reminding myself of my preparation, my lived experience, and the kind words friends had spoken over me.
Here’s the funny thing: I was speaking to a room full of people who either had the same skin disorder I do or loved someone who did. In other words, I was among people who would understand me more than most. I had nothing to fear. But my confidence felt fragile, like a balloon about to pop.
To top it off, I’d been sideswiped by a semi on the way there and was running late. Talk about a confidence killer.
That’s the problem with self-confidence: it always has an expiration date. When we build our assurance on ourselves—our skill, beauty, success, or approval—we’re always one mistake, one rejection, or one hard day away from losing it.
Proverbs 14:26 says, “In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge” (NKJV). Strong confidence doesn’t come from looking in the mirror and psyching ourselves up. It comes from looking at God and remembering who He is.
Confidence That Flows From His Character
The Bible is full of reminders that our confidence is meant to flow not from our achievements but from God’s unchanging nature.
- He is faithful: “The Lord’s faithful love never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning” Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT).
- He is mighty: “The Lord your God is in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing” Zephaniah 3:17 (NKJV).
- He is wise: “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out” Romans 11:33 (NKJV).
When we root our confidence in who God is—His faithfulness, His strength, His wisdom—we don’t have to white-knuckle our way through life. We can breathe. We can rest secure knowing He doesn’t fail, He doesn’t falter, and He doesn’t change.
Real Life: Parenting and Confidence
I see this play out all the time with my kids. They’ve faced the same fears I wrestled with: the fear of being left out, of not being enough, of failing. I’ve watched their confidence collapse when friends walked away or when they didn’t land the role they auditioned for.
A few years ago, when my daughter was nervous about trying out for a drama role, she whispered, “What if I’m terrible and everyone laughs?” I hugged her tight and said, “Sweetheart, even if you don’t get the part, that doesn’t change who God made you to be or how much He loves you. Your value doesn’t come from a role. It comes from the One who created you.”
That moment wasn’t about theater. It was about helping her see that her identity is secure because it’s anchored in God. And honestly, it was just as much a reminder for me as it was for her.
Shifting Our Perspective
The apostle Paul had every earthly reason to be confident in himself—his education, his background, his accomplishments. But he chose something different. In Philippians 3:3 he writes, “We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort” (NLT).
Paul knew something we tend to forget: human effort only goes so far. If our hope rests on what we can do, we’ll always fall short. But when our hope rests on who God is and what Christ has already done, our confidence becomes unshakable.
It shifts our thinking. Instead of asking, Can I do this? we start asking, What can God do through me?
Modern-Day Example: Confidence in Nursing
When I worked as a nurse, there were plenty of moments that stretched me. The responsibility was heavy—every chart, every medication, every conversation with a worried family carried weight. I can still feel the pressure of double-checking dosages, monitoring patients, and trying to stay calm in the chaos of a busy floor.
There were days my confidence wavered, not because I didn’t know what to do, but because the responsibility felt overwhelming. What helped me was learning to shift where my confidence came from. If I leaned only on my own skill or quick thinking, I would crumble. But when I paused—sometimes mid-shift—and prayed, Lord, You are my strength, my wisdom, and my steady hand, everything changed.
The stress didn’t disappear, but peace stepped in. My confidence stopped being about being the perfect nurse who never made a mistake. It became about leaning on the God who never fails. That’s what gave me the courage to show up with compassion, even when I was running on empty.
Everyday Confidence in Ordinary Moments
It’s not just the big, life-changing moments—job interviews, public speaking, or crises—where we need God-rooted confidence. We need it in the small, ordinary places too.
- When you’re parenting a strong-willed child and wonder if you’re doing anything right.
- When you’re paying bills and the numbers just don’t add up.
- When you walk into church alone because your spouse doesn’t share your faith.
- When you keep serving in ministry and quietly wonder if it’s making a difference.
Confidence rooted in God whispers, I see you. I’m with you. I’m equipping you.
Colossians 3:23 says, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people” (NLT). That reminder transforms even the most ordinary tasks—folding laundry, grading homeschool papers, answering the hundredth email—into opportunities to walk with confidence, knowing we’re ultimately working for Him.
Confidence in the Midst of Weakness
One of the most freeing truths in Scripture is that God doesn’t wait for us to be strong before He uses us. He delights in showing His strength in our weakness.
Paul knew this well. When he pleaded with God to remove the thorn in his flesh, God answered, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV). Paul’s response? “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
That flips the world’s definition of confidence upside down. Our culture says confidence is pretending you’ve got it all together. God says confidence is admitting our weakness so His power can shine.
Walking This Out Daily
So, how do we live with confidence rooted in who God is?
- Spend Time With Him Daily
Confidence grows out of relationship. Just like we trust people we know deeply, our trust in God deepens when we spend time in prayer, worship, and His Word. - Remember His Track Record
When doubt creeps in, look back at God’s faithfulness. Keep a journal of answered prayers or moments He carried you. Those memories fuel your confidence in the present. - Speak Truth Over Lies
When the enemy whispers, “You’re not enough,” answer with Scripture: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV). - Surround Yourself With Believers
We need each other. Friends who remind us of God’s truth when we forget are a gift. Like Aaron and Hur holding up Moses’ arms (Exodus 17:12), community steadies us when we’re weak. - Step Out in Faith
Confidence grows when we act on truth. Take the step, even if your knees are trembling. Each act of obedience strengthens your trust in the God who goes before you.
The Freedom of God-Rooted Confidence
When our confidence is rooted in who God is, we’re free:
- Free from comparison, because our worth isn’t measured against others.
- Free from fear of failure, because success doesn’t define us.
- Free to love boldly, because we’re secure in His love.
Psalm 27:3 says, “Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident” (ESV). That’s not the confidence of pep talks or positive thinking. That’s the steady assurance of knowing the God who fights for us, surrounds us, and holds us secure.
Questions to Pray Over
- Where am I tempted to place my confidence in myself instead of God?
- What specific lies do I hear most often about my worth or ability? What Scriptures can I use to replace those lies with truth?
- What truth about God’s character do I need to carry into tomorrow to steady my heart?
Want to take this message a step deeper? I’ve created a set of printable Confidence Rooted in Who God Is Journal Prompts that expands on the questions above to help you reflect, pray, and put these truths into practice. These prompts are paired with space to write your own thoughts, some verses to reflect on, and a prayer prompt at the end so you can anchor your heart in God’s unchanging character. Print your copy today.
Books to Help You Grow
Here are some books & resources I pulled together that can help you grow in God-rooted confidence. I’ve mixed classic and newer ones, short reads & deeper studies, so you can pick what fits your current season. Happy exploring!
- Knowing God by J. I. Packer – Helps you understand who God is — His attributes, love, holiness. When you know Him deeply, your confidence shifts.
- Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ by Dallas Willard – teaches how our inner life (thoughts, feelings, will) aligns with Christ; helps you build confidence rooted in what God is doing inside you, not just what you’re doing outside.
- Stand in Confidence: From Sinking in Insecurity to Rising in Your God-Given Identity by Amanda Pittman – this book focuses on overcoming insecurity and stepping into the identity you already have in Christ.
Just Between Us
The truth is, You Are Who God Says You Are, but confidence rooted in self will always waver. Confidence rooted in circumstances will always shift, and for some of us, it takes a while to Break Free from Shame with God’s Truth. When we build confidence rooted in who God is, it is a firm foundation no storm can shake.
So, the next time you face a challenge, don’t look inward to muster up courage or outward for approval. Look upward. Fix your eyes on the One who is faithful, mighty, and unchanging. In Him, you’ll find the kind of confidence that carries you through every season of life.
Prayer Prompt
Lord, thank You that my worth isn’t tied to what I do or how others see me, but to who You are. Forgive me for the times I’ve leaned on my own strength or let fear drown out faith. Remind me that Your love is steady, Your wisdom is perfect, and Your strength never runs out. Teach me to walk with confidence, not because I have it all together, but because You hold me together. Help me to step boldly into each day, knowing You go before me and walk beside me. In Jesus name, amen.
