Confidence is that assurance that the reality of a fact or trustworthiness of another allows you to be bold. Con artists are those folks that fake that assurance to convince people of something that is not true. For most people the level of confidence in many areas of their lives is low. Is their career on track, are they good parents, does their spouse love them, does life have meaning, or even where will they spend eternity? Because people have all these questions, they tend to follow those that seem to have the answers. Part of leadership is confidence, since a leader by definition has followers. Some marketing studies have referred to these folks as influencers, hoping to leverage their popularity with products or ideas. People are influenced by confident people. They also desire to be confident themselves rather than fearful.
I'm very proud of my son, who demonstrates confidence in many areas of life. He not only has a plethora of talents, but exercises them with boldness and courage in such a way that people want to be around him. He is an influencer. He wasn't always confident, in fact at some stages of his life he was very unsure of himself. What is it that changed, allowing him to be confident in his abilities and perspectives?
Confidence in a belief is even more impressive. Unlike those things that you can witness as a fact, the reality of a belief requires faith. The Bible says what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. When the disciples witnessed Jesus turn water into wine they put their faith in him. We live by faith, not by sight. Jesus is quoted in John 14 saying "Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.....I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you love me you will keep my commandments." Then in chapter 15 he said "This is what I command you: love one another".
1st John 4:16-19 says it this way " We have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. In this, love is perfected with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgement; for we are as He is in this world. So the one who fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because He first loved us."
Confidence comes from loving and being loved. Doubt is a condition of uncertainty or fear of belief. Knowing makes it so much easier. Just as in the great question of eternity, the questions of our daily lives are easier if you know the answers. I've learned, as my son has demonstrated, that the answer to my questions is this: because God is in control and I'm his, everything is as it should be. Romans 8:28 says it this way; "We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to his purpose."
Can confidence really be this easy? Yes it can. Are all Christians confident? No, they are not. What then, makes the difference? It's what you focus on. It's what you think about. It's what you allow yourself to do. Look to the Lord and his strength. Obedience to his commands don't include pity parties or any other focus on you. James 1:22 says "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." How do you know what it says? Read, study, pray, work, submit, love passionately, speak boldly, be kind, sing, obey, honor, worship, serve, encourage, and rejoice always. Phillipians 4:8 says "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.
