“But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.” Jeremiah 17:7
Recently, I heard a young person ask, how to develop inner confidence? I’ve always known that confidence is not something that is external or dependent on external factors. When I was really young, I thought I have lots of confidence. I used to think highly of myself and my abilities as I was a teacher’s pet most of the time. My primary school nun loves to dote on me and asked me to do many things for her, which I really enjoyed. I used to do pretty well in studies too, and that really boost my self confidence. One day in highschool, I received my results and I was placed at 8th position, top ten of the class. I was so happy and was so proud to show to my dad, thinking he will praise me. Instead, my dad said if it’s not No. 1 it is not good enough. I think from that moment onwards, I started to do worse and worse, as I thought there is no point to do better since my dad didn’t appreciate it anyways. My position in class dropped to 20+ and there were times I failed some of my exams. Down went my confidence in anything. I became a loner, a very shy person, and totally reserved. Well, I was always quiet anyways. But now, I did not believe in myself anymore and began to think lowly of who I was.
Today, I realised that all those are not important because real confidence is not the ability to stand in front of crowds and speak well, real confidence is not thinking highly of myself, real confidence does not equate boldness. Instead, real confidence is about trusting in the Lord, fearing only God and not man, not having to worry about things of the world like finances, food etc. Real confidence is simply trusting the Lord for who He says He is.
5 This is what the LORD says:“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who draws strength from mere flesh
and whose heart turns away from the LORD.
6 That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;
they will not see prosperity when it comes.
They will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
in a salt land where no one lives.7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.
8 They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.†Jeremiah 17:1-8
Father in heaven, teach me to seek confidence only in you, to trust only you and not man, that I never have to fear what is to come, but trust you alone for everything for you know all things and have planned all things. In Jesus’ name.