What is scripture confidence?
We live in a world that is overly focused on self-esteem and portraying confidence. What if I told you we have this wrong as a culture?
True happiness comes from having confidence in Christ and we will see that today while exploring 33 Bible verses about confidence.
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Scripture About Confidence and Self-Esteem
Confidence is defined as, “the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something.” Some synonyms of confidence are:
- Trust
- Belief
- Faith
- Certain
Confidence in this form is mentioned 45 times in the Bible. Of those 45 Bible verses about confidence, we see a stark contrast. When confidence was placed in self or others, things did not go so well. However, when confidence was placed in God, the outcome was a victory.
God-confidence, or confidence in Christ, is when we place our trust in Him, believe in him, have faith in him, and feel certain about Him. Victory comes in those times. Breakthrough happens in those seasons. Growth and peace are a result of confidence in Christ!
Afterward, we will look at confidence in Christ verses in the New Testament. Notice the strength that comes with each instance of showing confidence in The Lord!
2 Kings 18:19
Confidence In God Intimidates Your Enemies
Throughout these Old Testament Bible verses about confidence, we see the kingdoms of the world in awe of God of Israel. He protected them in ways that defied human logic. God was with His people and that came through in their confidence when they were walking in faith!
“Then Rabshakeh said to them, “Say now to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria, “What is this confidence that you have?” 2 Kings 18:19 NASB
Nehemiah 6:16
“When all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations surrounding us saw it, they lost their confidence; for they recognized that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.” Nehemiah 6:16 NASB
Make no mistake, God still protects His people and moves in illogical but beautiful ways. We can walk in that same confidence in the midst of our enemies!
Job 4:6
Confidence in God gives You Strength
The Lord gives us strength when we follow Him and His ways. That strength can get us through the harshest trials, like Job. That strength can see us through tests and hardships of all sorts. It is ours to claim, so don’t walk in fear!
“Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?” Job 4:6 NASB
Job 22:29
“When you are cast down, you will speak with confidence, and the humble person He will save.” Job 22:29 NASB
Proverbs 3:26
“For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.” Proverbs 3:26 NASB
Psalm 71:5
Confidence in God Lets You Hope
We are not alone in this life, wandering around hopelessly. No, we are children of the King of kings, who have access to all the blessings in the heavenly places. We are not alone. He is with us, sheltering us, giving us hope.
“For You are my hope; O Lord God, You are my confidence from my youth.” Psalm 71:5 NASB
Proverbs 14:26
“In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and his children will have refuge.” Proverbs 14:26 NASB
Isaiah 32:17
“The work of righteousness will be peace, and the service of righteousness, quietness, and confidence forever.” Isaiah 32:17 NASB
We need only fear Him, love Him, and walk with Him daily to bask in that hope.
Psalm 78:7
Remember God’s Faithfulness to Stay Confident
Walking with God daily, claiming His strength, and fearing Him bring confidence only when we stop to remember what He has done. God has been faithful in the past and will continue to be faithful to the end of the age.
“That they should put their confidence in God and not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments.” Psalm 78:7 NASB
Spend time remembering and praising Him for his faithfulness to grow in confidence!
Hebrews 10:35
“Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.” Hebrews 10:35 NASB
Not only do we walk with God and have confidence in Him, but we also have confidence in Christ. It may feel like repetition, but I believe it is important to acknowledge all parts of the Godhead.
These Bible verses about confidence show us that there is a power that comes when we walk in confidence in God. It also shows rewards or blessings that come when we walk in confidence in Christ.
Acts 4:13
“Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13 NASB
Acts 4:29
“And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence” Acts 4:29 NASB
We see countless examples of everyday men and women sharing the gospel with power. Confidence in Christ opens doors and gives us boldness to share the Good News!
2 Corinthians 2:3
One of the things that I find so endearing about God is that He isn’t all about keeping score. It’s not like this life is Him against the devil with tally marks on some cosmic scoreboard.
“This is the very thing I wrote you so that when I came, I would not have sorrow from those who ought to make me rejoice; having confidence in you all that my joy would be the joy of you all.”
2 Corinthians 2:3 NASB
One of the things that I find so endearing about God is that He isn’t all about keeping score. It’s not like this life is Him against the devil with tally marks on some cosmic scoreboard.
2 Corinthians 2:4
“Such confidence we have through Christ toward God.”
2 Corinthians 2:4 NASB
God is relational. He made a way to restore the relationship we destroyed (thanks devil) and then He takes painstaking efforts to nurture it and grow it!
2 Corinthians 7:4
“Great is my confidence in you; great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction.”
2 Corinthians 7:4 NASB
When we are seeking Him, walking with Him daily, He builds that confidence in Christ that grows us spiritually!
2 Thessalonians 3:4
“We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.”
2 Thessalonians 3:4 NASB
Here again, we see God at work in us, when we are walking with Him, to help us obey His commands. Not just Christ’s commands though, but also His will for our lives.
Philemon 1:21
“Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say.”
Philemon 1:21 NASB
1 John 3:21
“Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God”
1 John 3:21 NASB
This kind of obedience that comes with confidence in Christ is about stepping out in faith to do what seems impossible. When you hear God calling you to a new job, a new city, a new ministry, and you obey because you remember He has been faithful before.
Put your confidence in God, not man in these situations! That is confidence in Christ.
Confidence in Christ helps us let go and let God*!
Hebrews 4:16
Confidence in Christ allows us to pray powerful prayers. Because we know He cares about us and what we care about we can come boldly before Him and ask anything, talk through anything, confess anything.
“Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16 NASB
Hebrews 10:19
“Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus”
Hebrews 10:19 NASB
1 John 5:14
“This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
1 John 5:14 NASB
Prayer builds the relationship in strategic ways and is our most powerful tool in spiritual warfare! Don’t neglect it!!!!!!
Related: How to Fast and Pray In A Way that Pleases God
1 John 2:28
“Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.”
1 John 2:28 NASB
1 John 4:17
“By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.”
1 John 4:17 NASB
As hard as life can get, confidence in Christ helps us keep walking day by day knowing that this world is not our home. There will be a day when Christ returns and takes us home to glory. Earth’s finest can’t compare to the paradise that awaits those who have been faithful to God!
Philippians 3:3
“for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh”
Philipians 3:3 NASB
There are two schools of thought about self-confidence.
- Being confident in myself, depending on myself, relying on myself.
- Being confident in Christ in me, depending on him to work through me.
The problem I’ve seen in life, and this is just my experience, is that even when I think I am living the second way, I can easily slip into the first and mess it all up. Can you relate?
It is better to put your confidence in God than yourself, let’s see why.
Ezekiel 29:16
When I trust myself in situations and forget to start with prayer and Bible study about an issue, I get into a mess quickly.
“And it will never again be the confidence of the house of Israel, bringing to mind the iniquity of their having turned to Egypt. Then they will know that I am the Lord GOD.’”
Ezekiel 29:16 NASB
Job 8:14
“Whose confidence is fragile, and whose trust a a spider’s web.”
Job 8:14 NASB
Add to that, if I am out of the habit of daily Bible study, and spending too much time listening to the world’s way of doing things I get into that mess more quickly!
Self-confidence without lots of time in prayer and the Word is just a recipe for disaster.
If, however, I am prayed up, read up, humbled down, and surrounded by godly people to hold me accountable, that confidence looks different.
2 Corinthians 1:21
“For our proud confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you.”
2 Corinthians 1:12 NASB
There are times we have to act quickly, we don’t have days to pray over a situation. When the things I mentioned above are right in my life, I feel that confidence in Christ shines as I boldly make decisions.
There is a fine line to walk here. I would rather be confident in God than have self-confidence. But if that self-confidence is rooted in a deep walk with Christ in humility and wisdom, it can be a good thing.
Proverbs 25:19
“Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot, is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.”
Proverbs 25:19 NASB
When I think of low self-esteem, fear comes to mind. Fear of failure, fear of being found out, fear of missing out. It makes me feel like a faithless person in a storm.
Joshua 1:9
Fear is normal in life, but fear should not dictate faith. Even in the face of great fear and anxiety, we can still step out in faith and walk in the confidence of Christ.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9 NASB
Scripture confidence gives us the courage to step outside our comfort zone because we know that God is with us and will work everything out for our good!
Confidence is knowing who you are in Christ and when you truly know that, anything is possible!
