God-Confidence vs. Self-Confidence

Confidence in God

“Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.” 2 Corinthians 3:4-5 NIV

 

Confidence is one of the many keywords I focus on when studying the Word. When I was in dental school and had to complete multiple practical “competency exams” to demonstrate my proficiency in various dental procedures, 2 Corinthians 3:4-5 became one of my anchor Scriptures.

 

Before each “competency exam,” I would remind myself to proceed with confidence, knowing that God has blessed the work of my hands and made me competent through Christ. This verse helped reframe my mindset: my confidence wasn’t based solely on my preparation and skill, but on God!

 

Understanding the Difference:

Worldly vs. Biblical Confidence

In everyday life, confidence is often seen as trust in oneself, another person, or something based on past experiences, knowledge, preparation, or skill. Worldly confidence is rooted in self-reliance, statistics, validation from others, and a track record of personal achievement. While this kind of confidence may appear strong on the surface, it lacks a true foundation because it does not acknowledge God.

 

Biblical confidence, however, is entirely different. It is trust placed in God—our Creator, Sustainer, and Savior—who is all-powerful, all-knowing, and ever-faithful. Biblical confidence does not disregard hard work, study, or preparation. Instead, it acknowledges that all our abilities and success ultimately come from God’s grace.

 

A powerful example of this contrast is found in the story of King Hezekiah of Judah and King Sennacherib of Assyria. Let’s explore their two very different sources of confidence.

 

Hezekiah vs. Sennacherib:

Confidence in God or the Flesh?

2 Kings 18:13-19:37, 2 Chronicles 32:1-23, and Isaiah 36-37 all recount how Sennacherib, King of Assyria, invaded Judah with the goal of destroying and capturing them during Hezekiah’s reign. I recommend you read the references yourself, but here is a brief summary.

 

Assyria was a very powerful nation with a large army that had already conquered and destroyed many nations. After Sennacherib laid siege to Judah, Hezekiah, who was wholeheartedly faithful to God, encouraged his military officers and the people to trust in God.

 

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.” 2 Chronicles 32:7-8

 

Later, Sennacherib sent a very threatening message to Hezekiah and the people of Judah through his field commander to shake their confidence in God.

 

“The field commander said to them, “Tell Hezekiah: ‘This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: On what are you basing this confidence of yours?” 2 Kings 18:19

 

“Do not listen to Hezekiah, for he is misleading you when he says, ‘The Lord will deliver us.’ Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria? Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivvah? Have they rescued Samaria from my hand? Who of all the gods of these countries has been able to save his land from me? How then can the Lord deliver Jerusalem from my hand?” 2 Kings 18:32b-38

 

The king of Assyria had a reputation for winning multiple wars. He had a vast army, possessed the best weapons of his time, and had all the stats and advantages in his favor. Therefore, he felt very confident in his ability to defeat and destroy Judah.

 

But he did not have God on his side!

 

The king of Assyria went on to send a letter to Hezekiah, threatening him some more, boasting of his military conquests, and ridiculing God’s ability to save Judah.

 

Hezekiah took the letter into the temple, laid it out, and earnestly prayed to God for deliverance. Then God proved Himself strong for Judah.

 

That very night, the angel of the Lord struck down 185,000 soldiers in the Assyrian camp. Humiliated, Sennacherib returned home, where his own sons later killed him (Isaiah 37:36-38).

 

This story powerfully illustrates the difference between self-confidence and God-confidence. One is flaky and superficial, while the other is firm and dependable.

 

Paul’s Confidence:

From Self-Reliance to Faith in Christ

“Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.” 2 Corinthians 3:4-5 NIV

 

Apostle Paul, who wrote the words in 2 Corinthians 3:4-5, exemplifies what it means to abandon self-confidence for God-confidence.

 

Paul had a Jewish heritage from the tribe of Benjamin. He was a Roman citizen and a Pharisee who received advanced education under a renowned Rabbi, Gamaliel. Before his conversion, he used his influence and status to zealously persecute the early Christians.

 

However, after his conversion to Christ, Paul wrote in his letter to the Philippians about the worthlessness of his credentials compared to the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus.

 

“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.” Philippians 3:7-9

 

In his letters, Paul emphasized righteousness through faith and an identity rooted in our relationship with Jesus Christ. He no longer lived to prove himself and validate his worth based on his credentials and adherence to the law; his aim became to know Christ and share the good news of the gospel.

 

Living With Unshakable Confidence Today

God calls us through His Word to stop striving for influence or trying to achieve success by our own strength and wisdom. Instead, He urges us to place our full weight, trust, and confidence in Him (Proverbs 3:26 ESV). We cannot gain righteousness or maintain our relationship with God on our own merit. It is a gift of God’s grace available through faith in Jesus Christ.

 

God assures us in His Word that through faith in Jesus Christ, we have full access to Him and can freely and boldly make requests, just as children with a genuine and intimate relationship with their father would do (Ephesians 3:12; Hebrews 4:16; 1 John 5:14). He may not always answer us in the way we expect or within our timeline, but we know we can trust Him with our lives.

 

Therefore, we can be confident in who God created us to be in every facet of our lives: our gifts, creativity, skin tone, hair texture, and even accent. God knew us and called us by name while we were still unborn. Understanding this should embolden us to live fully committed to God’s purpose and direction for our lives.

 

Confidence That Endures:

Trusting God in Every Season

When we yield to God’s Word and place our firm reliance on Him alone, He will bless, equip, strengthen, and protect us, and He will never leave us. Even when our circumstances are very challenging, we can hold our heads high, knowing that God is always with us and will help us carry on until we complete whatever it is He has called us to do. He is an ever-faithful God who keeps His promises.

 

The best part is that, as God’s children who live according to His Word, we can remain confident on the day of judgment, knowing that we will surely see Jesus face-to-face (1 John 2:28).

 

Final Thoughts

It’s been over 15 years since I graduated from dental school for the second time (yes, I attended dental school twice!). I have gone on to complete multiple residency programs and board certifications, and I currently practice as an oral medicine and orofacial pain specialist. Throughout my personal life, ministry, and career journey, I continue to place my confidence in God alone.

 

Preparation, skill acquisition, practice, implementation, repetition, and achievement are all vital steps toward gaining mastery and competence.

 

However, ultimately, our confidence as children of God should rest solely on our Father, who is forever faithful and infinitely powerful.

 

Reflect:

1. Where do you place your confidence?
2. What areas of your life are you tempted to rely on your own strength or the approval of others instead of placing your confidence fully in God?
3. How has God shown Himself faithful in your life, and how can you allow those reminders to strengthen your confidence in Him?

 

 

Meditate on Biblical Confidence

I have shared 15 Bible verses that specifically mention the word “confidence.” I have been intentional about meditating on them, as I desire to grow to greater levels of confidence, and I invite you to study, meditate on, and apply these verses in your own lives. Click the image above or HERE to download a free PDF of these verses and other Bible verse collections in the resource library.

 

15 Bible Verses on Confidence in God

1. “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 NIV

2. “For the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught.” Proverbs 3:26 ESV

3. “Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.” 2 Corinthians 3:4-5 NIV

4. “In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” Ephesians 3:12 NIV

5. “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,” Hebrews 10:19 NIV

6. “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 NIV

7. “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. 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 17:7-8 NIV

8. “Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.” Psalm 27:3 NIV

9. “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6 NIV

10. ^“Dear friends,if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. “1 John 3:21-22 NIV

11. “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” 1 John 5:14 NIV

12. “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6 NIV

13. ^“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.” 1 John 4:16-17 NIV
14. “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” Hebrews 10:35-36 NIV

15. “And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.” 1 John 2:28 NIV

 

 

Footnotes

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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

 

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