Growing In Confidence
When you hear the word “confidence”, what images and words come to mind? What has your relationship with confidence looked like over the years? Did you once “possess” this trait, but now question where your confidence has gone when you look into the mirror? Or maybe you have sought after confidence to no avail, and feel swallowed by the sea of insecurity. Perhaps you may feel more confident in certain areas of your life over others.
Healthy confidence is a good thing to seek after and grow in. What does growing in confidence look like for you?
Today, my understanding of confidence has become more clear based on what I have learned from God’s Word and how I have seen it applied to my life. Culture’s definition and pursuit of confidence begins with self, but I believe confidence begins first and foremost with Christ. Growing in confidence consists of a continual practice of casting one’s gaze back to Christ as the source of true confidence. Confidence found in Christ naturally affects other areas of life.
The narrative of the world is to glorify and satisfy “self” above anything else, and to muster up confidence by looking “within”. This is antithetical to the gospel, and God’s Word. According to the Scriptures, our purpose in Christ is to:
Know and Grow in Christ
Deny ourselves and take up our cross to follow Him
Glorify Him
Delight in Him now and Forevermore
When we are reminded of who we are in Christ and actually begin to believe this and let this truth sink into our hearts and minds, our confidence shifts to Him and not to ourselves. This is not to say that we will not have moments of insecurity along the way, however, as we grow in Christ as our confidence, the pattern of our lives become marked with a genuine confidence that can only be found in Him.
I can recall a season of my life when it was primarily marked by lack of confidence and insecurity. During my middle school and beginning high school years in my dance training, I vividly remember not feeling confident around my dancing abilities and body image. The dance industry can be cruel, although I was fortunate to be in an overall supportive environment. The sting of not being cast in certain roles or my body not having the capability to achieve certain flexibility, range of motion or aesthetic was a recipe for chronic insecurity. For me, fear of man and fear of failure were tied to my lack of confidence, and at the heart of it, I was making dance my identity. When we place our value and worth in anything outside of Christ, it is guaranteed that we will experience counterfeit confidence for only so long.
So, maybe you are reading this and have head knowledge that Christ should be your ultimate source of confidence, but there is a gap between “knowing” and “doing”. The Christian life is not passive and as we pursue a lifelong journey of sanctification, we become more like Christ and grow in Him by the power of His Holy Spirit.
It is my hope that you can now take some intentional time to grow in this area in light of who Christ is and His Word.
This sounds easier said than done, so what does this practically look like? Art of Hope is here to partner with you. Feel free to check out our Radiant and Ready coaching package for growing in confidence!