The Value of God-Confidence

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ometimes it’s hard to distinguish the truth when we observe ourselves. Outside voices tell us one thing, while our inner man tells us another. Are we really the person everyone thinks we are? But it isn’t so much what others think of us, or even what we ourselves think. It is what God thinks of us that truly matters.

So what does God think of us?? First of all, He created us in His image. Right from the very start, we have value as His creation. When we were lost in our sin, and horribly ugly to a Holy God, He valued us so much that He sent His Son to be the peace offering for our sin. Then, He accepted that sacrifice on our behalf. Once we have accepted His free gift of salvation, He declares us not guilty, then makes us His sons and co-heirs with Christ.

Jeremiah 17:9

The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?

But wait. What will happen when we blow it—when we fail? We still dwell in the flesh, and it cries out for satisfaction. Sometimes we cave and give in to the fleshly desires that war with our new spirit. What then? What happens when we show our true colors? Should we stand tall and build up our self-confidence? Should we remind ourselves that we can do it? Yet, if we look within ourselves, we will find the horrid truth. We are utterly worthless and faithless. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?” And Romans 3:12 says, “All have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is not who does good, there is not even one.” If these things are true, what good is self-confidence in our time of failure? Self-confidence says, “I can” and “I will.” But the scriptures tell us that we can’t and we won’t. It is at the time of our greatest failures when we must have God-confidence.

Romans 3:12

All have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is not who does good, there is not even one.

Peter was bursting with self-confidence, and there are many examples of that in the gospels. It was on display the night when Jesus told the disciples of His impending arrest and death—Peter vowed never to leave Jesus, even if it meant he had to die with Christ. Peter truly had confidence that he could and would fulfill this vow. But as Jesus predicted, he failed miserably, denying that He even knew Christ—not once but three times. After the death of Jesus, in utter despair, Peter returned to fishing. It was while He was fishing that the resurrected Savior spoke to Peter. Not once, but three times, Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him. Peter said yes, You know I love you. But Jesus didn’t leave it at that. This wasn’t a scolding, this was encouragement. He said, “If you love me, feed my sheep.” You see, Jesus was telling Peter that even though he had utterly failed Jesus, Jesus wasn’t through with him. He had more to do in and through Peter than he could ever imagine. Peter found out how faithless and useless he was. But Jesus was telling him how faithful and useful he was going to be, in Christ. This was where the God-confidence took over.

Peter now realized that God had a plan for him—a foreordained plan of good works that Peter would do. And, as Peter trusted in God’s plan and God’s enabling, he was able to achieve amazing things for God. It was this God-confidence that caused a fisherman to preach incredible sermons, to work miracles, to lead the new Jerusalem church. Was the denial Peter’s final failure? No, the book of Acts and other epistles rehearse more embarrassing moments for Peter. BUT GOD continued to work in and through Peter to establish the church.

This is what the scriptures say about God-confidence:

I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things THROUGH CHRIST who gives me strength.
—Philippians 4:12-13

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
—Ephesians 2:4-10

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.
—1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Our identity and our value are wrapped up not only in what Christ has done for us, but also what He is yet doing with us. He is lovingly transforming us into the image of Christ.

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
—1 Timothy 1:15-16

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.
—Romans 8:29

You see, beyond our standing as forgiven sons of God, we are also His workmanship. He not only sees who we are, but who we are becoming in Christ. He has fore-ordained good works for us to do, and gives us the power and the desire to do them. Our identity and our value are wrapped up not only in what Christ has done for us, but also what He is yet doing with us. He is lovingly transforming us into the image of Christ.

So when we begin to wonder if we’re really that spectacular person others see, or if we are really as awful as our old man would have us believe, let us look through the lens of the Spirit to see not who we are, but who we are becoming. And let’s begin to look at others that way as well. Let us not look at where they are in their walk with Christ, but where they are headed. Let us be the ones to cheer them on in their walk of faith, encouraging them to endure as God transforms them into the image of Christ.

Here’s the song, "The Voice of Truth" from Casting Crowns:

Another great song: