“My heart, O God, is quiet and confident, all because of you. Now I can sing my song with passionate praises! Awake, O my soul, with the music of his splendor. Arise, my soul, and sing his praises! I will awaken the dawn with my worship, greeting the daybreak with my songs of light” (Psalm 108:1–2 TPT).
Confidence can disappear quickly.
A difficult conversation, a mistake at work, criticism from someone we respect, an unexpected problem, or simply looking at everything we need to accomplish can leave us questioning ourselves.
We tell ourselves to be more confident. We straighten our shoulders, speak positively, and try to believe we can handle what lies ahead.
But self-confidence has limits.
Psalm 108 points us toward a different kind of confidence. The psalmist’s heart is quiet and confident “all because of you.”
His steadiness comes from God.
God-given confidence is not the conviction that we are capable of handling anything. It is knowing that whatever we face, we do not face it alone.
There is relief in that.
We do not have to know all the answers. We do not need to be the cleverest person in the room. We do not have to pretend we are calm when our stomach is churning inside.
Instead, we can shift our attention from ourselves to God.
The psalmist does this through praise. Before the day has even properly begun, he wakes his soul to remember who God is.
Praise changes our perspective. We remember God’s strength when we feel inadequate. His wisdom when we feel uncertain. His love when rejection has shaken us. His steadiness when we feel flustered.
Quiet confidence does not come from thinking more highly of ourselves. It comes from thinking more deeply about God.
So before you walk into the meeting, make the phone call, deal with the difficult situation, or simply begin an overwhelming day, pause.
You do not have to tell yourself, “I can do this.”
You can remind yourself, “God is with me in this.”
For yourself: Where do you need God-given confidence today?
For another: Who is feeling anxious, uncertain, or shaken and needs to know God is with him or her?
Forgiveness: Where have you relied on self-confidence instead of depending on God?
Gratitude: When has God given you calmness or courage you could not produce for yourself?
Bring those reflections to God.
Pray
Lord God, my confidence is easily shaken. I focus on my weaknesses, worry about what others think, and become flustered by circumstances I cannot control. Today, turn my attention toward you. Quiet my heart with the certainty of your presence. When I feel inadequate, remind me of your strength. When I am unsure, give me your wisdom. When fear makes me hesitate, give me courage to take the next faithful step. May praise be louder than the voice of my insecurity today. My confidence is not in myself, but in you. Amen.
