Honest Thoughts from a Pastor

Confidence is a struggle for many of us. If you battle with self-esteem, I guarantee you are not confident in much, especially about yourself. For others, the pendulum swings to the other extreme, leaving them confident in only their abilities. There is a balance somewhere in between, and the Apostle Paul understood where to place his confidence.

In Philippians 1, Paul uses the word “confident” 3 different times. The verse time is in verse 6. It says, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” From prison, Paul states first that his confidence is in the fact that God is not done with the Philippian believers. God finishes what He starts. Paul doesn’t state that he wonders about some of them. He is confident that God will continue what He started in their lives.

Paul’s second mention of the word “confident” is in verse 14, which says, “and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” Here, Paul is noticing something that wouldn’t make sense to most people. If many of us saw our spiritual mentor in prison, we may shy away from any boldness in sharing our faith. Paul had confidence as he watched other believers become emboldened to share the gospel despite his imprisonment.

Paul’s final mention of the word “confident” in Philippians 1 is in verse 25, which says, “And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith.” In the previous verses, Paul mentioned the tension between wanting to go to Heaven and wanting to remain on Earth. Paul was confident that God still had work for him to do here, despite his current situation. He saw God working in what many would call horrible circumstances.

Where is your confidence? Is it in your job? Your musical or athletic ability? Your financial status? Your earthly possessions? Or, are you like Paul? Are you confident amidst what most would call poor circumstances? You can have what some have labeled “GODfidence.” You can have confidence in God and the work He is doing that we cannot see.

If your confidence is non-existent or in the wrong things, it can change right now. God has done so much in and around us. It’s time to turn our perspective from the negative and put it in the only One who is steadfast and sure. God is cheering you on, and I am too.