The Vital Importance of Being Confident in Our Faith

Confidence in God's Word and His Promises

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).

It should be our goal to be steadfast and immovable and to excel as Christians. This is not arrogance but quiet confidence or trust in God that propels us into daily action in executing Christian duty. Here’s another passage from Ephesians: Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit (Ephesians 4:14).

We’re not to be like “little children.” Instead, we are to know what God wants us to do. Spiritual knowledge comes from the maturity of the previous verse. Is it possible to be sure of what God wants? It certainly is. This is particularly comforting as we live in a time where we receive so many conflicting messages that the enemy designs to raise questions and doubts. Satan has made it popular to believe that the only sure thing is that you can’t be sure. Can we know everything in the Bible is correct? The answer is yes! How? By faith.

Are you willing to stake your soul’s survival on it?

Paul did. He knew what he was doing and how he was living was correct. He says:

And that is why I suffer these things. But I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day (2 Timothy 1:12).

If you aren’t confident, you aren’t strong.

Confidence is a cornerstone of spiritual strength and being deeply rooted in faith. We need confidence to grapple with doubt and insecurity about fundamental aspects of our faith, such as our forgiveness and eternal destiny. It's not uncommon to encounter Christians wrestling with these doubts. Many find themselves fluctuating in and out of faith, struggling with habitual sins, and feeling disconnected from their local church family—infrequently attending services or spending time with their brothers and sisters. These struggles are not just about lacking faith but also about lacking the confidence that strengthens and sustains it.

Take, for example, Peter's early experiences. There were moments in his life, like during the storm on the sea in Matthew 14 and the night before Christ’s death, where his confidence faltered significantly. His fear, anxiety, and doubt led to actions driven by self-preservation, focusing solely on the immediate threats rather than the bigger picture.

What happened to Peter demonstrates why confidence is vital, especially as we live the Christian life in a world that often contradicts godly values. As Christians, we are, metaphorically, going upstream in a downstream world. We face the challenge of acting modestly in an immodest world and striving for a life of purity amidst pervasive sinfulness. Jesus said:

The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil (John 3:19). This environment means we will inevitably face scrutiny, questioning, and often unpleasant interactions. We must be reminded of our calling in such a world.

• Philippians 2:15 encourages us to be "blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world."

• 1 Peter 4:14 reassures us, "If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you."

These passages highlight the real contrast between Christian living and worldly values and the inevitability of not "fitting in" with the world.

So, confidence is not just a personal trait but a spiritual necessity. It equips us to handle the difficulties and opposition we encounter as we live out our faith. Building and maintaining this confidence is essential for navigating the challenges of a life committed to Christ, ensuring we can stand firm no matter what we face.