Confidence. It’s a word used to describe a sense of assurance or boldness. But the word’s Latin roots reveal something deeper: confidence comes from confidere, meaning “complete trust.” True confidence is about fully trusting in God. It isn’t having partial trust in God for some things and trusting in ourselves, other people, or circumstances for the rest.
Hebrews 10:35 exhorts us: “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.” In Greek, the word for confidence, parrhesia, carries the idea of bold speech and loud proclamation. This verse encourages us to hold tightly to our confidence, but not just any confidence, the one rooted in God’s promises, and boldly declared. If we anchor our trust in the wrong place, we’ll be shaken. Confidence in God should not be hidden; it should overflow in how we speak about His faithfulness, His promises, and His love.
Psalm 118:8-9 warns us: “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.” Even the most magnanimous, well-intentioned people cannot be the foundation of our confidence. People are fallible. Leaders fail. Circumstances change. But God is love unchanging, faithfully merciful, and unfailing kindness.
When we place our confidence in ourselves, people or worldly systems, we set ourselves up for disappointment. Proverbs 14:26 points us back to the right foundation: “In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.” The Hebrew word strong in this verse implies loud boldness, being so sure of God’s faithfulness that our boldness is evident to others. Confidence isn’t about being self-assured or relying on others; it’s about boldly speaking of His trustworthiness.
The Bible shows us that confidence comes from abiding in Christ. In 1 John 2:28, we’re instructed: “And now, dear children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.” Abiding in Christ means living in constant connection with Him, seeking His presence, trusting His Word, and relying on His strength.
When our hearts are aligned with God, we experience the confidence that transcends circumstances. However, if our hearts condemn us, if guilt, fear, or shame take root, it’s a sign that our confidence is incomplete. As 1 John 3:21 reminds us: “Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God.” A clear conscience before God, rooted in His grace and forgiveness, is essential to unshakable confidence. When we fail to speak confidently, it’s often a sign that we feel condemned or uncertain in our hearts. Condemnation silences boldness, but a heart assured by Jesus’ sacrifice for our right standing speaks confidently of His faithfulness. We must remember there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, Romans 8:1.
Another sign of true confidence is boldness in prayer. 1 John 5:14 says: “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” Confidence isn’t just about feeling assured, it’s about knowing that God hears and answers our prayers when we align them with His will.
When we trust God completely, we approach Him boldly, not hesitantly. Hebrews 4:16, “Boldly come to the throne of grace,” encourages us to approach God with confidence and trust, seeking His mercy and help without fear or condemnation. We come to His throne, where grace is readily available. Our confidence allows us to bring our needs, dreams, and struggles to Him, fully trusting His goodness.
When we pray timidly, we often reflect uncertainty about whether God will act. But when we are confident, our prayers become declarations of trust, boldly asking for what aligns with His promises. Bold prayer isn’t about arrogance, it’s about believing God is faithful to His Word. Remember Abraham boldly asking for lives in Sodom to be spared.
One of the most powerful examples of confidence in God comes from the story of King Hezekiah. In 2 Kings 18 and Isaiah 36, Hezekiah faced an intimidating threat from the king of Assyria, who sent a messenger to mock God and intimidate Israel. The Assyrian king's envoy boldly proclaimed: “On what are you basing this confidence of yours?” (Isaiah 36:4).
Hezekiah’s confidence wasn’t based on military strength, political alliances, or his own abilities, it was based entirely on his trust in God. Instead of panicking or retreating, Hezekiah responded by seeking God in prayer, recognizing the enemy's past victories while acknowledging God’s powerful protection over him then boldly declaring his trust in the Lord’s deliverance. He didn’t waver, even as the enemy mocked his reliance on God. His unwavering confidence in God led to a miraculous victory: the angel of the Lord struck down the Assyrian army, and Jerusalem was saved (2 Kings 19:35-36).
Hezekiah’s story reminds us that confidence rooted in God is unshakable, even in the face of overwhelming odds. Confidence in God is visible and vocal, declaring boldly that God is the only God. Our enemy often comes to us as the Assyrians did to Hezekiah. He may ask why you have confidence in God, why are you different than all the others who have fallen before, and what proof do you have that your God will intervene. He may even be so bold as to suggest that his plan is actually God’s will, that he is tasked by God to put you down or humble you. He will try to convince you that God’s promises are deceptive or outright lies.
When we speak boldly of God’s promises, we proclaim our faith not only to ourselves but also to the world. Bold declarations remind us of God’s faithfulness, silence the lies of the enemy, and inspire others to trust Him. 1 John 5:14-15, This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us and we know that we have what we asked of him. When we know He hears us and answers us, we can pray and speak with assurance. This confidence is contagious, it stirs faith in those around us and testifies to the earth about the greatness of our God.
How can we know if our confidence is in the right place? Scripture gives us several markers:
Hebrews 10:35 reminds us not to throw away our confidence, we’re called to persevere in confidence because it brings great reward. When life feels uncertain, when fear creeps in, or in the face of challenges, it can be tempting to doubt God or try to rely on ourselves. Confidence gives us the boldness to say, “I trust God completely, and I will not be shaken.” The reward isn’t just deliverance from our circumstances, it’s the peace, joy, and assurance of walking with God, knowing that He is good. As Hezekiah’s story shows, God’s faithfulness is unchanging, and His power is unmatched. When our confidence is rooted in Him, we can face any situation with boldness, strength, and peace.
So ask yourself:
Don’t hold back. Let your confidence in God be loud, bold, and unshakable. He is faithful, and His promises never fail.