Put No Confidence in Yourself
God wants you to be confident in Christ instead of self-reliant. He wants you to focus on Jesus and ‘be enough in Christ’.
God calls us to live with confidence—but not the kind the world promotes. The world teaches us to be self-confident, self-sufficient, and self-reliant. But God desires something different: confidence in Christ.
Paul gives us a powerful example in Philippians 3, where he explains how he once placed confidence in his own achievements, religious status, and moral righteousness. Yet, he came to realize that none of these things could save him or bring him true fulfillment.
“For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.”
—Philippians 3:3-6 (ESV)
Paul had every earthly reason to boast in himself:
✔ He was born into the right family (Israel, the tribe of Benjamin).
✔ He had the right education and religious background (a Pharisee trained under Gamaliel).
✔ He was zealous and passionate (persecuting the church to uphold the law).
✔ He was blameless under the law (meaning he kept all the religious rules).
Yet, despite his impressive résumé, Paul realized something profound: all of it was worthless compared to knowing Christ.
The Problem with Self-Confidence
Self-confidence can take two forms, both of which are rooted in pride:
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Overconfidence in Our Own Abilities
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This is when we think, “I’ve got this! I can handle life on my own.”
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We rely on our strength, intelligence, and skills rather than seeking God’s help.
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This leads to exhaustion, striving, and ultimately, disappointment.
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Lack of Confidence Rooted in Self-Doubt
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This is when we feel like a failure: “I can’t do anything right. I’ll never measure up.”
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We focus on our weaknesses and shortcomings, believing the lie that we’re not good enough.
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This, too, is a form of self-reliance—because we are still measuring ourselves by our own standards instead of trusting Christ.
Both extremes take our focus off Jesus. Whether we are pridefully confident in ourselves or struggling with self-doubt, we are still putting confidence in the flesh.
The Freedom of Confidence in Christ
Paul’s story teaches us that the only confidence that truly matters is found in Christ alone. After listing all his achievements, Paul writes:
“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.”
—Philippians 3:7-9 (ESV)
Paul discovered that:
✅ His identity was no longer in his achievements—it was in Christ.
✅ His righteousness was no longer in keeping the law—it was by faith in Christ.
✅ His confidence was no longer in himself—it was in Jesus alone.
This same truth applies to us. We don’t need to prove ourselves or rely on our own strength. Instead, we can:
- Surrender our efforts to God.
- Trust Him to guide and equip us.
- Rest in His grace rather than striving in our own power.
Do You Struggle with Feelings of Failure?
As women, we often carry so much pressure—to be the perfect mother, wife, friend, or servant of God. Maybe you’ve felt this way:
💔 “I’m not doing enough.”
💔 “I keep making mistakes.”
💔 “I feel like giving up.”
But these thoughts come from a mindset of self-reliance. Instead of looking at what we can or cannot do, we need to lift our eyes to Jesus.
God isn’t asking you to be strong enough—He is asking you to trust that He is.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
—2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)
A Challenge for You Today
- Where are you placing your confidence?
- Are you relying on your own strength or fully trusting in Christ?
- What burdens are you carrying that you need to surrender to Him?
Let go of self-reliance. Let go of self-doubt. Put your confidence in Christ alone.
If this resonates with you, take a moment today to pray and ask God to shift your confidence from yourself to Him.
Would you like to go deeper?
