Confidence in God's Will

Proverbs 3:26

Philippians 4:13

Confident: Having assurance that whatever I say or do in the will of God will benefit me and others for God’s glory.

We live in a world that talks endlessly about confidence.

Books are written about it.

Seminars are built around it.

People are told to believe in yourself

Trust your instincts

Follow your heart.

But much of what the world calls confidence is really just polished up self-reliance.

It looks strong until life shakes it.

It sounds brave until trouble comes.

It appears steady until the pressure rises.

The confidence we see in Christ was altogether different.

Our Lord was never driven by pride.

He was never propped up by applause.

He was never strengthened by ego.

His confidence flowed from perfect trust in His Father and perfect submission to His Father’s will.

That is the kind of confidence we need.

We need a Christlike assurance that whatever I say or do in the will of God will benefit me and others for God’s glory.

Proverbs 3:26 says, “For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.”

Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Those verses do not teach us to trust ourselves more.

They teach us to trust the Lord more.

They call us to a confidence rooted in God’s presence, God’s power, and God’s purposes.

If we are going to reflect the character of Christ, then we must learn to live with holy confidence.

I. Confident in the Father’s Presence

Jesus never moved through life as though He were alone.

He lived in continual fellowship with His Father.

That fellowship gave Him calmness in pressure, steadiness in conflict, and courage in suffering.

If we are going to have Christlike confidence, we must begin here.

Confidence grows where communion with God is real.

A. His Confidence Was Anchored in Fellowship

Jesus said in John 8:29

John 8:29 KJV

29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

What a statement of confidence that is!

He knew the Father was with Him.

He knew the Father had not abandoned Him.

He knew His life was pleasing in the Father’s sight.

That was not arrogance.

That was the settled assurance of a sinless Son walking in perfect fellowship with His Father.

Although we are not sinless as Christ is sinless, we can still enjoy real fellowship with God through Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 13:5 KJV

5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

The child of God never faces a situation alone, never carries a burden alone, and never obeys God alone.

When we forget His presence, fear grows fast.

When we remember His presence, faith begins to rise.

Many believers are timid, not because God is absent, but because they are not consciously resting in His nearness.

A little child can walk through a dark house with confidence if his father is holding his hand.

The darkness has not changed.

The house has not changed.

What changed is the presence of someone stronger.

In much the same way, our confidence is not found in the absence of danger, but in the presence of God.

That leads us naturally a step deeper.

It is not enough to know that God is near.

We must also learn to rest in the fact that His presence drives out fear.

B. His Confidence Was Stronger Than Fear

Proverbs 3:25–26 KJV

25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, Neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. 26 For the Lord shall be thy confidence, And shall keep thy foot from being taken.

Notice that the passage does not say fearful things never come.

It says we do not have to be ruled by sudden fear when they do come.

Christ Himself faced threatening moments again and again.

He faced hatred.

He faced rejection.

He faced false accusation.

He faced betrayal.

He faced the cross.

Yet He was never controlled by fear.

In Luke 13:31-32, when warned that Herod wanted to kill Him, Jesus did not panic or retreat.

He answered with holy composure and continued His mission.

Luke 13:32 KJV

32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

That is confidence.

Not the denial of danger, but the refusal to let danger rule the heart.

Isaiah 26:3 says,

Isaiah 26:3 KJV

3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on thee: Because he trusteth in thee.

Fear grows when the mind is fixed on the problem.

Peace grows when the mind is fixed on the Lord.

Many of us know what it is to imagine every possible disaster.

We rehearse conversations that haven’t happened.

We predict outcomes we cannot know.

We borrow tomorrow’s troubles and drag them into today.

Christlike confidence does not come from controlling the future.

It comes from trusting the God who already holds the future.

Horatio Spafford knew that kind of confidence after devastating loss when he wrote, “It is well with my soul.”

He lost almost everything he held dear.

That kind of peace is not natural.

It is born in a heart that has learned to lean hard on God.

When Christ is our pattern, we begin to see that confidence is not about personality first.

It is fellowship first.

Still, the Lord does not only give us the comfort of His presence.

He also gives us strength for our calling.

That moves us from confidence in the Father’s presence to confidence in the Father’s power.

II. Confident in the Father’s Power

The Lord Jesus did not carry out His ministry by human energy.

He lived and ministered in total dependence upon the Father.

In the same way, we will never live the Christian life by mere grit and determination.

Our confidence must be rooted in divine strength.

A. His Confidence Was Shown in Dependence

We see this all throughout the gospels.

He spoke of doing only as the Father willed.

That He was moved by the Holy Spirit.

And Paul in Philippians 4:13 shows that same dependence.

Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

This verse is often quoted as a slogan for success, but in context Paul is speaking about contentment, endurance, and faithfulness in every circumstance.

He had learned how to abound.

He had learned how to suffer need.

He had learned how to keep going because Christ gave him strength.

That is the kind of confidence Christ produces.

It isn’t swagger.

It is dependence.

Jesus Himself said in John 5:30

John 5:30 KJV

30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

Again, in John 14:10, He spoke of the Father working through Him.

John 14:10 KJV

10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

In His earthly ministry, Christ modeled utter dependence upon the Father.

If the sinless Son of God walked in dependence, how much more should we?

Many of us struggle because we are trying to obey God in the energy of the flesh.

We try to witness in our own strength.

We try to endure trials in our own strength.

We try to fight temptation in our own strength.

We try to serve in our own strength.

Then we wonder why we are drained, discouraged, and defeated.

The Christian life was never designed to be lived apart from divine enabling.

A branch does not strain to bear fruit by clenching harder.

It bears fruit by abiding in the vine.

That is why John 15:5 says, “for without me ye can do nothing.”

John 15:5 KJV

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

The strongest Christian is the one who knows he is weak and has learned where strength is found.

Paul understood this in 2 Corinthians 12:9

2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Weakness is not the enemy of confidence when it drives us to Christ.

Self-sufficiency is the enemy.

That truth opens the door to a very practical question.

What does this confidence look like when duty is hard and obedience is costly?

It means Christ gives strength not only to endure life, but to obey God.

B. His Confidence Was Sustained in Obedience

Jesus was confident because He knew the Father would enable Him to do the Father’s will.

In John 17:4 He said,

John 17:4 KJV

4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

He lived with confidence because He lived with purpose.

He knew what the Father had given Him to do, and He knew the Father would sustain Him in doing it.

The same is true for us in our life.

God never calls His people to obedience without also providing grace to obey.

If He calls a husband to lead his home, He gives grace for it.

If He calls a wife to walk in godliness, He gives grace for it.

If He calls a parent to train a child, He gives grace for it.

If He calls a believer to forgive, to witness, to endure, or to serve, He gives grace for it.

Moses trembled at his calling.

Jeremiah felt too young.

Gideon felt too small.

Yet again and again, the Lord answered His servants, not by inflating their view of themselves, but by reminding them of Himself.

“Certainly I will be with thee.”

That is where confidence is born.

There are times when obedience feels too heavy.

You may feel unequal to your responsibilities.

You may feel incapable of saying the right word.

You may feel too weak for the burden in front of you.

But if it is the will of God, then you may step forward in confidence because the God who commands also strengthens.

Hudson Taylor said, “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply.”

That is true in ministry, and it is true in daily Christian living.

Confidence says, “I do not have enough in myself, but Christ is enough.”

That kind of confidence changes the way we approach duty.

We stop asking only, “Am I able?”

We begin asking, “Is this what God wants?”

If it is His will, then His strength will meet us there.

But Christlike confidence does not stop with personal comfort or personal strength.

It reaches even higher.

It seeks the glory of God and the good of others.

That brings us to the final point.

III. Confident in the Father’s Purpose

Jesus was never aimless.

He was never impulsive.

He was never self-centered.

He lived with unwavering confidence because He knew His life was accomplishing the Father’s purpose.

A. His Confidence Sought the Father’s Glory

Our definition says that confidence is having assurance that whatever I say or do in the will of God will benefit me and others for God’s glory.

That last phrase matters deeply.

For God’s glory.

Jesus always desired for the Father to receive glory.

Jesus said in John 12:28, “Father, glorify thy name.”

Even as He faced the cross, His heart was set on the Father’s glory.

The confident Christian is not asking, “How can I look impressive?”

He is asking, “How can God be magnified?”

This changes everything.

It changes how we speak.

How we serve.

How we give.

How we suffer.

How we lead.

How we endure hardship.

1 Corinthians 10:31 says,

1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV

31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Confidence grows when our life is aimed at something bigger than ourself.

A man who lives for applause will always be nervous because applause can vanish in a moment.

A woman who lives for the approval of others will always be unstable because people are fickle.

But when a believer lives for the glory of God, there is steadiness in the soul.

The goal is no longer self-protection.

The goal is faithful obedience.

That is why some of the boldest saints in history were also some of the humblest.

They were not trying to make much of themselves.

They were trying to make much of Christ.

Think of Stephen in Acts 7.

His words were fearless, not because he trusted in himself, but because his eyes were fixed on the glory of Christ.

When God’s glory becomes the ruling motive, the fear of man begins to lose its grip.

That is a needed lesson for all of us.

Still, the glory of God is not disconnected from the good of people.

When Christ works through us, His purposes bless others too.

That is why this confidence is never selfish.

B. His Confidence Served the Good of Others

Our Lord always acted with the good of others in view.

His confidence was never harsh, reckless, or self-exalting.

It was loving.

It was purposeful.

It was redemptive.

He spoke truth that helped people.

He performed miracles that blessed people.

He endured suffering to save people.

Hebrews 12:2 KJV

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

He moved forward with confidence because He knew the Father’s plan would bring glory to God and salvation to all of us.

That same principle steadies us.

When we act in the will of God, we can trust that God is doing more than we can see.

A faithful word may strengthen a weary heart.

A gospel witness may be used to awaken a soul.

A quiet act of obedience may influence a family.

A decision to stand for truth may help others find courage to stand as well.

Sometimes the lack of visible results tempts us to lose confidence.

We wonder whether obedience matters.

We wonder whether faithfulness even helps.

We wonder whether our labor makes any difference.

But God’s servants are not called to measure everything by immediate results.

We are called to trust that obedience in His Will will never be wasted.

William Carey labored for years with little visible fruit, yet his confidence in God’s purpose kept him at the work.

His labor later bore abundant fruit.

Often, God is doing far more through faithful obedience than we can trace right now.

So mother, keep teaching your children.

Father, keep leading your home.

Christian, keep witnessing.

Church member, keep serving.

Believer, keep praying.

Do not measure the value of obedience merely by what you can count today.

If it is the will of God, it will benefit you and others for God’s glory.

That is not empty optimism.

That is biblical confidence.

Conclusion

The world’s confidence says, “You are enough.”

The Bible says, “The Lord is your confidence.”

The world’s confidence rises and falls with feelings, success, and human ability.

Biblical confidence rests in the presence of God, the power of Christ, and the purpose of the Father.

Jesus Christ showed us perfect confidence.

He walked in fellowship with His Father.

He ministered in dependence on His Father.

He lived for the glory of His Father and the good of others.

That is the pattern before us.

So where is your confidence tonight?

Is it in your personality?

Is it in your experience?

Is it in your planning?

Is it in your resources?

All of those things can fail.

But the Lord never fails.

Perhaps some are facing sudden fear tonight.

Proverbs 3 says, “Be not afraid of sudden fear.”

The Lord shall be thy confidence.

Perhaps some feel inadequate for the burden in front of them.

Philippians 4:13 reminds us, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Perhaps some have drawn back from obedience because they feel too weak, too uncertain, or too afraid.

Look again toward Christ.

Your confidence is not in what you can do for Him by yourself.

Your confidence is in what He can do in you and through you as you walk in His will.

A veteran tightrope walker once stretched a cable across a dangerous height and crossed it repeatedly without falling.

The crowd cheered his skill.

Then he asked whether they believed he could carry a man across on his back.

They all shouted that they believed.

But when he asked for a volunteer, the crowd fell silent.

It is one thing to say Christ is trustworthy.

It is another thing to put your whole weight on Him.

That is what confidence does.

It rests its full weight on the Lord.

Tonight, do not merely admire Christlike confidence.

Embrace it.

Put your weight on the Lord.

Trust His presence.

Trust His power.

Trust His purpose.

And step forward in the will of God with holy confidence for His glory.