Confidence Without Comparison

When you’re all alone, what do you really think about yourself? Do you see confidence, or do you sometimes feel like you’re just pretending?

I know in my younger years, I put on confidence like a mask. On the outside, I looked like I had it together, but on the inside, I wrestled with insecurity. I worked hard, pushed for success, and wanted people to notice me so I could prove I was “somebody.”

Over time, God began to change my focus. I still care about a good reputation, and I enjoy the approval of others, but I no longer live for it.

Paul told the Corinthians, “We can say this, because through Christ we feel certain before God. He made us able to be servants of a new agreement from himself to his people. This new agreement is not a written law, but it is of the Spirit. The written law brings death, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:4, 6 NCV).

That’s real freedom. It’s no longer performing to earn love, no longer trying to prove your worth. Jesus Himself was accused of not caring what people thought about Him. The religious leaders said, “Teacher, we know that you are an honest man. You teach about God truthfully. You are not afraid of what other people think about you, because all people are the same to you” (Mark 12:14 NCV).

I’ll never forget an illustration I once saw. A man laid a clear sheet with a red outline of a person on an overhead projector and said, “This is you.” Then he placed a second sheet on top, this one filled in completely with red. “This is Christ. Once He covers you, you can’t even see the lower outline anymore.” That’s how God sees us, covered completely by the blood of Jesus.

The Bible puts it like this: “If anyone belongs to Christ, there is a new creation. The old things have gone; everything is made new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NCV).

When God looks at you, He doesn’t measure your performance or tally your mistakes. He sees Jesus.

This doesn’t mean we stop obeying Him. But our obedience is no longer driven by fear or comparison. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will do what I command” (John 14:15 NCV).

We obey out of love, gratitude, and a desire to walk closely with Him.

So today, if you feel weighed down by what people think or if you catch yourself chasing approval, pause and breathe in the liberty and freedom of God’s grace.

Rest in knowing that if Jesus is your Lord and Savior, you are fully loved, completely accepted, and forever covered.

GOD, thank You for sending Your Son. Jesus, thank You for living and dying for my sins. Holy Spirit, thank You for guiding me each day. Help me to live in Your freedom, and to love in the right way. IJNIP ♥️