Confidence
This one word brings about so many connotations. Such as - Should I be confident? Confidence sometimes comes across as arrogance and that's not attractive. Then again, no confidence is equally unattractive. Oh, and how exactly does one gain confidence if you are not born with it?
So what do you do? This is an issue for me as I am sure it is for many people. Over the past couple of years this search for confidence has kind of worsened for me. It's not an ever-present issue - it seems to reappear at times and subside at others. And through some searching, I have come up with a few theories...
Confidence comes much easier when in a pack. You ever see a lone college student? Not typically, right. Most of the time, there are at least a dozen sharing a pack of ramen noodles and a bottle of water. This was very much true of our friends - only it was a pizza and a coke. The years you spend in college can be some of the greatest times in your life - you eat horrible food, you don't sleep during normal hours if at all, you learn so much you feel like at any minute you could burst, and you make friends. Those friends are there for you to tell you are wonderful even if that guy didn't call, that you were right even though the professor has the degree, and that it will all be okay even though you might not see that through the caffeine-induced, sleep-deprived state.
It's the transition that kills you.
Once college is over, all those friends go their own way, down their own path - and so they should. So the true transition from adolescent to adult begins. And one day you look around to find yourself the lone, no longer in college, supposed to have it figured out, pack-less, girl struggling in this world that is constantly telling you that you are not good enough, you may be right but the other person is a pay-grade above you, and in real life, sometimes there really is nothing you can do about it.
I suppose that is where I have found myself recently. The transition. Or just following the transition - I am not really sure which.
It is during these moments, that you must dig deep down inside to that person you know you are and find strength to make a go of it without the cheering section. Through all my searching, it is Scripture - the Word of God that gets me through. Why would I go there, you may ask? Well it is my foundation - the pillar upon which I build that is never shaken nor altered nor added to. It is words that breathe life, strength, and yes confidence into me. It is where I find the God of the entire universe dying on a cross for me - for a world who hated Him and did not believe in Him so that He could bring us to Himself because He loves us. Wow. Love - love in it's weakest forms inspires confidence, but a love like that leaves me breathless.
You see the past few years since I finished college, it seems that Scripture has become increasingly important to me. It is precious to me - where I go for every situation or circumstance. I don't think it is self-confidence that is needed as much as confidence in God. He says I am loved, honored, enough, precious, and known - He knows me. That is what I take confidence in - sometimes I just have to be reminded when this world tries to tear me down and break me. So this is one of my favorite places to go -
1 But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel,“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are Mine!
2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched,
Nor will the flame burn you.
3 “For I am the LORD your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I have given Egypt as your ransom,
Cush and Seba in your place.
4 “Since you are precious in My sight,
Since you are honored and I love you,
I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life.
5 “Do not fear, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
And gather you from the west.
6 “I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
And to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring My sons from afar
And My daughters from the ends of the earth,
7 Everyone who is called by My name,
And whom I have created for My glory,
Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.”
- Isaiah 43
I hope and pray the same confidence for you!
This one word brings about so many connotations. Such as - Should I be confident? Confidence sometimes comes across as arrogance and that's not attractive. Then again, no confidence is equally unattractive. Oh, and how exactly does one gain confidence if you are not born with it?
So what do you do? This is an issue for me as I am sure it is for many people. Over the past couple of years this search for confidence has kind of worsened for me. It's not an ever-present issue - it seems to reappear at times and subside at others. And through some searching, I have come up with a few theories...
Confidence comes much easier when in a pack. You ever see a lone college student? Not typically, right. Most of the time, there are at least a dozen sharing a pack of ramen noodles and a bottle of water. This was very much true of our friends - only it was a pizza and a coke. The years you spend in college can be some of the greatest times in your life - you eat horrible food, you don't sleep during normal hours if at all, you learn so much you feel like at any minute you could burst, and you make friends. Those friends are there for you to tell you are wonderful even if that guy didn't call, that you were right even though the professor has the degree, and that it will all be okay even though you might not see that through the caffeine-induced, sleep-deprived state.
It's the transition that kills you.
Once college is over, all those friends go their own way, down their own path - and so they should. So the true transition from adolescent to adult begins. And one day you look around to find yourself the lone, no longer in college, supposed to have it figured out, pack-less, girl struggling in this world that is constantly telling you that you are not good enough, you may be right but the other person is a pay-grade above you, and in real life, sometimes there really is nothing you can do about it.
I suppose that is where I have found myself recently. The transition. Or just following the transition - I am not really sure which.
It is during these moments, that you must dig deep down inside to that person you know you are and find strength to make a go of it without the cheering section. Through all my searching, it is Scripture - the Word of God that gets me through. Why would I go there, you may ask? Well it is my foundation - the pillar upon which I build that is never shaken nor altered nor added to. It is words that breathe life, strength, and yes confidence into me. It is where I find the God of the entire universe dying on a cross for me - for a world who hated Him and did not believe in Him so that He could bring us to Himself because He loves us. Wow. Love - love in it's weakest forms inspires confidence, but a love like that leaves me breathless.
You see the past few years since I finished college, it seems that Scripture has become increasingly important to me. It is precious to me - where I go for every situation or circumstance. I don't think it is self-confidence that is needed as much as confidence in God. He says I am loved, honored, enough, precious, and known - He knows me. That is what I take confidence in - sometimes I just have to be reminded when this world tries to tear me down and break me. So this is one of my favorite places to go -
1 But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel,“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are Mine!
2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched,
Nor will the flame burn you.
3 “For I am the LORD your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I have given Egypt as your ransom,
Cush and Seba in your place.
4 “Since you are precious in My sight,
Since you are honored and I love you,
I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life.
5 “Do not fear, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
And gather you from the west.
6 “I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
And to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring My sons from afar
And My daughters from the ends of the earth,
7 Everyone who is called by My name,
And whom I have created for My glory,
Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.”
- Isaiah 43
I hope and pray the same confidence for you!
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