“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” (2 Tim 1:7)

Lilly, my Yorkie, pranced across the living room floor, turning her head this way and that to show off the pretty bow the groomer had put next to her ear. She had a happy doggy smile on her face as she turned in circles in front of my parents. They oohed and aahed over her, and she rolled over so they could rub her belly. Then, she jumped on the couch and looked at us as if to say, “I know I look good. Thanks for noticing.”

Watching Lilly reminds me of my word for the year: bold. (You can read more about my word of the year in a previous blog post.) I haven’t always had much confidence in myself or my abilities, and I still struggle with this. I used to equate confidence with arrogance, but they are two different concepts. The balance between confidence and arrogance comes from humility. Arrogance lacks humility, while confidence adds it.

Although I continually work to develop the talents and abilities that God has given me, I know that the unpredictable nature of life can erode these things, and with it, my confidence. Finding my confidence in God, an unmovable force, provides an anchor for my soul that I don’t find anywhere else. God never changes, no matter the circumstances of my life. My confidence in him has grown as I’ve come to know him more and as I learn to look to him for validation instead of to those around me.

My identity is found in God, and not in people. While I’d like to say that I’ve figured this out completely and never look to outside influences to determine my worth, that would not be true. But I’m learning that my value doesn’t come from what other people think of me. What God thinks of me is all that matters. He says I’m “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Ps 139:14), his “handiwork” (Eph 2:10), a “masterpiece” (Eph 2:10 NLT), and created “in his own image” (Gen 1:27). And since God says it, I know I can believe it.

Dear Jesus, thank you for helping me learn more about you and how much you value me. Show me how to place my confidence in you and to find my worth in you. Amen.