Unintentionally, so much was challenged. My ability, my knowledge, my effort. It is astounding how much can be undermined in one flippant comment. The enemy casts a wide net. True to his character, this “wide net” creates a battle of ambiguity. The multiple feelings and thoughts quickly swirl and combine to the point that you can’t quite cut through the chaos to identify where the actual frontline is. What was actually said? What am I actually struggling with? What is the actual next step?

The conversation ushered in doubt and confusion, shook my identity. It called into question not just who I am, but what I have been gifted to do and my ability to do it. So, at my first chance I ran to my stronghold. I laid it all out. And He said this…

2 Corinthians 3:4-5 “We carry this confidence in our hearts because of our union with Christ before God. Yet we don’t see ourselves as capable enough to do anything in our own strength, for our true competence flows from God’s empowering presence. He alone makes us adequate ministers who are focused on an entirely new covenant.”

His word and His love are piercing. His truth isn’t ambiguous, it is specific. His presence isn’t undefined, it is personal. Frontline revealed. Stand in my grace here.

So I declare…My confidence cannot depend on what I do or how well I do it. It is not found in the approval or validation of man. It is not revealed in my emotional landscape or held captive by my circumstances.

I am unified with Christ and I stand before God, having already been made confident. I am not required to earn it, maintain in, insure it, or manufacture it. It was a gift and I possess it completely.

He doesn’t just equip me with confidence but he also declares me competent. His “empowering presence” provides me with the ability, the adequacy, the discernment and knowledge to honor Him with my whole life. This competency cannot be severed from his presence. I abide with him, so I am competent.

This truth lifts my head. Challenges may remain, but they do not define me. Feelings can persist but they cannot drown me. Doubts are free to plague me but they do not have the power to dictate my worth or value.

I am confident and competent.