But you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance. You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord rescued me from all of it. Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived. But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
2 Timothy 3:10-17 NLT
Want to be confident? Stand on God’s Word. His Word is always true because it is from God. As you study and understand God’s Word, you grow more and more confident. You understand human nature, the character of the Lord, and the plan of God. You comprehend history and movements, and you start to see how the future will be shaped. One of the most important commitments we can ever make is to grow in the Word of God, making time in the Bible a regular habit. That commitment can change everything in our lives as we walk with the Lord. Those who stand on the Word of God are confident and strong.
Confidence also comes from living out God’s Word in everyday life. You are not going to accidentally follow God’s way – you must make a choice to follow God’s way shown in God’s Word. You will need support from others who love Jesus and have made the same choice. Following Jesus does not mean that life will be easy, as Paul’s sufferings prove. Paul learned to trust in God. The Lord did not spare him from suffering but was with him through the pain. It is only through the storms that you learn to trust your Captain. You are a child of God, and He wants to grow His confidence in you.
How important is the Bible to you? What is your highest authority – God’s Word, your own thinking, or the values of the world or those around you? How is God growing confidence in you?
