Shining Through Insecurity: Finding Confidence in God

Devotional

Day 1: Shine Bright by Embracing Your God-Given Identity

You are called to be a light in a world full of insecurity, not because you are perfect, but because God has chosen you to reflect His love and character. When you stop comparing yourself to others and let go of the need for approval from people, you allow the light of Jesus to shine through you, impacting those around you and prompting them to open their hearts to God. Your purpose is not to hide or diminish your light, but to live openly and generously, so that others may see God at work in you and be drawn to Him. Remember, your confidence comes from who God is in you, not from your own achievements or self-perception. [01:35]

Matthew 5:14-16 (The Message)
"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven."

Reflection: In what area of your life have you been hiding your light or holding back from letting others see Jesus in you, and what is one step you can take today to live more openly and generously for Him?

Day 2: True Confidence Comes from Trusting God, Not Yourself

The world tells you to trust your heart and build up your self-confidence, but Scripture warns that your heart can be deceitful and your feelings unreliable. Real, lasting confidence is found not in your own strength or self-help, but in trusting God and allowing Him to transform your mind and renew your thinking with His truth. When you replace the lies of inadequacy and fear with the truth of God's Word, you begin to see yourself as He sees you—loved, chosen, and empowered to shine. [11:46]

Jeremiah 17:9 (ESV)
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?"

Reflection: What is one lie about yourself that you have believed, and how can you replace it today with a specific truth from God's Word?

Day 3: God Is For You—Live From His Approval

God is not waiting to catch you in your mistakes or punish you for your shortcomings; He is for you, cheering you on, and has already given you His approval as His child. When you live from the approval of God rather than striving for the approval of others, you experience freedom, joy, and a deep sense of identity that cannot be shaken by criticism or insecurity. If God is for you, nothing and no one can stand against you, so stop discounting yourself and start agreeing with what God says about you. [19:00]

Romans 8:31 (ESV)
"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"

Reflection: Where in your life are you still seeking the approval of others, and how can you remind yourself today that you already have God's approval?

Day 4: God Is Always Helping You, Even When You Can't See It

Even when you feel weak, inadequate, or unsure, God promises never to leave you or forsake you—He is always present and ready to help in your times of trouble. Your weaknesses are not obstacles to God; in fact, they are opportunities for His strength to be made perfect in you. Trust that God is working behind the scenes, using even your struggles and limitations as launching pads for greater things, and invite His presence into every situation you face. [23:30]

Hebrews 13:5-6 (ESV)
"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'"

Reflection: Think of a current struggle or weakness—how can you invite God’s presence and help into that area today, trusting that He is working even when you can’t see it?

Day 5: God Is Not Finished With You—Keep Growing and Shining

No matter how many times you have failed or how far you feel you have to go, God is still at work in you, shaping, refining, and completing the good work He began. Your present circumstances do not define your worth or your future; you are a work in progress, and God’s promises for you are sure. Don’t use your imperfections as an excuse to stay stuck, but press on, knowing that your story and your testimony can inspire others to pursue God as well. [31:17]

Philippians 1:6 (ESV)
"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

Reflection: What is one area where you feel discouraged about your progress—how can you trust God’s ongoing work in you and take a step forward in faith today?

Sermon Summary

In a world saturated with insecurity and comparison, it’s easy to let our light grow dim. The constant self-critiquing, the endless pursuit of approval from others, and the nagging sense of inadequacy can paralyze us and keep us from living out our God-given purpose. Yet, we are called to be light—bringing out the God-colors in the world, not by being perfect, but by letting Jesus shine through our imperfections. Our confidence isn’t found in ourselves or in the fleeting approval of people, but in the unwavering approval and presence of God.

When we open our lives to God, we prompt others to do the same. The enemy can’t steal our salvation, but he works tirelessly to steal our confidence, hoping we’ll shrink back and hide our light. But the truth is, we don’t need more self-confidence; we need more God-confidence. Our sufficiency comes from who God is in us, not from our own abilities or achievements. The world tells us to trust our hearts, but Scripture reminds us that our hearts can be deceitful. Instead, we are to trust God, renew our minds with His truth, and let Him transform the way we think.

God is not out to get us; He is for us, cheering us on, and working in us even when we can’t see it. His grace and mercy mean we don’t get what we deserve, but instead receive His love and help. Our weaknesses are not liabilities but opportunities for God’s strength to be displayed. Even when we feel stuck or unfinished, God is still at work, shaping and refining us. Our story—how God has changed us—becomes a testimony that draws others to Him.

It’s time to stop hiding, to pull our light out from under the bucket, and to shine again. God is for you, with you, and working in you. As we pursue Him, may the things of this world grow dim, and may our confidence be rooted in His unchanging love and purpose for our lives.

Key Takeaways

1. Insecurity dims our light, but God-confidence restores it. When we focus on our flaws and seek approval from others, we become ineffective for God’s kingdom. True confidence comes not from self-improvement, but from trusting in God’s approval and purpose for us. Living from God’s approval, rather than for it, frees us to shine brightly in a dark world. [01:35]
2. The enemy can’t steal your calling, but he will try to steal your confidence. By sowing seeds of doubt and inadequacy, he hopes to keep you self-focused and ineffective. Recognizing this tactic allows us to shift our focus from ourselves to God, replacing lies with the truth of His Word and reclaiming our God-given identity and mission. [10:42]
3. God is always for you, not against you. Many live with the misconception that God is waiting to punish them for their failures, but His heart is one of grace and mercy. When we internalize that God is cheering us on and desires our good, we stop striving for the approval of people and rest in the security of His love. [19:30]
4. God is helping you, even when you can’t see it. In seasons of uncertainty or weakness, God’s presence is constant, and His help is ever-present. Sometimes, the very struggles we wish would disappear are the means by which God is strengthening and preparing us for greater things. Our weaknesses become the stage for His power. [25:32]
5. God is not finished with you yet. Spiritual growth is a process, and even when we feel stuck or frustrated by our shortcomings, God is still at work within us. Our story of transformation—however incomplete—serves as a testimony to others and a reminder that our identity is found in Christ, not in our failures or the opinions of others. [33:19]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:29] - The Danger of Insecurity and Comparison
[01:04] - Called to Be Light: Matthew 5 in The Message
[02:35] - Trusting God Over Self-Confidence
[03:44] - Wrestling with Inadequacy and God’s Calling
[05:52] - The “Shine Bright” Seat: Affirmation and Discomfort
[07:15] - The Trap of People-Pleasing
[08:40] - Personal Stories of Insecurity
[10:42] - The Enemy’s Strategy: Stealing Confidence
[11:46] - Don’t Trust Your Heart—Trust God
[13:48] - Battling Lies with Truth
[15:36] - Three Truths for God-Confidence
[16:40] - God’s Grace and Mercy vs. Karma
[18:33] - Confidence in Christ as Evangelism
[22:37] - God’s Help in Our Weakness
[25:32] - Strength in Weakness: Paul’s Thorn
[30:06] - God Is Still Working in You
[33:19] - Your Story and Identity in Christ
[34:56] - Invitation to Salvation and Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV) — > “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Romans 12:2 (ESV) — > “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV) — > “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Observation Questions

According to Matthew 5:14-16, what does Jesus say is the purpose of our light, and how should we display it to others?
In Romans 12:2, what does Paul say is necessary for us to know God’s will for our lives? What does it mean to “renew your mind”?
In the sermon, what are some ways the enemy tries to dim our light or steal our confidence? ([10:42])
How does Paul describe the relationship between weakness and God’s strength in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10?

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says, “We don’t need more self-confidence; we need more God-confidence.” What is the difference between these two, and why does it matter for how we live? ([11:14])
The pastor shared that insecurity and comparison can paralyze us and keep us from living out our purpose. Why do you think insecurity is so effective at keeping people from shining their light? ([00:29])
The message says that God is “for us, not against us.” How does believing this truth change the way someone approaches their struggles or failures? ([19:30])
The sermon talks about God working in us even when we feel stuck or unfinished. How can someone recognize God’s work in their life during difficult or “unfinished” seasons? ([30:06])

Application Questions

The sermon says, “When we open our lives to God, we prompt others to do the same.” Is there an area of your life you’ve been hiding or holding back from God or others? What would it look like to “open up” in that area this week? ([01:35])
The enemy can’t steal your calling, but he will try to steal your confidence. What is one lie or insecurity you often struggle with? What is a specific truth from God’s Word you can use to fight that lie? ([10:42])
The world tells us to trust our hearts, but the sermon says our hearts can be deceitful. Can you think of a time when your feelings led you away from God’s truth? How can you practice renewing your mind with God’s Word this week? ([11:46])
The pastor said, “Our weaknesses are not liabilities but opportunities for God’s strength to be displayed.” What is one weakness or struggle you have right now? How might God want to use it to show His strength? ([25:32])
The message encourages us to stop striving for people’s approval and rest in God’s love. Is there a relationship or situation where you are seeking approval from others? What would it look like to live from God’s approval instead? ([07:15])
The sermon says, “God is not finished with you yet.” Where do you feel “unfinished” or frustrated with your spiritual growth? What is one step you can take this week to trust God’s ongoing work in you? ([33:19])
The pastor shared that our story of transformation is a testimony to others. What is one way God has changed you that you could share with someone this month? Who might need to hear your story? ([33:19])

Sermon Clips

You want to feel confident. You want to feel good about yourself. You want to look in the mirror and love what you see looking back at you. It's when you look and you see the reflection of the character and the nature of God in you. That's where our deep sense of identity happens. That's where our deep sense of identity has to come from. Because a heart full of self is deceitful. A heart full of God, powerful. [00:13:33] (22 seconds) #IdentityInGod

You want to look better? There is nothing more attractive than God. You want to look better? You want to look better? You want to look more attractive in a person's life than when someone knows who they are in Jesus. When they have a confidence in God, there is nothing more attractive and attracting of others to our life. [00:17:52] (16 seconds) #AttractiveInJesus

If God is for me, why am I still against me? Can you ask yourself that? Why, if God is for me, why am I always against myself? It's like punching myself in the face. It makes you look crazy. Stop arguing with God who already approves you. Because as a child of God, you don't have to live for approval. You are already living from approval. [00:19:33] (23 seconds) #StopSelfOpposition

We spend so much time worrying about people who don't like us. God likes you. He loves you. He's for you. He's not against you as a child of God. So quit wasting all your energy, all your time, trying to get people who don't like themselves to like you. It'll exhaust you. So if God thinks you're awesome, you must know something you don't see. So how could you not be for you? [00:20:06] (34 seconds) #GodIsForYou

If you're trying to climb out of a mountain of debt, God's for you. If you're trying to rebuild your marriage and your relationship, God is for you. You have to believe that. He's not trying to catch you. Some of you came into church this morning feeling like, when's, when's the shoe going to drop? When's God going to get me? When's the hammer going to fall? And you got to realize that God loves you even in our sin, but he loves you enough to not leave you there. [00:22:04] (27 seconds) #GodLovesYou

If you walk out of church today and you reflect anything other than God's glory, you didn't press enough deep into the presence of God. And so what I'm telling you today, press deep. Don't go out letting people see all your issues and all your struggles. Let them see Jesus in you in the midst of all your issues because our God's ready to help because it's in our weakness that his strength is made perfect. [00:24:30] (24 seconds) #PressIntoGodsPresence

There's something about God's presence, church, that changes the atmosphere of your life. So you've got to get into the presence of God. How many of you know his presence is here? How many of you know his presence is here, but you could not be aware and cognizant and enter into the presence that's here? So you got to let go of all your troubles and you got to let go of all your issues. And you got to press into the presence of God and say, the things of earth will go strangely dim. I'm not going to focus on all that's wrong. I'm going to focus on the God that'll make it all right. [00:27:13] (30 seconds) #EnemyFearsYou

God is working in me, shaping me, refining me and stretching me. And I know this to be so true. You know, I'm not cutting myself any slack here and trying to make light of anything in my life, but I know this. I am a pastor that loves God more than anything in my life, but I still get frustrated from time to time. I get angry when people do stupid stuff. And what's so crazy is God quickly reminds me, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. You're the chief of stupid stuff sometimes. No, I ain't. God goes, I know you. [00:30:17] (39 seconds) #YourStoryMatters

God has started his work in me and he's not finished with me yet. And he's not finished with you. So cheer up. You're still a work in progress. Now that doesn't mean you get to work, wear that as a badge for all your mistakes. Oh, don't worry about me. Don't judge me. I'm still a work in progress. Not if you ain't working to make progress. [00:31:24] (17 seconds) #ShineYourLight

When the enemy lies to you and tells you that you're not good enough, that God made a mistake when he made you, the enemy's just trying to render you useless because he's scared to death of who you can become and what you can do if you get sight of who you are in Jesus. [00:32:43] (15 seconds)

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