Letters to Build a Young Man's Confidence

Confidence When We Fail, Fall Short

“For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.”
Psalm 103:14 (NKJV)

“LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?”
Psalm 144:3 (NKJV)

“As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”
Psalm 103:12 (KJV)

“But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children…”
Psalm 103:17 (KJV)

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9 (KJV)

“Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;”
Psalm 103:3-4 (KJV)

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

Isaiah 1:18 (KJV)

Condemnation is the ultimate confidence killer. It is one of the enemy’s greatest weapons. 1 John 3:21 (KJV) says, “Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.” Our confidence toward God is exactly what the enemy is after.

     The enemy wants to keep us from staying in lock-step obedience and intimacy with the Father. He wants to keep us from moving out in confidence, faith in the Word of God, and following the prophetic direction of God. He seeks to paralyze us and hinder us with condemnation.

      The enemy also knows that guilt and condemnation cause us to hide from God, to be separated from God. Adam, in the guilt of his sin, hid from the presence of God. We “give place to the enemy” (Eph 4:27, NKJV) when we have unconfessed sin in our lives or when we will not allow ourselves to receive forgiveness. It opens the door for the enemy to enter our hearts and minds, bringing with him crippling accusations and condemnation.

      Revelations 12:10 (ASV) says, “…for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accuseth them before our God day and night.” This Scripture shows the tenacity by which the enemy goes after us when we sin.

       I have made some bad mistakes; I have also willfully sinned at times. The enemy has been right there to condemn me. When I was younger, I used to allow his condemnation to build to the point where I doubted my salvation. I don’t fall into that trap anymore. The only way to overcome him is to have confidence in the love, the grace, and the everlasting compassion and mercy of God.