Four Ways God Restores Our Confidence (Part One)

What is the #1 fear among people?

40% of the population is afraid of public speaking.

While I have many fears myself, public speaking is not one of them. I often pray that I won’t “over speak” when in a small group discussion setting.

But when Moses was called by God to rescue his people from slavery, he was a part of that 40%. When making excuses as to why he couldn’t answer this call, he said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue” (Exodus 4:10).

Funny— this week I was reading in Acts and came across this verse:

“Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action” (Acts 7:22).

Hmmm. I thought Moses was a stutterer. Didn’t this great patriarch lack confidence? What happened to transform Moses from a guy who couldn’t spit his words out to a gifted orator?

The answer is provided when Moses takes his last breath in Deuteronomy 34:10: “Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew “face-to-face.”

God took a guy who ran from the law after murdering an Egyptian, who was rejected by some of his people, who hid for forty years in a low-key sheepherder lifestyle and molded him into a leader and a spokesman. But the LORD could only make these life changes in intimate face-to-face encounters with his chosen friend.

What or who has robbed your confidence?

Was it a setback as a child? Perhaps a parent never encouraged you, or maybe a sibling constantly beat you down with words. Maybe someone you loved rejected you.

Intimate time with your heavenly Father can restore your confidence.

Proverbs 3:26 says, “For the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.”

Like Moses, I wasn’t always a public speaker. When I was a little girl I was insecure and lacked confidence. I used to hide behind my mother in public settings. I froze when our campus television station interviewed me once, yet I ended up in a television career.

God had a plan, just as he has a plan for you, and over time spent with him he can provide the confidence you need.

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

Part Two is Saturday.