AS YOU READ, LOOK FOR
God’s character.
How you are seen by God.
Biblical truths about confidence in God.
STUDY
THINK IT THROUGH
As female athletes, confidence is one of the things we need the most but find ourselves having the least. From the court to the classroom, the field to our friendships, we want to be confident in what we are doing as athletes, but most importantly, who we are as girls. Some of the biggest reasons for our lack of confidence include comparison and performance.
Comparison:
As girls, we often compare our bodies, our athletic ability our relationships—the list continues. Comparison kills our contentment.
Performance:
As athletes, we are taught from an early age that if we perform well, we will get praised. If we perform poorly, we get criticized. When our confidence comes from performance, it can feel like a performance treadmill—exhausted and never going anywhere.
Perfectionism:
Because of our comparison struggles performance for others, we feel like we have to be perfect all the time for all people. And when we realize we can’t be perfect, our confidence plummets and we settle for the perception of perfection instead.
You get our first “C” on the test you forgot to study for.
Your parents tell you they are getting a divorce.
You missed the shot to win the game.
Your body type isn’t like hers.
Can you relate to this daily struggle with confidence?
Whether you feel the pain of comparison and performance in your daily life, there is good news though. As followers of Christ, our confidence doesn’t come from self, but from God. Let’s dive into what God says about our confidence as His daughters.
THE WORD
Click on the Bible tab and read the following key verses. Take 10 minutes to read the following verses and discuss what God is saying to you about confidence. As you read through each verse, what are some characteristics of confidence in God?
One of the most confident people in the Bible is a guy by the name of Paul. Paul wrote the majority of the books of the New Testament, but Paul had a past. Before he became a follower of Jesus, he identified as a Pharisee who led the charge in persecuting Jesus and His followers. The Pharisees were all about their appearance and performance.
Go back to Matthew 23:1-7 and Matthew 23-25- 28. Discuss the characteristics Jesus pointed about the Pharisees. These religious leaders, including Paul, were in the comparison trap and on the performance treadmill, finding their confidence in things of this world and their hearts far from God. How are often are we comparing ourselves to other athletes, coaches or women in general?
But one day, on a dirt road to Damascus, Paul encountered the real God that changed him from the inside out. His eyes were opened to who God was and who God wanted him to be, and therefore, he was confident in what he was called to do.
And what did Paul do?
Wrote 13 books of the Bible.
Made three long missionary journeys throughout the Roman Empire.
Planted churches and preached the Good News of Jesus.
Gave encouragement to early Christians.
Endured multiple beatings and then was killed for his commitment to the calling.
And how did he have the confidence to endure do it?
Paul stopped performing for people and surrendered to Jesus.
2. Paul understood that confidence from God happens when we stay faithful to God.
We grow in our confidence when we stay connected--to God's Word, His Church and through conversation in prayer. Our desire to stay connected to God is recognizing our absolute dependence on God.
3. It’s not self-confidence—it’s God-confidence.
In a world that remind us “It’s all about what you do,” God reminds us, it’s all about what Jesus did. See 2 Corinthians 5:21.
In a world that says the key to confidence is belief in yourself, God says, “Believe in Me.” —John 12:44 (NIV)
TAKEAWAY TRUTH
We can learn from Paul that all the performance and perfection we strive for will not lead to self-loathing. But a life surrendered to Christ will make us the strong and confident athletes we want to be.
TEAM TIME
Application
As teammates, you can help each other learn about God-confidence as Christian competitors. The theory that there’s strength in numbers is supported in Scripture—starting with the Father Himself as One of Three—and it certainly applies to you in your quest to embrace who you really are. By joining forces with your teammates, you can multiply your strength and resources in the battle for your souls. As a group, let’s work through the following questions and activities together:
Have you relied on a shallow of false confidence?
How did that make you feel about yourself?
What's the difference between worldly confidence and biblical confidence?
How does living confident in God make you bold?
WORK IT OUT
Look up Ephesians 3:12:
Before the next session, be confident and attempt to memorize
PRAYER
As we embrace our God-confidence today, let’s close in this prayer:
“Lord, as I open Your Word, continue to open my heart to what You want to teach me about confidence. Teach me what it means to be confident in who You are and confident in who You say I am as a daughter of the Holy God. Amen.”