Written By: Daniel Bacquet | Chief Operations Manager
Photo By: Emily Benedetto
On a recent trip to Mexico, everything was dialed in. The swell was lining up, the forecast looked great, and the zone we were headed to had every kind of wave. I was set on finding some barrels. But within the first few days, I broke both of the boards I brought — and in less-than-epic conditions. I was left trying to nurse one of the broken boards back into use. My confidence started to slip as I paddled out into some heavy beach break waves. I ended up getting completely smoked by a set, taking three bombs straight to the head. I came back in feeling defeated, lacking confidence, not just in my equipment but in myself. I was stuck in my head, and I didn’t like it.
As I sat on the beach watching my friend still out in the lineup, I began to reflect. I realized I had been placing my confidence in a broken board and my own experience, and that wasn’t working out too well.
In the bigger picture of life, we can do the same thing. What do I put my confidence in —work, relationships, status, or surfing ability? The truth is, all of these things can — and eventually will — fail us. So, how can we live with confidence if everything and everyone around us is bound to let us down? The honest answer is this: when we put our confidence in anything other than Jesus, we are setting ourselves up for disappointment.
The Bible has a lot to say about where we place our trust. It reminds us that confidence placed outside of God is fragile and fleeting. But when our trust is in Him, we have an unshakable foundation.
Joshua 1:9: “This is my command — be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Our confidence comes from knowing who God is — and knowing that we belong to Him. He is the Creator and Sustainer of everything. He is in control. He is above all else. And we are His children.
When we truly understand that the God of the universe loves us, desires a relationship with us, and has adopted us into His family through Jesus, everything changes. When our confidence is rooted in Him, we are anchored. But when we put our trust in anything or anyone else, we will be let down. We end up chasing things that were never meant to give us true hope, peace, or life.
So, where does your confidence lie?
Is it in yourself? Your surfing? Your job or your relationships?
Or is your confidence rooted in who God is — and who He says you are?
We were created to be in relationship with God. We were designed to be with Him. And if you find yourself looking to the things of this world, or even to yourself, for confidence eventually, you’ll come up empty.
But in Christ, we have a confidence that never breaks.
