Guest Post: Investments of Confidence: The Lies and The Truth

I'm thrilled to welcome guest writer, Anthony Laricchiuti on this week's blog.  Anthony and his wife Sierra are precious people and they are living out what we've been talking about lately on facing fears and chasing dreams.  Anthony writes today on something that we don't often think about when it comes to fear. Confidence.  How often do we let lies and fear affect our confidence?    

Read Anthony's encouraging words and real life examples below. 

Why do we tend to invest our confidence in the world?



According to my recent research of confidence, I have understood that there is self-confidence (the trust or faith that you have within yourself and your abilities) and self-esteem (the opinion you have of yourself).

"Confidence is a complex quality that plays tricks on us, which is why we sometimes lack confidence when we shouldn't, or become overconfident at times when we should show some humility. In short, maintaining confidence takes work." 

 Andrew Tilin,Confidence: A Vicious Cycle

I believe that there is some truth to this statement. First of all, like having a relationship with God, maintaining confidence takes work. Secondly, there are always times when we need confidence and God would never want us to lack that. Lastly, we should not be overly confident as to have this quality replace the humility within our hearts. 


It is super easy to build our confidence from our worldly surroundings. Why? Because it is easily attainable. 


I know that I have my worldly sources of confidence because...let's be honest...I'm not perfect...


My deepest intentions in this post is to break down those sources and how I can use my faith in God to restructure my ultimate source of confidence. 

1. Work/School
2. Relationships 
3. Appearance 

Here are the LIES that come with these investments:

• Work/School:
• "I'f I'm not doing a good job, then I'm not enough...I'm worthless." 

• Relationships:
• "If someone doesn't like me, then there is something wrong with me...I'm not a good person."
• "If I do something to make someone upset, I'm a bad person." 

• Appearance :
• "If my outfit isn't 'put together,' then I have 'no style'." 
• "If I'm slightly over weight, then I'm fat, unattractive, out of shape, etc."  

Here's the turning point.  How does God intervene with the Truth?

• Work/School:
• "My grace is sufficient enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." - 2 Corinthians 12:9

• Relationships:
• "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." - Galatians 1:1

• Appearance:
• "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." - Psalm 139:14

• "But the LORD said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." - 1 Samuel 16:7

What am I taking away from this?

"Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 

 2 Corinthians 12:10

I find relief in knowing that my confidence can be restored in God's glory. I am able to "let go" of my weaknesses when God's perfection takes the place of that. God's word has given me grace in the fact that HIS truth is my confidence. His word also shows me how to be humble and grateful for what he has molded. 

I want to conclude with you all a couple of key scriptures that have helped my heart settle in this topic: 

"Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance for what we do not see." 

Hebrews 11:1

My faith in God should be the ultimate source of my confidence, not in the world. This verse has been THE verse that has shaped my faith throughout my life. 

"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me." 

 2 Corinthians 12:8

This verse is a reflection of how I should naturally plea to take away all the burdens of my heart and all the worldly things that try to measure up my confidence. 

My encouragement to you: let go of what the world says about you and the lies that surround it. Put your faith in a source that never fails and that can always be attainable. My hope is that God, as the ultimate source of your confidence, will provide encouragement, hope, and humility for your heart. 

Credit: Anthony Laricchiuti

Anthony and his wife Sierra make their home in central North Carolina.  You can check out Anthony's blog, The Lord's Day here, where he writes about everyday life as a newly married man, a soon to be therapist, and most importantly a servant of Christ.