Cultivating Confidence Part 5: The Confidence to Shine

In this series, we’ve looked at the confidence to be you, the confidence to stand firm, the confidence to step out, and the confidence to be still.

When we live with confidence in Christ, we shine, radiating the light of Jesus’ love. We reflect Him who is our confidence and who gives us courage.

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2, NIV

We are dearly loved daughters of the King of kings, and we are called to wear our crowns, not in selfish conceit, but in sacrificial love. Confidence isn’t about simply being comfortable in our own skin, or having the courage to try new and adventurous things. Confidence is about boldly living and loving like Jesus. It is about following God over fear and serving others over insecurities.

This crown wearing and confident shining makes me think of the story of a woman who became a brave queen. Her courage came not from her earthly title of queen, but from her heavenly identity as daughter of the King.

This woman was known as Esther. We find the story of her rise to royalty and her courageous action in the book of Esther. Esther was an Israelite girl, raised by her cousin Mordecai. At the time of Esther’s story, the Israelites were living in exile in Persia.   

Esther was taken, along with many other girls, to the palace to be groomed for the king’s harem. Out of all these girls, the king would choose one to become queen and replace the wife he had dismissed because of a disagreement about banquet entertainment.

After twelve months of beauty treatments, Esther appeared before the king, and he chose her to become his queen. Through all this, Esther kept her Hebrew nationality hidden.

When a man named Haman rose in power, trouble came for Esther’s people. Haman was angered that Mordecai wouldn’t bow to him, and knowing Mordecai was a Jew, Haman decided to take his revenge on all the Jews. Through deceit and trickery, Haman talked the king into issuing a decree that on a certain day, all the Jews were to be destroyed. 

When Mordecai learned of this decree, he sent a message to Esther, asking her to use her royal status to save her people. But there was one problem: if Esther approached the king in his court without being summoned, she would be put to death, unless the king chose to extend his scepter to her.

Esther had a choice to make. She could rely on her earthly position for her own safety and do nothing for her people, or she live out her heavenly identity and do what she could save her people.

Esther chose to go before the king, risking her own life, to request that he spare the lives of her people. 

The king could not revoke his previous decree, but he did issue a new one declaring that on the day the Jewish people were to be attacked, they could defend themselves. And that is just what they did, and they were victorious in it.

Through one woman choosing to follow God over fear and serve others over insecurities, God brought deliverance to His people from those who would destroy them.

We can learn from Esther’s story about wearing our own crowns and shining with confidence: 

Don’t forget your real name
Esther became known as Esther, her Persian name, but her Hebrew name, was Hadassah. Esther never forgot her real name and what it meant: that she was one of God’s people, and that her purpose was to serve Him above all else.

Whatever fears and insecurities you may be facing, don’t forget your real name: Beloved Child of God. And don’t forget what that name means: you are His, you are loved, and you are on this earth to reflect Jesus.

Be a part of God’s story
When Esther was fearful of going before the king, her cousin Mordecai encouraged her:

“Who knows but that your have come to royal position for such a time as this?”
​Esther 4:14, NIV

Mordecai understood that they were all part of a bigger picture, a grander story than just the politics of Persia. God allowed Esther to find favor with the king, that He might show His favor on His people through Esther. Esther choosing to go before the king was a choice to be a part of God’s story.

You also are where you are for such a time as this. God has a purpose and plan for your life, right here, right now. Don’t let fear stop you from living for Him and sharing Him with others.

Surround yourself with those who will encourage you
If Mordecai wouldn’t have encouraged Esther and reminded her of who she truly was, would she have had the courage to go before the king?

Fears and insecurities so often roll through our minds and speak criticism to our hearts, beating us up and holding us down. It’s important for us to have people in our lives - friends, mentors, church family - who will speak encouragement to our hearts.
 
Seek God 
Before Esther went to the king, she asked Mordecai and the other Jews in the city to fast for three days, while she and her maids did the same. Esther prepared herself for the hard, scary, task ahead by seeking God’s protection and guidance. She knew the only way she could make a difference was if God was with her. She placed her confidence in His strength and wisdom, not her own.

Spending time with Jesus, seeking His heart through His Word and conversing with Him through prayer, should be a part of our daily lives. As we come to know Him more, we reflect Him more. As we come to know His will, we live in His will, and He will give us the courage and strength to do what He has called us to do. 

Stand together
Esther sought to save the lives of her people from those who were hateful towards them. On the day the Jewish people were to be attacked, they assembled together to defend themselves, and defeated their enemies.

We weren’t meant to do life alone, only concerned with ourselves. Our faith is attacked each day by one who doesn’t want us to live with confidence in Christ. Satan seeks to divide and weaken, because he knows when the sons and daughters of God stand together, they are unstoppable.

When we are feeling attacked, whether it’s insecurities bombarding our hearts, uncertainty about the next step to take, shame about our past, a struggle with sin, fear for the unknown future, it’s good to know we are not alone. It’s good to have those we can turn to and ask to stand and fight alongside us through prayer, wise counsel, and encouragement, and who we can do the same for. We wear our crowns best when we’re helping each other.

So I want to stand with you and encourage you to shine: reflect Jesus and radiate His love as you wear your crown, serve others, face your fears, and live confident in Christ. ​​