 “Believe in yourself” is some of the worst advice you can give someone (especially if you’re a Christian; you should know better).
We're seeing it in the headlines now that Super Bowl is done (hooray); another celebrity sermon wrapped in inspiration and applause. And while it sounds empowering, it directly contradicts the core of the Christian faith. Christianity is not self-belief. It’s self-surrender. Scripture doesn’t tell us to dig deeper into ourselves for truth, strength, or direction. It tells us the opposite: deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him. The heart is not our compass. Our feelings are not our authority. Our confidence is not the source. “Believe in yourself” subtly teaches self-salvation. Jesus teaches dependence. For the naysayers, I get it. We’re not called to be passive, timid, or idle. Christians still act, build, lead, and take responsibility. But there’s a critical difference between believing you are the source of your strength and trusting that God is the one working through you. Confidence rooted in self eventually collapses under pressure; confidence rooted in God endures because the weight was never yours to carry. The gospel isn’t about unlocking what’s already inside you. It’s about admitting what’s broken, insufficient, and sinful, and placing your full trust in God instead. Not self-esteem. Not self-manifestation. Not self-made purpose. When we tell people to believe in themselves, we place the weight of life, meaning, and outcomes on human shoulders. When Jesus speaks, He says, “Apart from Me, you can do nothing.” That’s not discouraging. That’s freeing! Because when your faith is in yourself, failure crushes you. When your faith is in God, failure refines you. So no... I won’t tell my family, my friends, or anyone I care about to 'believe in yourself.' I’ll tell them this instead: Trust God. Surrender fully. Obey boldly. And let Him do what you never could. That’s not popular. But it’s biblical. Danny, Keep the fire burning Our family mission is to meet with God every day and help others do the same. Do you have a family mission statement?
Some people may hear this, especially older generations, and think, What!? What's a mission statement? What's the point? Just follow the Bible and you'll be fine, Stop with this non-sense, etc. A family mission statement is nothing new or progressive. It has been around, in one form or another, since God established the first family (Adam & Eve). A family mission statement helps to answer the question, Why are we here? It is a unifying proclamation that helps guide your daily life and can be adapted throughout the various ages/stages of your family. In Joshua 24:15, we see a short example: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." The idea is to combine your family values with what you feel God called you to do so that you can impact the world around you.  David said he was a worm (Psalm 22:6).
Peter said he was a sinful man (Luke 5:8). Isaiah, being in the presence of God, utterly recognized that he was a man of unclean lips (Isaiah 6:5). Paul declared, I am the worst (chief) of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). And Jesus, our greatest example of humbleness, made himself of no reputation and took on the form of a servant (Philippians 2:7). Yet, here is the world coming along singing, tweeting, posting and saying, 'you’re enough.' Careful. Satan will make his lies sound catchy in songs, easy to remember when spoken, and likable when re-posted. At first, it may not taste like poison. But it is. The Word of God combats this lie. It humbles us without humiliating us. It tells me, I am nothing without God. This is where true life begins. When you die to self. Not when you embrace the deception that you have what it takes. Without God, you and I would not even be alive, physically, let alone be able to experience real life, spiritually! I can't face a day on my own let alone a lifetime! Men and women, don't believe these slogans and feel-good declarations just because they sound good. Don't take them as fact just because it comes from someone who has over 50 million followers. And by all means, if you proclaim to be a child of the King, I urge you as your brother in Christ Jesus, do not share or spread their content. Hide this word in your heart: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2). |
ALTARPRENEURwith Danny & Daniela Kovacs
WHYNo family is an island. Join us as we share candid discussions, Biblical advice & resources to help keep God at the center of your faith, family and career. MICROBLOGS
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