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Thereโs something about stepping out that makes our knees tremble a littleโwhether itโs sharing your testimony, starting a new business, writing a book, or simply standing up for whatโs right. When we sense a purpose filled nudge from God to move, speak, or create, one of the first questions that creeps into our minds is often:
โBut what will they think?โ
If weโre honest, approval runs deep. Sometimes deeper than we want to admit.
It can disguise itself as โwisdom,โ โtiming,โ or even โhumility.โ But more often than not, itโs just fear. Fear of not being enough, fear of being misunderstood, fear of rejection. And yet, as followers of Christ, weโre not called to live for applauseโweโre called to live sent. Sent with purpose. Sent with boldness. Sent by the only One whose approval truly matters.
So how do we cultivate this thing I like to call Kingdom Confidenceโthe ability to show up fully, faithfully, and freelyโฆ even if no one claps?
Letโs walk through it together.
1. The Trap of Approval Addiction
Letโs name it: we all want to be liked.
Thereโs nothing wrong with enjoying connection or affirmation. But when our obedience to God becomes dependent on othersโ responses (or lack thereof), we drift into dangerous territory.
Galatians 1:10 cuts right to the chase:
โAm I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.โ
Paul wasnโt trying to make enemies, but he knew that preaching the Gospelโliving boldly for Christโwas going to ruffle some feathers. The same goes for you and me. We canโt fully walk in our calling and still be tethered to the need for everyone to understand us.
Youโre not for everyone. And youโre not supposed to be.
2. Confidence Thatโs Not About You
Kingdom Confidence doesnโt come from having it all figured out or never feeling nervous. It comes from knowing who sent you.
Itโs not about self-esteem. Itโs about Christ-esteem.
Culture encourages us to โbelieve in ourselves.โ Thatโs nice, but a little shaky. My own emotions, talents, and moods are wildly inconsistent. Some days I feel strong and creative. Other days, I feel unsure and invisible.
But God? Heโs unchanging.
His assignment doesnโt depend on your feelings.
His equipping isnโt revoked because of your self-doubt.
When we start to root our confidence in Him, and not in our talent, feedback, or likes, thatโs when things shift. Thatโs when peace enters the process.
You donโt have to be the loudest voice or the most polished speaker. You just have to show upโwith authenticity and obedienceโand trust God to fill the gaps.
3. Quiet Obedience is Still Obedience
You donโt need a stage, platform, or viral moment to make Kingdom impact.
Some of the most powerful movements in the Kingdom begin in private places:
- A whispered prayer for someone God put on your heart.
- A blog post that encourages just one person.
- A painting, a poem, a podcast episode that no one claps forโyet it pleases God.
Obedience isnโt always flashy. Sometimes it looks like faithfully doing the next thing, even when the metrics look slow.
Trust that your mustard-seed obedience matters.
God doesnโt measure faithfulness by numbers. He measures it by the heart behind your yes.
4. The Identity Shift: From Striving to Standing
When we forget who we are in Christ, we hustle for worth.
We strive. We compare. We perform.
But when we remember that we are already accepted, already loved, already chosenโnot because of what we do, but because of whose we areโwe stand. We rest. We release outcomes.
Hereโs the truth:
โ
You are not your following.
โ
You are not your likes.
โ
You are not your failures.
โ
You are not even your successes.
You are a son. You are a daughter. You are an ambassador of the Kingdom.
You walk in power not because youโve earned it, but because itโs been given.
5. What Kingdom Confidence Looks Like in Practice
Hereโs what it might look like for you:
- Hitting publish on the post youโve been afraid to share.
- Saying no to an opportunity because God said itโs not your assignment.
- Showing up without makeup, filters, or fancy wordsโbecause realness matters more than perfection.
- Walking away from the need to explain yourself to everyone.
- Choosing to stay faithful in obscurity.
Itโs about showing upโnot to impress, but to bless.
Not to be seen, but to be sent.
6. How to Cultivate It When You Feel Insecure
Even the most confident people wrestle with insecurity. Confidence isnโt the absence of fearโitโs doing the thing anyway.
Here are a few ways to nurture your Kingdom Confidence:
- Start your day in truth. Read Scriptures about identity. Galatians 2:20, Romans 8, 2 Timothy 1:7, and Ephesians 2:10 are great places to start.
- Pray for courage. Ask God to align your heart with His, even when itโs uncomfortable.
- Get around faith-filled people. Community matters. You donโt need hype men, but you do need truth-tellers who remind you of your calling.
- Take the next small step. Donโt wait until you feel ready. Faith grows in the doing.
7. Youโre Not Crazy. Youโre Called.
You might feel like an oddball sometimes. You may not always blend in. You may feel misunderstood.
But if God has marked you with a message or mission, donโt silence it for the comfort of others.
This isnโt about arroganceโitโs about assurance.
You were made for such a time as this.
Youโre wired on purpose.
And when you live with Kingdom Confidence, it frees others to do the same.
Final Thoughts: The Applause That Matters Most
Friend, not everyone will get it.
Not everyone will clap.
Not everyone will cheer you on.
But Heaven is watching.
God sees every quiet yes, every shaky step, every hidden act of obedience.
And that โwell doneโ from Him? Thatโs the only applause that will ever satisfy.
So go aheadโshow up.
Even if your voice shakes.
Even if youโre still figuring it out.
Even if it costs you comfort.
Walk boldly in your callingโnot because youโve got it all together, but because He does.
