UNPACK This...Christ-Centered ConfidenceSample

A Confident Player, A Confident Coach 15-seed Saint Peter’s Elite Eight run was easily one of the top storylines of the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Though little was expected from the Peacocks, St. Peter’s knocked off Kentucky, Murray State, and Purdue to make it to the quarterfinals. It was undoubtedly a task that couldn’t have been accomplished if the team and their head coach, Shaheen Holloway, had lacked confidence. Following their win over Kentucky, when Holloway was asked if he ever got nervous, he emphatically responded, “No…for what…it’s basketball.” After their win against Murray State, he said, “I’ve got guys from New Jersey and New York City. You think we’re scared of anything?” Confidence is such an important quality for coaches and players to embody. At the same time, they must keep proper humility to prevent arrogance and cockiness from taking hold. Likewise, when it comes to our lives, confidence is paramount. As followers of Jesus, we’re given supernatural Christ-centered confidence. Our confidence isn’t based on our own strength but on the all-powerful, all-knowing, always-faithful God of the universe. We need to properly tap into that confidence as we go up against tough opponents in life and remember what God’s Word tells us in Hebrews 13:6: “The Lord is my Helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Because Christ lives in us and we know that God is sovereign over all things, we ought to easily embody confidence. Hebrews 10:35-36 gives us this valuable encouragement: “So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that He has promised.” Today, let’s find our confidence in the Lord as we remain humble before Him. When we encounter ups and downs, let’s remain confident because of Who is with us. Let’s live out Jeremiah 17:7: “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.” I’m Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I pray my confidence wouldn’t be based on my own strength, but Your power and goodness. Help me to remain humble as I trust in You and remain confident because of You. It’s in Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.