When Self-Belief Meets Faith in God

I’ve always believed in God, but I’ve always believed in myself too, maybe even more. I know that sounds bad, but let me explain. I grew up finding encouragement in quotes like “believe in yourself,” “get back up when you get knocked down,” “you can do it.” And like a cycle, whenever it works out I praise myself, saying I’m proud of myself or I had it in me all along.

This is like an ego to self.

I, I, I.

The term self-efficacy—according to verywellmind—is a person’s belief in their ability to complete a task or achieve a goal.

So when I have something I need to get done, I rely on self efficacy instead of God. It wasn’t until I had the will to get to know the Lord more and start studying the Bible… though I must admit I do fall off sometimes, but I always get back up. Just a little side note to let you know that it’s okay and nothing happens overnight.

Yes, but it wasn’t until then that I really started reflecting on God’s hand in the small things I usually take for granted. I realized how automatically I take credit for things, how I take the glory for myself without even noticing. Some of you might be thinking, “Wow, I don’t do that. I always thank God.” But I challenge you to pause and think of a time when your own self-reward overshadowed the praise God deserves.

For me, it comes to mind all the time. You pass a test and immediately think, “Wow, I studied that section so well. I had a feeling it was coming.” Or you swerve to avoid a bad driver and think, “I’m glad I was paying attention and driving well.” Or you invest in something financial and it pays off, and you think, “Wow, I was smart and wise with my money.” Even when you lend someone money, you think, “What would they do if I didn’t have it?” And sometimes we even praise others.. like when someone helps us, we say, “Wow, if it wasn’t for them, I’d be stuck.” Take a moment and really reflect on that. I’m going to shift focus for now, but we’ll come back to this.

Most mornings, I wake up and immediately grab my phone to doom-scroll. One specific morning I was doing this as usual then eventually, I came across the trailer for the new David and Goliath movie. You know the story of David, a young shepherd who trusted God, facing Goliath, a giant, armed only with a sling and a stone, to protect the Israelites. When David swung that stone Goliath stood there, I felt shivers. The trailer didn’t show anymore but we know from bible that David defeated Goliath. And I started thinking… wait, David didn’t do it himself. No way.

God did.

David was just the vessel and God was the grand orchestrator.

The confidence David felt came from the Lord.

The opportunity he was given to take down Goliath, even though he was a nobody, came from God.

The victory when he won belonged to the Lord.

We are just the vessels.

This made me reflect on my own life. Remember what I was saying before, about how sometimes things happen and we unintentionally or maybe even intentionally resort to praising ourselves and taking all the glory? The successes, perfect timings, the little wins… we grab the credit. Instead of first resorting to that let’s challenge ourselves to see God in everything we do.

When someone lends you money, see it as God working through them. When you serve someone on the road to avoid a bad driver, that’s God guiding you. When you lend money, that’s God working through you to help others.

When you study to pass a test, that’s God giving you the wisdom and discipline to succeed. When you invest, remember it’s God giving you resources, wisdom, and opportunity to grow what He’s entrusted to you.

Also nowadays, when we’re not praising ourselves, we talk about “the universe” instead.

“The universe will guide you.”

“The universe aligned everything.”

We deflect so much of the glory and the praise and the honor from God, coming up with every explanation as to why we think it happened… not realizing that we are just the stewards… caretakers for the blessings.

In closing, let’s acknowledge God in everything we do.

Because truth is… every door we walk through, every blessing we touch, every moment that feels “timed just right” that’s Gods.

When you get that job, whisper a thank you.

Not just because you needed it, but because He shaped and strengthened you, and carried you to it.

When you get that car, remember it’s not just transportation.

It’s protection.

It’s provision.

It’s God saying, “I’m keeping you.”

When He blesses you with children, dedicate them to Him.

Because you’re not just raising a child, you’re stewarding a soul He trusted you with.

Yes, believe in yourself.

But never forget where the breath, the strength, the wisdom, the opportunity and even the confidence comes from.

In everything, big or small, let the glory go back to Him.

We are only the vessels.

He is the source.