Read through Proverbs, and you’re likely to notice God has some harsh words for those who are arrogant. But that doesn’t mean we’re to embrace self-loathing or low self-esteem. Neither extreme accurately captures who we are in Christ. In fact, both are a form of pride, as they involve determining our value for ourselves rather than leaving that to God.

Jesus told His disciples, “I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). The Twelve may have been discouraged to hear they couldn’t do anything on their own, but they also heard Jesus say that communion with Him was the key to becoming who they were made to be—and that anything was possible with God (Matt. 19:26).
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To rightly esteem ourselves, we must first rightly esteem the Lord. Resting in the Holy Spirit, we become vessels of His power, wisdom, mercy, peace, and love—fruit we can count on bearing in the world regardless of our strengths or weaknesses. Relying on Him is the path to true confidence.