Confidence Is as Confidence Does

I recently saw this picture on Facebook that spoke to the very depths of my soul. It made me shout from the inside and tempted me to scream "Preach It Sister" from my couch.  This picture says everything to a person who is struggling to get healthy.

So many times, I've heard people say "Man, I bet you'll have so much more confidence when you lose some weight."  It's the tag line on all weight loss company commercials..."I've never had so much confidence in my life."  Well, I beg to differ.  I've always disagreed with this idea because I believe that confidence cannot be attained through weight loss, but rather weight loss is attained through confidence.  It takes mounds of confidence to tackle a problem head on and make a choice to become healthy in the face of insurmountable odds.

Confidence is standing on a scale at a Weight Watchers meeting in front of a perfect stranger.
Confidence is admitting that you struggle with a food addiction.
Confidence is going for a run next to a busy street no matter what size you are.
Confidence being the oldest and largest person in a room of fitness buffs that you are desperate to learn from.
Confidence is signing up for a triathlon when you are afraid of water.
Confidence is admitting to your accountability partner that you snack too much.
Confidence is being vulnerable so that you can be healed.

This is the face of confidence.  It has nothing to do with a little black dress or a smaller size.  It is the fuel that drives me.  None of these things have been easy.  I've sobbed on more than one occasion as the chubby middle school girl speaks lies like "why are you doing this?"  "you will fail again so why try?"  but I'm learning to recognize the lies and where they are coming from.  The enemy would love nothing more than to steal our purpose.

He speaks lies to condemn and pinpoint our weakness while God speaks truth.  I heard recently that God calls you a name that is opposite of your weakness so that he can call you out of your weakness.  What a gracious God we serve,  He sees our struggles but he desires for us to triumph so He calls us "strong" "overcomer" "finisher" "unafraid" "confident" and the more we hear this truth, the more we identify with it and are changed.

As I journey on, I am convicted to boldly declare the promises that God has given to me.  That I am "fearfully and wonderfully made" and "God has not given me a spirit of fear" because, when it comes down to it, my confidence comes from above and my story will be written by Him.