The Myth of Self Belief

"Just believe in yourself and you can do anything you set your mind to." That common line has quite a nice ring to it. This sentiment is fed to dreamers, people who are struggling at something, people who are going through troubles in their lives and just about every school kid in western civilization. Celebrities use this as a piece of advice to succeed in life.

Though it sounds pretty, the saying is terribly misguided. It stems from man's sinful nature. At the fall of man we see him trying to elevate himself to God's level by eating the fruit which makes them"...like God, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:5) It is seen again in the Tower of Babel when man attempts to make a name for himself (Genesis 11:4). And on through the Old Testament there are many examples of man making himself his own god.

To believe in yourself and your own abilities is to make yourself your own god. "I can do anything I want if I believe in myself, I can achieve anything, get anywhere!" Why? Because you're the god of your life, you're in control, you're able to do anything! Sounds glorious doesn't it? But that glory does not belong to man!

Though many Christians for some inexplicable reason speak like this as well, the God they claim to worship has a different opinion:

"I am the vine and; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide me in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned." (John 15:6-7)

Apart from Christ man can do nothing. He has no ability apart from Christ, he has no power apart from Christ. God is greater than man (Job 33:12). All one needs to do to see this is read Job 38-41 where God compares Himself to man and demonstrates His power and control over them. Man is powerless apart from God because God has all the power in the universe! "What is man that You are mindful of him?" (Psalm 8:4) Man is but dust to God, he has no ability to do anything!

Man cannot accomplish his dreams or succeed in life or end sufferings or any of these things no matter how much self belief he has! No matter how confident he is he cannot pass that test, he cannot resist that temptation, he cannot overcome that adversary! He can do nothing on his own. There is no benefit in believing in yourself! In fact it is a great sin, a blasphemy against God's sovereign might!

But, one might say, what of the fact that God never sends any suffering on man that is beyond his ability. Man does have some strength! What does the passage this comes from say?

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13)

 

But at a closer glance we see that God provides the escape! Not to mention that the verse before it says,"Therefore, let anyone who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." Man can't overcome temptation on his own. He cannot stand on his own.

 

In fact, there was a situation I which the apostle Paul found himself where he could not handle it:

 

"For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.  Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death." (2 Corinthians 1:8-9)

 

They were burdened beyond their strength! How cruel would it have been to tell them to just believe in themselves and they will get through? That would have set them up for failure! They would have been crushed when they realized it is beyond their strength!

I, myself, sit and type this post with trials in my own life. It is too much for me to handle on my own. I am burdened and full of grief for much of the time, but I have found joy in believing in something other than my own strength! Paul explains:
 

"But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.  He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again." (2 Corinthians 1:9-10)

 

"Rely on God Who raises the dead." That's power, set your hope on Him and He will deliver you!

 

So stop telling people to believe in themselves. Stop believing in yourself, you can do nothing. Stop giving false hope to yourself and others because you will end up crushed and forsaken. Do not believe in yourself, believe wholly and exclusively in God Who raises the dead and He will deliver you! You cannot deliver yourself.

 

And of course God delivered man from his biggest problem - his sin. Jesus Christ paid the price we could not pay on the cross and if we do believe in Him rather than ourselves we will be saved from an eternity of suffering to an eternity of endless, righteous joy!