Today is another day where I can’t just write what I want to say – I need to “show and tell” you. In today’s short video message below I share how God walked me through a process of looking back with courage – so I could move forward with hope. He helped me identify things I didn’t even know were affecting me and gently led my heart on a journey towards freedom – showing me how to of let go of the pain from my yesterdays so I could live with confident hope in my todays… and tomorrows.
{Are you a note-taker? If so, I created “Video Message Notes” in a PDF format here or in a MSWord doc here, just for you. Even included key verses and blanks to fill in.} 🙂
Today’s Giveaway:
I’m giving away 3 Confident Heart gift packs for 3 of you. Each one includes a copy of my book, A Confident Heart {for you or a friend?}, my “Rest Assured” message on CD and a Starbucks gift card!
Let’s Connect {and how to enter today’s drawing}:
I’d love to hear how God speaks to you through today’s video message… and this is an easy way to enter today’s giveaway too. Just click “share your thoughts” right below this post and do just that. I’ll be here reading and praying over each of you and your stories. {Also, I know the timelines I encourage you to create might sound overwhelming or scary, so I recorded a little video message to talk/walk you through that process – If you’d like to hear more click here to watch it after you share your thoughts below.}
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After reading chapter 4 and some of the comments I have a lot to think about. I may not do the timeline right now because I’m not feeling called to. I have given my testimony several times at Celebrate Recovery a Christian 12 step program for anyone with “hurts, habits or hangups” and have found a lot of healing in sharing what I thought were painful secrets. I will start to think about what God wants me to do and what I can now allow Him to do with me. One woman called Jesus her Knight in Shinning Armor and it struck me I’ve never felt that. There are many things I need to transfer from my head to my heart and I know this is a safe place to do that. Thank you Renee for providing this safe place for growth. Since my best friend died in December 2011 I’ve lost that safe feeling. I think God is urging me to find more safety in Him through this bible study. Thanks to all the women who are willing share their stories.
Thanks for sharing your life. So much seems to happen in life. The last year has been challenging with my husband’s injury, which he still is recovering from — it’s been challenging for both of us as well as our young daughters. The last month has been challenging with my shoulder dislocation and my husband’s ankle surgery and then having both my daughters comes down with strep throat this past week. It’s easy with all that is going on to just shut off the emotions and keep persevering. I am encouraged by the assignment to do a timeline to examine past hurts/events which have molded me and still cause me doubts…a lot which stems from my childhood and things that were said to me. Denying it does not make things go away! Amen, that we always have HOPE from God!
Thank you for your sharing, Renee! I have been having a “boot camp” of a season the past year. Been through a tough patch but looking back, I could see that God was dealing with me on my past. And truly, He is faithful to take us through all our hurts and pains if only we allow Him to. I may not have liked the journey somewhat, but through the tears, God is slowly mending this broken heart of mine to wholeness. He does have a plan for our lives, and a good and perfect plan too.
Hey Renee:
I have went through some of the very things you are talking about as far as our past goes. I didn’t really till recently that I was harboring pain from my past. Things happened when I was a young teen, that forever changed me. I didn’t turn to God, but others, who didn’t necessarily give me the best advise. It changed my life forever and not in ways I am proud of. As I have went through several painful events, I have discovered that some of the hurt was not coming from the current situation, but from my past. We all need to examine our lifes to the point of figuring out who we are and mostly who God wants us to be. Think back to events in your life that changed you and see what effect they have had own you. Once you realize where the pain is coming from, you can give it to God and he will free you. Jeremiah 29:11 is my life verse and continues to bless me often. My church home that I had been searching for became obvious because this was their life verse on their bulletin. Also as you concluded, the verses that follow are all part of God’s plans for our lifes. Give all your concerns, hurts, pains, joy; whatever it is, to God. He does forgive and he forgets! He wipes our slate clean to become to christians he wants us to be. Choose to grow your faith and trust him completely, he will bless you beyond measure.
Sister in Christ
It is very difficult for me to find hope, due to the many things that have happened to me throughout my life. But, I have been trying to find that hope since returning to the Lord a couple of years ago. Though this is a difficult journey, I know He will be there for me.
So much of what you are saying is exactly what I am struggling with. All the questions, doubt, and wondering if I will ever heal and feel normal again. Thank you.
Hi Renee,
Thanks for sharing your heart. I am 53 years old and I am finding myself at this age with a very low self-esteem because of all that has happened to me in my life. My life certainly has not turned out the way I planned. Those words sound so silly to see in print because I know my life is not my plan but God”s plan for me. Even knowing this, I keep asking the hard questions, “Why have these things happened to me?” At 53 years old I am divorced my husband left me 10 years ago and I am an empty nester, my 4 girls are raised. I am all alone and it is scary to be all alone. I know God is always with me but when I come home, the house is empty. I ask God, “Why am I alone. You said it is not good for man to be alone and yet I am alone!” Hurts from my childhood and dealing with a narcissistic mother further adds to my poor self-image. I think what is wrong with me because I pray and I love God and then I saw your Encouragement for Today message which led me to this blog. Your message gives me hope. I don’t want to live the rest of my life trapped with these insecurities. I want to give it to Jesus but even thought I want to, I seem to fail at actually doing just that. Right now my financial situation is not good so I would be so blessed to received your book as a gift. Thank you for praying for me and considering me for your generous offer. God Bless You! :o)
I love your openness and transparency. It really goes a long way in making us realize we are not alone in our struggles. Thank you for your willingness to follow God’s path for yourself and in the process bring such blessings to the rest of us.
Jeremiah 29:11 is something special to me. I’ve had friend who instructs Zumba but what she doesn’t know but maybe she does that the month even though I was getting helped I was thinking about ending my life due to job hunting and moving back home, loosing indepedence it was hard and I felt like I couldn’t succeed and I was letting my parents down that is how I felt. That verse “God has a plan full of hope for me” I was like why. She even announced Bible Studies that has helped me strengthen my faith and trust in God and I was not going insane. I felt like I was going insane due to a Church I was attending hurt me so much that I didn’t want to go to Church and said I should go to the hospital. I even told my counselor that and she said “You don’t need that” However, it took me almost half a year to back to Church I wanted too and tried to get in my car but I just cried and than I would be upset that I’m crying again. I even got to the parking lot of the Church but couldn’t get out of the car and yes started crying again. Finally, I went to 3 different Churches and still didn’t feel right but one day I overslept one Mass and I had something going on that I couldn’t go to the later Service. So I went to one that is close and I just knew that was the place for me. I still get worried but I’m singing in the choir and wow what wonderful caring director that God has placed in my life. So I was a little nervous about those Bible Studies but I’ve learned that we all go thru struggles. Again, I have been laid off a second time, but due to the Zumba class where the instructor reads a scriptures and we have 15 minute devotion afterwards. I know I will get through this time too because God sent me to this class and I’m so glad He did. In addition, the Jeremiah 29:11 verse has appeared almost every other day especially when I feel down. Furthermore, if I didn’t take those Bible courses I wouldn’t have taken this course and oh my God’s love is amazing and I will persevere because of His grace and love.” Thank you Renee for writing this book it has helped me and I’ve shared some of this with some of my friends and strangers. God Bless you!
Renee,
WOW – What an on-time word for me. Jeremiah 29:11 is my favorite scripture and hearing it again today by you and your story just reminds me even the more that I have a future and a hope. I’ve had a habit of not going pass verse 11 and today I’m reminded to include 12-14 each time I think of or read my favorite scripture. I can relate so much to your story as my childhood was a painful one. God is truly doing a work in me, but I must be even more willing to allow Him complete access to my heart at all times. I’m so ready for all that He has for me and I certainly don’t want to be a hinderance. I bless God for causing me to click on your link because your story has so encouraged my heart. May the Lord Bless you and Keep YOU and May He Smile upon YOU everyday!
Abundant Grace,
Donna
I began reading chapter 4, then saw your VIP message and thought to my self… “some people must be REALLY sensitive. Then I got further into the chapter and saw that you, (really God) is speaking straight to me! I have cried so hard with this. I have felt like a failure since I was 5 years old. Forty four years is a long time to feel this way. I am so ready to have His hope. I have not done my time line yet, but I may put on it (or make another) the times I have hurt a loved.
Thank you so much Renee. I have been in such a pit for so long, and I want to get out without the pain of my past, but I think I am ready to deal with it. How can I not if I want to do what God is calling me? ( I would like to hear his plan(s) for me. I think I would feel better, get motivated and be able BELIEVE Him more!)
Hi Renee
Listening to you was like listening to myself. Thank you for sharing because it is through sharing we learn we are not along in our struggles.
Blessings.
Oh my this has so touched something deep in me. In a couple of days I will be 66. Sometimes I feel like its too late to change why bother after all these years. My Mom abandon me at birth. Unbeknown to my Dad I was given to my adoptive parents when I was less than 24hrs old. When Dad came to the hospital the next day I was gone. PTL I found him 51 yrs later. Together we discoveed that Mom had passed away 8 yrs earlier. So I will never know why. My adoptive Mom really wasnt cut out to be a Mom. She tried to fit my square peg into a round hole. I became an emotional eater. And now struggle with being really overweight. I cant imagine what the pain would feel like if I let it out & that scares me. Plus by keeping my mind blank I dont have to deal with the pain. Just realizing that somewhere in life I have shut down. I function very well no one would be able to know. I have never taken care of me. I dont even know who me is. However, I am going to get Confident Heart and try to let the process begin. HOPE. This is the word that keeps coming to me. Thank you for sharing your life with us. It has opened a door that I pray will not close no matter what the pain.
thank you, renee, thank you. i sit here endeavoring to type the words that would adequately describe what is brewing in my heart…and failing. but that’s ok ’cause my Father knows (oh! HOW He KNOWS!) and, as i pray for you and each of us working our way together through this study, He will apply my prayers to each heart as He sees fit…as He knows each need…as He perfectly supplies through the holy spirit. i am thankful, renee, for His choosing to work through you. may the Lord bless you and yours today. <3
Your devotion today was such a huge encouragement to my heart today. Yesterday I wen to see a Specialist and had some tests done and the results did not come back well at all. As I sat there in the doctors office after the tests were done and we were going over the results and what needs to be done I felt so overwhelmed and alone. Thank You so much Renee for sharing from your heart because today you have truly blessed mine in a very special way!
Thank you for sharing your message, it was what I really needed to help me realize I can let go of past hurts and learn from them!
I really love your message today!!! I am having a really hard time with my daughter, see doesn’t talk to me in person or on the phone she will text me. I just want the relationship that w once had back. Don’t know why she hates me so much. She is married has two grown sons. She seams to want to hurt me in every way she can.
I can definitely see that I am going to have to get this book. I believe that the message within this book could really help me get past some of the obstacles that I am facing in my life right now. I definitely need a healing touch from God and for his Holy Spirit to help me deal with stings from the past. From a broken home to broken relationships, I am battling low self-worth, insecurity, and this completely affects my current job and relationships. Please pray for God’s healing touch in my life. I know that He has a plan for my life. By faith, I believe that! I just have to draw closer to Him and let him show me His plan.
Proverbs 31 ministraies and Renee…thanks for all the comforting words and stories. Your message was heartfelt. I struggle to allow God to be in control, not me. My neighbors who are youth pastors at my church are also struggling right now. Finances aren’t growing as fast as the needs of the church and mixed with economy…you can guess the outcome 🙁 Everyone’s past – even if they are still climbing the mountain – can be paving the way for a better future. We all just have to trust in God and know that he DOES has great plans for us and we should be anxious for nothing!
Wishing everyone the best and remember to place your hope in God, not wordly things and people.
Geanna
Some of it sounds too easy or something. I’m working through with a counselor right now that my marriage is an abusive relationship. I also grew up with an abusive mom. Is it just the brevity of your video that makes this sound like a “quick fix”?