My sweet friend Kimberly has kindly given me permission to share a powerful video her church created based on something God showed her. In openly shares her struggles with condemnation and how they were making her see herself so differently than God does. When I watching this months ago, I knew I wanted to make it part of week 7 as we read Chapter 7, When Doubt Whispers “You’re Such a Failure”! Whether you are in my online study or not, this is a message for each of us.
Once you watch the (less than 2 minute) video message, please read what Kim wrote below about the way God spoke to her heart about His thoughts towards us, our failures and flaws. I pray it blesses you as much as it blessed me! {If you are reading this via email, PLEASE double click on the title of this post “How Can God use Me? to go to my website to watch the video and connect in community.)
A few years ago, if you would have asked me if I believed that God loved me, I would have told you, “Yes.” Realizing His great love for me has been one of the sweetest truths I have ever come to know.
BUT, if you had asked me if I believed God could use me or would even WANT to use me… well, I would have hemmed and hawed and never really landed on an exact yes or no. Why? Because I felt unusable. My sins and mistakes disqualified me. I looked at myself and saw all of my flaws. I saw deep insecurities. I saw my too often short temper. I saw a lack of discipline, a lack of Biblical knowledge. I saw lack upon lack, failure upon failure.
“Jesus loves me? Yes. He died for me. But Jesus would like to use me. Ummmm…seriously? I think not.”
I love how He corrects our wrong thinking through His Word.
As I sat reading the Bible one day, heart heavy from discouragement, God led me to read John 3:17. It comes right after John 3:16, one of the earliest verses we ever learn about how God loved the world so much He sent His only Son Jesus to die for us so that, believing in Him, we could have eternal life. John 3:17 goes on to tell us more:
“For God did not send His Son Jesus into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
I felt the Lord urging me to look up the definition the words “condemn.”
Condemn- 1. to pass an adverse judgement on; disapprove of strongly, censure; 2. a) to declare to be guilty of wrongdoing; convict b) to pass judicial sentence on; inflict a penalty upon c) to doom; 3. to declare (property) legally appropriated for public use; 4. to declare unfit for use or service. (Webster’s Dictionary)
That was exactly how I felt. Unsafe. Unlovely. Unusable.
Convinced that Jesus wanted to wrap caution tape around my life to keep people back. “Stay away from this one. I love her, but she’s still too messed up to be of any use to me. Better stand clear of her.”
The words of John 3:17 coupled with the last definition released a flood of truth and healing over my heart. The Father was whispering tenderly to me. He did not see me as I saw myself. He did not see a condemned building…someone dangerous. Someone unlovely. Someone unusable. He saw someone He loved so much that He would send His only Son to die a shameful and excruciating death for her. He sent His Son to save me. To forgive me. To heal me. To set me free, fill me up, and USE me.
The tears began to flow as He let me know that I am usable. And not only does He find me usable. He wants to use me. I am not the same woman I was 13 years ago.
- I have been forgiven of all of my sins. (1 John 1:9) (even the “big bad” ones)
- I am a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
- I am complete in Christ. (Colossians 2:10)
- I have purpose in Him. (Ephesians 2:10)
Let these sweet truths wash over you today. Jesus did not come to label you unusable. He loves you and He has a purpose for your life that is of great use to His kingdom!
***
Thank you so much Kimberly for sharing your heart and being so honest with us today. I got so much encouragement from your video and writing. So many of us can relate to what you shared.
Let’s Connect: So friends…How about you? Do you believe God loves you, yet struggle to believe He could ever use you? Do you struggle to believe He would want to use you as you look at all of your sins, flaws and failures? . I’m so thankful Kimberly set the stage for some real life transparency today.
(And after you leave a little note here, would you take a minute to hop over to Kimberly‘s blog to read more of her thoughts from A Confident Heart. She’s posting something God shows her in each chapter on her blog each week.)
I have been feeling the exact same way my whole life!!! I am such a work in progress
We are all a work in progress…and prayerfully a work that moves ahead and not backwards. Blessings to all the ladies here in the study!!!
This chapter is so important because there is a such a distance so much of the time between knowing in your head that you are forgiven for your mistakes and really feeling confident in that. It is helping to know that others experience the same struggles and to be given the tools to help focus my thoughts on the truth of God’s word and what He says about who I am!
Great video and great timing. Sometimes I wonder why God loves me because I feel so broken but in my mind I know He does. Though I have to say that right now in my life I feel so broken and unrepairable that He couldn’t possibly use me – I am so messed up and insecure just like Kimberely shared about her life-I too feel the same when I am so deep in my depression. I do have glimpes of God’s truth and life that helps at times but what really encourages me is when I hear somebody else’s story that is like mine and I get hope. If God can work and use them than there is a chance He can use me and my life for His glory.
Thank you for sharing your heart and being transparent so that other’s can have hope.
Hi, sweet Cindy! I so, so, so understand the struggle with believing God could possibly love me. I have spent so much of my life actually pushing His love AWAY because I just could not believe it was true. I could not wrap my mind around the fact I did not have to earn it or deserve it. It was just mine to have. But I had to believe it and receive it.
Recently, during worship at my church, I felt the Lord whisper something to my heart…something I did not feel like was just for me. I heard, “Stop trying to talk Me out of loving you.” Wow. How often do we do that? We run through lists in our minds of all the reasons God SHOULDN”T love us, telling Him all of the places we fall short, all of the reasons we are unlovable. And we push His love away.
Maybe His whisper to me is one for you, too. “Stop trying to talk Me out of loving you.” No matter what you have done, no matter how broken you may feel, you cannot make Him stop loving you. AND you were created with purpose, and that purpose remains. He wants to use you, to impact lives through you.
Know this insecure heart is sending hugs to YOUR insecure heart. I so get it. I really do.
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain…” John 15:16. HE chose YOU…and He does not regret that for one single second. 🙂
Much love,
K
Kimberly and Renee: Thank you for your transparency. I think because of how honest you have been in your writing, I’ve allowed myself to approach those sins from the past…something that I’ve spent years RUNNING from. If only the saying ‘forgive and forget’ applied to our own mind. I cannot forget those painful memories; they always seem to surface when I least expect it and it overwhelms me. But through God’s Word, His truth tells me that I need not worry about any of that because He loves me for who I am…and for the first time in my life, I’m starting to actually believe it. Thank you for being there on this amazing journey of new awareness that I’m on. God has blessed me so very much by guiding me to this book/Bible study. I am forever grateful. May you be clothed in Christ’s peace in this moment.
I really enjoyed it when Kimberly said that when the Lord helps us to grow and change, or learn something new about the Lord that is when the enemy turns up the heat ! I really agree. When we start to move closer to the Lord, then the enemy will get upset and turn up the heat. I need to brace myself to get challenged. We will all be challenged in our walk with the Lord when we grow and change to love the Lord more. That is when other things in our life will start to change and happen and we know that the enemy is turning up the heat. I guess that is when we have to continue to simply trust in the Lord.
Kimberly and Renee,
Thank you for sharing. I have been feeling much like a failure this week as a step-mother. Thank you for sharing. It’s so good to be reminded that Jesus came not to condemn us but to save us. That helps so much. Thank you for sharing your story of how God spoke to you about this. Also, that God does want to use us. Thank you.
Praying for you, V! I have a friend who just recently remarried and is now a stepmother. And I know as happy as she is, it has still come with challenges. So glad He encouraged your heart here today!
Wow…This puts things in a whole new perspective what Kimberly said “Buildings are condemned; not people.” Our Bible verse “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” spoke so gently to my heart. All I could think of is how deep a mothers love for her children is and wanting to hold her children ever so close to her heart and hug their deepest hurts away. How much more our Heavenly Father loves us wraps His loving arms tightly around us holding us so close that He can feel our heart beat. He loves us so much He gave us His promises we have full access to!
Praying each lady can actually feel Gods comforting arms wrapped tightly around them!!
Thanks for sharing your story Kimberly with all of us sometimes my sister brings up my faults against me It makes me feel unlovable. Thanks for reminding me Christ loves me and can use me. My past is nailed on the cross because I confessed it a long time ago to Jesus and he has forgiven me.I Sometimes I need to be reminded of God’s Grace and forgiveness
Thank you.
Kimberly, thank you so much for sharing this with us. I still don’t know what it is exactly that God wants to use me FOR, but I know now that when he reveals his purpose to me, I am going to be ready to receive it.
I’m praying for chains to be broken, prisoners to be freed, bonds to be loosed…letting the oppressed go free. God, bring Your complete freedom….loose our chains!!!! Jesus, You died so that we could be free from the effects of sin. Break all curses….set us free, in Jesus name.
I have had several moments in my life where I have allowed Satan’s lies to overtake God’s truth…in Chapter 7 Renee gives a perfect explanation of how to discern condemnation from Satan with conviction from the Holy Spirit. After an unhealthy marriage of spiritual warfare from emotional abuse that later led to physical abuse, coupled with infidelity, I struggled with thinking I was “loved” by God only but I was not worthy enough to be loved on this earth. Being yoked together with an unbeliever (2 Corinthians 6:14) led me into dark moments, moments that I am so grateful that God shed the light on constantly, never giving up on me, never leaving me….but still I struggled. Satan found ways to whisper lies…lies that I wasn’t good enough. When God led me to the opportunity of being a FCA huddle coach, I heard the condemnation, I wasn’t good enough, I was a sinner…how can a divorced, single mother lead teenagers towards Christ. I was ashamed, I was embarassed, how can I be a light? I am so grateful that I could and can come to God and he shows me His promises for me…that He has begun a new work in me and that He has a hope for my future AND I am so grateful that God uses me everyday because through Him ALL things work for good…I am so grateful that I have His truth to combat the lies!
I am so thankful you are fighting Satan’s lies with God’s truths! It is so easy to believe the lie that we ourselves have to be perfect or have to have a perfect past to be usable by God. But that just isn’t true. So thankful He uses earthen vessels like us!!! “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.” 2 Cor. 4:7
Blessings to you as you teach these girls that we serve a God who is loving, forgiving, merciful, and true! Satan wants to tell us our past disqualifies us. But God wants to use our past to help us reach others in His name!
Yes I believe God loves me. He shows it over and over again. However, I don’t feel like I’m very important for God to use. Espically in BIG things. I haven’t had an extremely pleasant past nor was it unbelievably horrible. It just was. I don’t see anything worth sharing in my past nothing ground breaking or Earth shattering. Do I believe God can use me? YES Will He? well IDK
Hi, Chastity! Thank you so much for stopping by AND for sharing your heart so openly. I think I often times get tripped up on that word BIG myself. Wanting to do something BIG for God. But not too long ago, He spoke to my heart about actually being small. On instead of focusing on wanting to do something big, to be small…as in to be used by Him right where I am. Loving those around me well. To live my life right where I am with joy, passion, and fervent love. To be small and leave the rest to Him.
I feel sure He already IS using you. Right where you are. You ARE important. Truly. He created you because He has purpose for you. You are needed in the lives you touch daily. You have a unique design put in place by your Creator. Praying He helps you see just how important you are! Some of the most important people in my life would not be considered anything big by anyone else, and yet God uses them mightily in my life. I know He will use you mightily, too.
Blessings,
K 🙂
Beautifully put, Kimberly. Thank You!
I have always felt “not good enough” Many hurts run through my mind, but I am now conscious of them, I don’t Have to think them. God loves me, and while some thoughts are true, God’s Word is Always true, that I am accepted by Him, secure in His love, and nothing I do will surprize Him. He knew what He was getting when He called me. I am humbled that He wants to use me, that His patience and faithfulness is always present and He Wants me to succeed in HIM.
Thanks for the video reminder and for this online study. May God continue to bless you both as He uses your insights to encourage others to follow HIM more closely.
Every good and perfect gift is from the Father….Thank you for Jesus’ love for us.
Kim & Renee, Thank you very much for your video & post. I struggle daily with the idea God wants to use me. I have no special talents; although I am learning through this amazing bible study & my daily talks with God, His use for me can be in almost anything.
Thank you both!
Stephanie
Hi, sweet Stephanie! I am sitting here tonight reading back through comments, and I just have to respond to yours. I have to admit, I was a bit bothered to read the words “I have no special talents.” I think it bothers me so much because I have heard my precious and wonderful husband use those same words. Because he does not have talents he considers special (i.e. things the world would label special…playing music, skill at making things, etc, etc,) he has seen no value in how God created him. But I see such value in him! And I know there is great value and incredible gifts in you, as well!
When my husband had to take a spiritual gifts test at my church, we saw that his gifts were quieter kinds of gifts…serving, giving…ones that others may not be quick to notice but ones that are vital in God’s kingdom. And I KNOW, KNOW, KNOW that God has placed in YOU gifts and talents vital to His kingdom. I cannot wait for you to read Chapter 8 of Renee’s book….When Doubt Whispers “I Don’t Have Anything Special to Offer’. One of the underlined and starred quotes I LOVE from that chapter is “God deliberately gave you the personality He wanted you to have so He could impact certain people through your life.” How awesome!!!
He wants to use you, Stephanie. He created you because He wanted you and He created you with PURPOSE! Praying He gives you sweet revelation of how much He loves you and wants to use you!
Hugs to you!
K 🙂
Kimberly, thank you so much for sharing your story with us. It has been a blessing to so many. I am also thankful that you shared there are quieter gifts from the Lord that are so vital in God’s Kingdom. Thank you.
Hey, I’ve been having internet issues, so I’m very thankful to be able to get on today and see this video. It is so great! I’ve felt like that I’ve had caution tape wrapped around me, I think that it part of the reason I find it hard to make true Godly friends. I feel I’m not good enough smart enough, etc. Thanks so much for your insights today. Blessings,
Michele
It is so refreshing to me to know I am not alone. I am amongst a large family of “sisters”. Thank you, God, for that opportunity. We all have different journeys yet so often the feeling of God loving us because He has to….not because we have something good to offer, or that He purely chooses to, rings true for so many of us.
Every time I read comments on this blog or listen to your messages, Renee, my heart swells with love and acceptance!
God Bless!
Whenever I think if the verse: “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” I think of Ketchup. Every time I came back from town, with my groceries I felt condemnation for not making the best choices or buying everything that we needed. Our income is small and we never had enough for 6 people. (But God has blessed us through the years and I have 4 healthy kids making healthy food choices, so I have no complaints.)
So, one day I forgot Ketchup and my husband unaware of the condemnation he was heaping on me blew up. I rose my head and recited that verse. He was taken aback. He was not aware of the condemnation I was holding.
I have to regularly remind myself, as this is an area that my heart has many scares. I never could measure up to any standard. Even my “gifts” were odd to people and though I was showcased sometimes, it was with a bit of “freak show” added to my character. I have a daughter who is high functioning autistic and because of all I went through I have spent the last 20 years helping her to have confidence in what she does and guess what? She is the best little diesel mechanic graduating at her college this year. What were dysfunctions in her growing up years have been turned to assets in her field.
Meanwhile, I went back to college. I worked with a career fair yesterday to tell High School kids about going to college and working in my new chosen field. I knew new confidence that I give to Christ. This study has helped me firm the foundation.
WOW…just wow…I just realized how I had prayed a while back for a group of women who would be ‘REAL’…who would share their true hearts…their struggles…their fears…their doubts…well…you know…the list could go on and on!
Talk about being ‘bonked’ on the head…God sent you guys to be that group of women for me!
I have struggled for YEARS with feeling inadequate around the women that I go to Church with…they are sooooooooo much better than I am…really…I still really believe this. They do not share their hearts like you guys have…they are more concerned about how women gossip…which…yes…I do understand that…but at what point does one get past the ‘gossiping’ and realize that we really need to be REAL with each other?!? We really need to support and encourage one another…Scripture mentions this often…to lift each other up in prayer…to encourage one another!
THANKS be to God for you Kimberly and Renee and all the other women out there who are willing to just be ‘REAL’!
God bless you all!
Thank you for sharing Kimberly. I too have battled with perfectionism and my failures. I have wasted a lot of time but God is beginning to heal and using tThe Confident Heart to teach me how to fight the enemy. I am sooooooo thankful God heals the broken and breaks through our lies to restore us. Praise Him!
Thank you for sharing Kimberly and for being so transparent… I struggle with being transparent at times trying to be perfect, all the while knowing that I am not perfect by no means. I am truly a mess HE is working into HIS masterpiece~
My identity and confidence was shaken at an early age of 2 1/2 when my mother left me to never return. As I got older I began to deal with the issues that comes from child abandonment syndrome and GOD lead me down the path of true forgiveness. HE told me to truly let the past go I had to forgive my mother for abandoning me. At first I resisted then HE gently whispered to me I forgave you now you need to forgive her. GOD also showed me how much pain my mother must have been in to leave her only child behind, not knowing where I would end up. (I was in an abusive home and the foster care system)
There are days that I am so confident of who I am in CHRIST and there are days like today when my body aches so much from Fibromyalgia that I wonder how could GOD use me like this. Then HE brings beautiful peple like you and Renee into my life via internet and it realigns my focus once again!
Thank you to ALL the ladies who courageously share their story here and may each of you be blessed beyond measure. May you feel the warmth of our FATHERS love as you walk this journey.
Blessings and Peace
Mariaz
I just had a conversation with a close friend yesterday about this topic. I am right now living out a miraculous blessing of a long-awaited trip to Disneyland, with my daughter, a close friend of mine, and four of her daughters. The circumstances leading to this trip have been beyond AMAZING!
However, I have been struggling with the depression that has had an iron grip on my life for so many years. With depression and exhaustions a temptation to drink. I have never been a heavy drinker, but the mere fact that I turn to alcohol in times of exhaustion or depression or stress, and the fact that I mainly drink alone, churns up feelings of pent up shame.
“How can I claim to be following Jesus, when I so easily turn away from Him?” Part of this answer is the shame that my desire to drink also churns up in me. Satan tells me to just drown out that shame. A drink or two won’t hurt. You’ll feel better.” However, the most insidious part of Satan’s temptations is that he throws it back in my face when I give in. “See, you think you love God? You believe He loves you? If you truly believed that, then you wouldn’t need to drink. You are unfit for God to use. You are useless. You are defective.” The accusations are relentless.
I just had a dream the night before last, (after I had had a couple of drinks), that a close friend of mine was dying, and my sin prevented me from praying for her. She died in the dream, and I was devastated, and felt I was to blame. I awoke from the dream, shaken.
Thank you for confirming my friend’s words about the nature of God. I am made worthy because he loves me. Instead of hiding, I just need to call out to Him, and ask me to lift me out of the muddy pit that I have fallen into. If my child had fallen, and was muddy and bruised, I wouldn’t turn away and say that he/she was shameful, unloveable. I would pick him or her up and help wash off the mud. I would hold that child in my arms…Just like Jesus wants to hold me in His arms.
Please pray for me, that I will stand strong, or at least ask Jesus to hold me up.
Thank you.
R.J.
Oh, R.J.! How beautifully you painted the picture in your post. Indeed, if one of my girls fell and was muddy and bruised, I would not turn them away. I would not shame them. And the Lord does not turn you or me away either. He does scoop us up, wash us off, dry our tears, hold us close. Even when the mess is of our own making.
I am praying for you. Praying He will break the shame off of you. Praying He will help you stand strong. Praying He will help you call out to HIM and turn to HIM when your heart is weary, when you are stressed, when you are overwhelmed.
I LOVE His love…a love that we cannot earn. A love that we cannot lose. A love that is big enough for our biggest messes. He adores you, R.J. And I know He is more than willing to scoop you up in His arms. THANK YOU for sharing your heart.
Much love,
K
Rj thank yoo so much for sharing your heart and your struggle…And thank you Kim for your sweet spirit…I have read through many days on the blogs and have not yet seen any woman share of their trouble with substance abuse. I shared mine but there was no response and that’s Ok…At least I know now I have at least one other woman who knows my struggle…I have struggled with it all my life. I know that a few drinks seems like nothing, and I know that it also feels huge…I will struggle with it addiction all my life but in Christ I am not condemned…Do i struggle with condemnation??/You bet…and I spend much to much time doing so. If you are young and just feeling the feelings you are, as it seems you are, with young children, having a convicting spirit now and being able to share it is huge. I was younger raising my 3 sons and hid behind the 4 walls of our home, and nobody knew…i would cry and feel horrible and cry out to God in my condemnation but turn around and do it again the next day. I finally stopped and had a good ten years of raising my children and getting to know Jesus. It was good and looking back they were the best years for me. I am 55 now and my boys are married, 2 with children and doing so well. I am so proud of them. I give God all the glory for how well they have turned out. But no, I have to take some credit for it Yes? I have a had a hard time with that…My greatest advice for young moms and women is to find something beyond being somebody’s mom, somebody’s wife for those young years because when they are grown and gone, they have their own lives and mine don’t need me anymore…They love me, but they dont need me, their wives have moved into that role, as it should be….Being 18 when I had my first son, and then full into raising 3 sons, I have never known what i want, still don’t. I pray you search your heart for the reason you want to relax and drink, because to me there is something behind that sweet RJ…I only say this from experience because here I am feeling so alone and without purpose. I love the Lord with all my heart, soul and mind but my heart aches…<3
I love that you shared your heart and I so admire women like you, Kimberly ,who see it at a younger age…I know it is never to late but this older women has a harder time recognizing that I am human and that God could still possibley see a purpose in me…Through all the many beautiful studies, including this one, I see it and know it in my head but still struggle with so many things…I thank God every day that I am alive and have so much to be grateful for…But addiction is the enemy's biggest weapon as far as I am concerned…You said it earlier…that he turns around and uses it against you…as he does me. I wrote something and quoted from Renee's book in my last post on the last blog about it. on page 123…"Setting traps is exactly what satan does. He lures us into wanting something, and then he turns it around and accuses us of the very thing he enticed us with." Such truth…I love your heart RJ and your honesty…I pray for women who struggle with addiction, it is a very lonely place. thank you for sharing your heart….Love your sister in Christ, Peggy
Peggy, a beautiful grama, inside and out. God does use us gramas in a very special way….with our grandchildren who are His beautiful treasures to us. Loving them, hugging them, reading to them, rocking them, singing to them little Christian songs, spending a fun day with them, the myriad of ways to show Jesus’ love to them. Children and grandchildren are our heritage from the Lord and those grandchildren need us gramas. I love being a grama!
Just like Kimberly did – I struggle to see how God could/would possibly use me due to all of my sins…Thank you ladies for sharing…I feel blessed, inspired, hopeful and open to His lead.
Thank for this precious reminder that ALL of our sins, even our “big” ones are washed away and that God uses us despite our failings. Beautiful!
<3 Heather
Thank you Kim, I am encouraged by the way that truth changed how you felt about your life and then how you lived. Insecurity is one of my daily battles, one that is being renewed in the image of the creator. Thank you for the example of hope realized!
OUR IMPOSSIBILITIES ARE SIMPLY GOD’S OPPORTUNITIES.
A while back we started a new church and at the time church was new to our family. After a little while going there we seen our pastor out running errands and my husband told him that if he ever needed anything to let us know to which the pastor says well actually…..said he would like us to sit in on a couple of youth group classes, me with kindergarten class and my husband with preteens. Of course we did it. I thought we were just observing….I was wrong. That night a business meeting was held and before I could bat an eyelash we were voted in as teachers. My heart beating wildly..a sick feeling came over me and my blood pressure went through the roof…I could feel it. I was like wait….but I couldnt form the words to come out. Now here I was stuck with these kids and I had no idea how to teach them. My knowledge was limited. I was like, how do I teach them when I don’t know it the way I should? I was a little angry and scared to death. I felt like I wasnt good enough. Our pastors well actually….changed my life. I was quiet, backwards. I didn’t feel good enough…all I wanted to do was blend into the background. Well, that obviously was not what God wanted. I said to myself that I would give it a year. Tough it out. It was hard. I wanted to quit after every class but I didn’t I kept going and a long the way was learning. I was also forming a bond with the children. Some more than others. A new little girl came to my class this year….due to a speech problem I had a hard time with her she was in her own little world and just wanted to play and not sit and listen. She bagan not wanting to come to church at all and she would just cry when she seen church. But on Wednesday nights she would come…no problem. She only wanted to stay if I was there. To see her smile at me when she walked through that door melted my heart. This week, she said my name for the first time….I thought I was going to cry.
It came time to decide whether or not I would teach again this year. I put much thought into it and my decision was to walk away. As i was ready to say the words “I quit” I felt that God said “no my child, im not done with you yet” , and my answer changed. One more year….. I said. The pastors “well actually” turned in to 5 going on 6 years. Im learning as they go, learning to let go of my fears, and feel proud of myself for doing it. I’m still not comfortable with it but I can’t quit. Right now I am exactly where God wants me to be.
Thank you so much for sharing this, TC. God put you somewhere you did not feel qualified for, and you could have run…but you didn’t! You stayed and let Him stretch you and use you! How awesome. I am sure you have impacted those children’s lives more than you know! And what a blessing it had to be for you when that little girl said your name!
Thank you, again, for sharing!
Thank you TC for reminding me of the good I have done that I oh so conveniently forget. It is much easier for me to remember all that bad that I have been through and done. I taught CCD for the Catholic church with my son’s class for 4 years…When I bacame a Christian 24 years ago…I canged out of the Catholic church to teaching the little ones at my new church. I think all of it was so good, but I do remember being in CCD class teaching where my son and his classmates were in the 3rd gradw. One of his little friends said , “You are the one who taught me about God’…hat little boy is 28 now and I see in him so much potential for good, and will always remember his words to me. It is so rewarding, also rocking those many little babies during church over the years so their moms and dads could go to church…Love these good memories!
Thank you TC for reminding me and know that you will have the same one day. I only wish I had those ggood feelings about me now, but i don’t…I keep pressing on, but I don’t…I won’t say cant I just press on.
Man, I am so glad I tuned in this morning. I read Renee’s new blog and her suggesting that I watch this video echoed God’s love and HIS truth. All week long, I have been struggling with this same perplexed lie of not being good enough. Of not being accepted. I love how Kimberly used a picture of a condemned building to really make this real. This is exactly how I have felt this week. CONDEMNED; unusable, not good enough. But then…she speaks God’s truth that I am complete in Him, created to do good works, that I am a new creation in Him, that I have been given the fullness in Christ. Thank you JESUS.
I as well have struggled with all of the above, I feel I have been under attack even more since beginning this study….but am determined to stay the course because I believe that God is working in me through this study and all of you. I will keep my hope in God.
I absolutely think the enemy turns up the heat when we start taking steps in the right direction! Praying for you (and all of the precious ladies doing this study) that we will press on and cling to the Lord and His precious promises. Our God is greater than the enemy!
Blessings to you!!!
This week has been such an eye opener for me. Yes, I’ve failed, yes, I’ve made mistakes and YES, I’ve beaten myself up over them for YEARS! Letting go is one of the hardest things for me to do, and it seems that I just cannot do that. In the readings and discussions this week, I realize, God has let go…it’s me holding onto all of this and making things miserable. Not venturing into a new experience because of the fear of the past that I am holding onto. The great thing is, I see what I need to do, and am taking steps toward letting it all go. I need to forgive myself!
God has a special purpose for each one of us but like Kimberly said about our mind thinking we don’t trust ourselves or feel worthy to be used by God. We forget how God finds us and then takes us and puts us on the potters wheel to mold and shape us so we are usable. In our sight we’re unusable but in God’s sight we don’t look nothing like that.
Thank you Sharon for that great reminder of whose we are and who we are in HIM. You are right, the word says that we have been crucified in Christ and are now BRAND NEW creatures created to do good works. Then it goes on to say, old things are passed away and behold, GOD makes all things new. We are new being…and made in HIS image. Thank again for sharing.
OUR IMPOSSIBILITIES ARE SIMPLY GOD’S OPPORTUNITIES. I found this from my former pastor that posted it on Facebook and thought it fit so perfect.
WOW, thank you so much for sharing that. I struggle with seeing myself as the Lord sees me or even as others see me. I’ve often thought that the Lord couldn’t use a person like me. Little by little I am learning that God can use me as a testimony to others of His Grace and Mercy. I still struggle with my insecurties, but what I’m doing know is holding every negative thought captive and replacing it with the truth of Gods word.
Thank you for this post too. I struggle with being worthy to be used by God, when I fail so many times and know that I have in the past. I am trusting God to show me what He has for me through this study. I believe He wants me to know how much He loves me for just me. And that is ok. I am finding out that I am not alone and that is why I so appreciate this blog.
Blessings to you all!
As I just read what Kimberly wrote, the tears just started falling. I so have felt like that condemned building, someone God loves but can’t use. I know God is healing those places in my heart that are broken, slowly but surely. Today I am working on believing His word and His promises, and not the lies that tend to go round and round in my head..Thank you for posting this wonderful message of God’s acceptance and love!
Praise God,
Your words spoke volumes to me thank you for sharing your heart. I needed confirmation today of God’s love and how He can still use me. I have often thought that where I am in my life right now I can not be used by Him but I now know differently. THank you and God bless you Kimberly for sharing praise be to Him who loves us so much. Deanna
I see in my post that when I wrote Romans 1 and ), it turned into a smiley. 🙂 NO CONDEMNATION IN CHRIST JESUS 🙂 🙂 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing this, Kimberly. It’s like you have spoken my heart for me. So often I struggle with insecurities. This week the negative voices have been especially strong, and I have to purposefully tell them to be quiet and repeat “no condemnation in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8) God is teaching me more lately how much I self-condemn. Always beating myself up and second-guessing my every word and action. I am so hard on myself while Jesus has nothing but thoughts of peace for me. And like you, though I believe Jesus loves me, I can’t wrap my mind around it that God WANTS to use me. Again, thank you!
And thanks so much, Renee. God has used your book to bless me and send me on a serious journey of self-discovery and discovery of who I REALLY am in Christ Jesus. I took the Bible study already with Melissa, but I’m still gleaning so much from following this one also. God bless you for following your heart to write this book and to encourage women to be more confident in Christ Jesus!
all the material that Renee has given us to read and study has really started to make a change in how I see and think about myself as a child of God. I am so excited about what God is doing thru this bible study for me and other women in this study. It is a blessing! I have already read Chapter 8 and find it very enlightening. Praise God for all He is doing thru Renee and the women in this study…
I also struggle with feelings of self condemnation. It can come over me and consume me. I think it is a daily battle, which I must fight. I ask God to do a new thing in me, to revive me, to reawaken me, to change me in a new way, because God is all about change and renewal. Today, I am pretty sure that I will struggle with self condemnation at least once. I can accept that. But I will also try to clamour towards the Lord for His help 2 Cor 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God.” Dear Lord, as I continue to perhaps struggle with self condemnation today, I ask that you will continue to take away my old self, ( one nail at a time ) and give my your new self, a renovated self, a person whom I will realize that You love dearly. This prayer and message is also meant for all of you as well. Have a great day in His Love.
Perfect timing for me! I pray I go forth into this world and feed those around me this message….Always remembering His grace and love for us all and what He has ransomed me from – freely. Have a safe trip. Praying for traveling mercies to and from the conference and that His comfort and healing touch be with you and Aster – for a pain free weekend!
Sweet Ladies,
As much as I HATE for anyone else to struggle with insecurity as much as I have (and honestly still do so many days), it is still so good to see that we are NOT alone in this struggle! The enemy wants us to think we are the only ones, that we are terrible Christians. He. Is. Such. A. Liar.
How precious to be able to encourage one another with the TRUTH of His love for us! I have to step away from the computer for a while (sadly). I could chat with you all day!!! But know that I am praying for each of you! I wish I had time to comment to each of you right now! But even if I don’t, know that I will be writing your names down, tucking them in my Bible and lifting you each up in prayer!
I will be back later!
MUCH LOVE,
K
Thank you Renee and Kimberly. God’s timing is always perfect:)! This is so meaningful to me at this critical time in my life. I too have been haunted by painful traumas and memories and just when you think you are recovering something else will surface and bring those painful memories back and start the cycle over again. Satan is very crafty at using our minds to deceive us out of believing God’s truth of who we are in Christ. I thank you from the bottom of my heart as I am renewed in Christ again. As I read each chapter God is revealing to me actually for the first time (I gave my life to Christ 30 years ago) who I am as h is daughter and of his everlasting love for me. I am facing very serious legal consequences as a result of wrong actions. It has been amazing to really experience for the first time the peace and freedom that the Father so willingly gives to each of us. I know and believe that this trial I am experiencing will ultimately bring Glory to God. God is truly creating a new creature!
God Bless You All!
Thank you so much for this post today! I have felt unusable for quite a long time. Fear grips me whenever I even think of following through on anything that I know for sure that God wants me to do. There have been times (yesterday being the most recent) that I felt God speaking directly to me through another Christian friend or His word & confirming what I already feel He wants me to do. I know He wants me to take a step of faith, but that first step seems to be a “doozy” in light of my fears. I appreciate your openess and honesty in your post. I pray I can soon feel the confidence & freedom to just say “yes, Lord”.
Kimberly, thank you so much for sharing your video with us. Like all the others who have responded I have been struggling all my life to feel worthy, to deal with guilt and shame over any number of past sins, great or small, real or imagined. Even at my age, 57, I’m still struggling to figure out what God might want to do with my life. I feel him pulling at me in some new ways and I am trying to deal with how to follow. Thanks for sharing and reminding us that we are usable and have value. Have a blessed day!
Praying for you, Celia, as you TRUST His love for you and that His plans for you are for your good!
Wow, I know how she feels because I feel the same way. I know God loves me but I dont see why he wants to use me. I dont really know what he wants to use me for because of all the sins I have done. I feel he is telling me something but I dont know what he telling me and what he wants to use me for.
I am so glad I am doing the study and how it has helped me see the love God has for me.
How do I know he is talking to me? And How do I know what he wants me to do? I am having trouble hearing him..
Jaime, I could have written your last 3 sentences myself! I so struggle with these.
Hi, sweet Jaime and Ginna!
I hope you get to come back by and that you read Renee’s comment…where she talks about how God wants to use each of us. She said, “I just want you to know that He wants you to persevere in believing Him. HE’s crazy in love with you and He wants to use you to love on, encourage, pray for, minister to others- THAT is how He can and wants to use you– today. It does’t have or need to be big and measurable by others. HE simply wants us to be faithful with whatever HE puts right in front of us. Just offer Him what you have and invite Him to use it. ALL in His name and for the purpose of letting HIM use you to reveal His love and His ways to those around you.”
What encouraging truth!
And for hearing Him, my encouragement to you is simply spending time with Him…reading His Word, praying, worshiping Him, and just asking Him to help you hear Him. He WANTS you to hear His voice. So keep seeking Him. Keep pressing in. If you missed Renee’s post called Becoming a Woman Who Listens to God, it is worth going back to read. Some great encouragement on recognizing God’s voice. Here is the link: http://reneeswope.com/2012/01/becoming-a-woman-who-listens-to-god/
Blessings to you both!!!!
K
I am fighting back tears as I watch this. You see I have struggled with insecurity all my life. My husband is a youth pastor and I have lately felt like maybe I am not cut out for the ministry. I feel so threatened if he talks to a pretty young girl – it isn’t even inappropriate – just if he is making small talk and she laughs hysterically or something. I am almost ashamed to type that. I stand in front of teenage girls ever so often and give my testimony and urge them to be strong and have self worth. Then behind closed doors I feel like such a hypocrite. How can I lead them if I haven’t mastered it myself. We have been trying to adopt for two years and the waiting makes me wonder if I am just not good enough to be a mother.
I am thankful for this study and the painful layers God pulls back as I go through it. I know He is stretching and growing me. Thank you for reminding me that God did not come to declare us useless. I needed to hear that!
I think we sometimes forget how difficult it is being the wife of a minister! They have so many people wanting their attention and needing ministering to that it can be hard on their spouses. I pray God gives you encouragement and peace in the role He wants you to play in His work. God bless you!
I am so glad you left a comment, Amanda. I am sure, sure, sure you are NOT the only pastor’s wife who struggles with insecurity. And because you are a woman of influence, because you are giving of your life to sow love and truth and hope into the lives of young people, I am not surprised the enemy would whisper lies about you not being good enough.
Praying that the Lord leads you to a place of freedom from the LIE that you must have it all together before you can minister to others. And trust me…I get the struggle with that lie. I could give you a laundry list of reasons I should not be on Renee’s blog today. 😉 But what we have to offer others is NOT our perfection…it is His. (I am reminding myself as I type this.)
And I am praying He ministers to you so tenderly during the wait to adopt. My heart broke as I read your words…that maybe you are not good enough to be a mother. I pray you will not give ear to that whisper, to that lie. Praying He will encourage your heart with HIS truth. That He will strengthen your heart as you wait upon Him.
Love and prayers,
K
I don’t know if you have ever felt paralyzed from
your past, but even when you think that you have conquered the past it sometimes comes back to haunt you again. I remember reading “Winter Garden” by Karen Kristen, the mother had two daughters, and they were determined to find out their mother’s past. They wanted to know why she always went out in the winter to sit in the cold where the garden was. Soon they discover what was a very painful past that their mother had keep secret all those years. As their mother tells her story, they soon discover how much they really cared and loved each other even more. ( I will let you read the book for the rest of the story.)
Sometimes, when we run from our past experiences, we run right into them. I thought I had conquered some of my past fears, insecurities, my feelings of not being worthy or good enough. I thought, I had the confidence I needed in God.
Instead, I ran right into my past again and I have been fighting a battle once again.
For some odd reason, someone at my workplace got mad at me and it just paralyzed me. I couldn’t say anything and left work early to go to a funeral.
I haven’t been the same since. I worked part-time and I haven’t been called back in either. So, I did not know where this was leading me.
I just know a few rejections here and there, then this happen. This just left me paralyzed as what to do next.
I thought about David. David kept hiding from Saul; he kept fighting battles, he kept praying and looking to God for answers. There were things in his past he would rather keep secret, but it came out anyway. It effected his children and the next generation.
My mother kept a secret and it effected who I was, but I choose not to let it effect my life or my children, at least I hoped it wouldn’t. Although my mother has passed away, I did love her very much.
Like the cold, winter garden nothing seems to make sense sometimes. I just know in the garden we can talk to God and pray. We can read His Word and find hope. We can come back to God and plan for the flowers to bloom again. We can trust God to let the sun shine through once more. Sometimes, I have to spend time in the garden and let God revive me. I have to spend time in His Word and in prayer for encouragement. He is my Hope.
Yes! I have for SURE felt paralyzed by my past. I think we all have. Praying that we will each one continue to look to the Lord for wisdom, for healing, and for the courage to move forward with HIM. I just recently went through writing out my timeline of past hurts like Renee suggested in her book. It was SO hard to make myself do that. I was afraid to see my past face to face! But the Lord was so tender. I just felt Him right there with me. And He showed me, like you are saying here, places I was letting labels from my past paralyze me. Praying for you as you continue to press into His Word and into Him in prayer! He WILL fill us with the confidence we need to live for Him! Trusting in Him with you!
Thank you for sharing… I too feel this way…. yes we don’t doubt that GOD loves us but our insecurities and past failures can seem so big and weigh heavily in our hearts…. Great truths today…. thanks as always for the post….
Indeed…our pasts can weigh so very heavy! May we lay them at His feet, trust in His complete forgiveness, ask for His tender healing touch, and present ourselves as willing vessels for Him to pour out of mightily! Blessings, Jules!
What an encouragement! Thank you so much for sharing…….I tend to look at myself with flaws first, as well……..God sees all the good he can use! I would like to change my perception of myself and see myself the way HE does!!!
So glad you came by and that you were encouraged, Christine! Praying we will all see ourselves through His eyes of love and mercy and grace! Blessings to you today!
I’m so glad God revealed His truth to you, Kimberly and has made you a blessing to other women. Thank you for putting this together and sharing your heart. May He be glorified in what he does in you and through you, His precious daughter.
Thank you, sweet friend. I am so thankful for the ways He has healed and still is healing my heart. He is so good, and I am so thankful to get to share about what He has done in my life here! Love you!
Thank you Kimbely and Renee, and thank you Lord Jesus for setting us captives free. You want to do immeasureably more in us than we can ever hope or imagine. Thank you Heavenly Father for these words of encouragement. May they continue to go forth and bless and encourage all who read them. There is no one like you, God…. you are the lover of our souls! We bring you all our praise, and we honor and glorify your name!
You are SO right! There is no one like Him! May we find our worth in Him and Him alone! Thanks so much for commenting today! 🙂
Sweet friend, I cannot thank you enough for allowing me space here to share my heart. How blessed I feel that God would allow me to be usable HERE, on your blog. I have battled all of my life with insecurity, with the crippling weight of perfectionism. I am so thankful for God’s tender truths tucked into your amazing book. I am so thankful for how He is teaching me to daily, hourly, minute by minute process my doubts and fears through the truth of His Word!
I am praying for every woman who comes by here. Not just for this post, but for this entire series on your book. Praying they will indeed know how LOVED they are by the Lord. Praying they will know He really and truly does WANT to use them. 🙂
Hugs to you, sweet Renee.
K
Hey Kimberly and Renee,
Hello to all the ladies in our study group!! I must say that this week I have been fed some good stuff!
Some information that has really been speaking to the struggles I’m facing right now. I thank you for sharing your heart. It really helps to have a resource to go to where women can come together and share and encourage one another.
Blessings,
~Liz~
Wow, I so needed this today, right now. So many times I have felt God prompting me to do or say something. Insecurities and the belief that I was unusable, too much baggage , and recently,” you’re TOO much,” have halted me , freezing me in my tracks, I step back praying God would send another
This post today has ministered to my spirit; tears are flowing down my face. Thank you Holly and Kimberly for this timely post,
Betty
Thank you so much! God led me to this blog today. I struggle with insecurities daily. Until reading this blog, I felt so alone! It helps to know that others struggle with the same issues. When God presents me with opportunities like furthering my education, a job opportunity, etc, my insecurities take over and I am filled with self doubt. As a result, I shy away from what could be God’s plan for my life. I know that God has forgiven me for this doubt and I pray that he will continue to send opportunities and fill me with courage to fullfill His will for my life. I need to stop believing that I need to do this alone. He has a plan for my life…. not to harm me, but to give me hope and a future!! He will always be by my side leading the way… I just need to ALLOW him to be in the driver’s seat!
May God bless you and keep you!
Elizabeth
Wow, elizabeth thank you for sharing your comments, besides reading this wonderful blog, you have pintpoint exactly what I’m going through, Insecurity inregards of my future, at times it seems like God opens doors with oppurtunity for me to posses the Land but my fear, doubts and insecurity of victory paralyze me from moving foward and taking hold of the promise land the Lord has been speaking to meabout!! Then I’m left feeling condemned for not having enough faith and courage to take hold of the promise land like joshua and caleb Deuteronomy 31 as if was all left up to me to accomplish it alone!! Yet. The Lord keep. Reminding me about that verse that says for I know the plans I have for you to give you hope and a future not for calamity!! I break that the Lord will break the yolk of fear and orphanage spirit I deal with so much…
thank you so much for sharing as I sat here reading realizing that, is my story as well God is working to show me that Iam good enough that he is all I need.
Thank you Renee and Kimberly,
I so needed this message today! I have battled insecurity my whole life, living with approval addiction. I have to keep reminding myself that God loves me more than anyone else and He loves me as I am and can use me as I am.
Thank you again!
Carole
God Bless you My Sister Kimberly and Sister Renee for sharing this message with all of us on this online study.What a Blessing to know that I was not the only one that saw themselves as a failure. Satan wants us to believe that we will never be all God calls us to be.And if we don’t put our Complete Armor on daily then he knows were not protected from the fiery darts he throws at us.he can only attack our minds if we let him..iIf we are girted up he has no power the Power was given to us to defeat satan We have Power through the Holy Spirit which was left for all of us as a Comforter in times of raging storms we face.We have to see ourselves through God’s on eyes He sees us as Precious Jewels.We as Woman of Confidence need to Trust in His Timing,Rely on His Promises.Wait for His Answers.Believe in His Miracles.Rejoice in His Goodness.Relax in His Presence.We are not Failures Ladies we just get so got up in Trying to Perfect in all we do we have to Remember were not Perfect and we will never be Perfect But we are Forgiven and we are Precious to God and He calls us His Children and He will Lead and Guide us and make us into Who He called us to be.I Pray that all you Precious Woman of God know that God knows you He knows every hair on your head.Every thought he knows your Hearts.Every hurt stored up every hope every dread your past and your future all that you are and all that you could be.I am Praying for each and Everyone of you.I Thank God for you.Your Friend and Sister in Christ Betty.
Thank you for that wonderful comment Betty! We do have to believe the truth of God’s words about us and not the lies that Satan, others or even ourselves has told us. God is our Protector and Provider, Comforter, Healer, Rescuer, Deliverer, Rock and Refuge. This book study is teaching that we are chosen by God. And I heard through the Holy Sprit that who God has selected , He has protected.
Thank you so much for your message Kim. I am consistently reminding myself that God does not make junk and He made you and I. It seems I must be planting more seeds than seeing results but I can learn to be humble instead of condemned. Thanks again.
What powerful words! Thank you so much for sharing with us and encouraging us. What a great God we have who wants to make sure we know how loved and cherished we are. Why is it easier to believe the lies that Satan fills us with than to believe the truth of God? Lord, please keep sending women like these to continue to speak truth into my heart!