I couldn’t silence the words used to describe how much I’d disappointed her.
An email filled with criticism had slipped into my inbox that week and it hurt my feelings … for days.
The shooting pain of failure, regret, and flaw-focused thinking struck like lightening through my heart.
That one email set off a storm of self-doubting emotions. It’s amazing what one person’s criticism can do.
When my children or someone criticizes me as a mom, I’ll start doubting myself as a mom. When someone criticizes me as a friend, it will doubt my ability to be a good friend. Ten people could say something nice to me or about me, but what I will remember most is that one person’s criticism. How about you?
After being tossed and turned by the winds of my people-pleasing tendencies, I finally called a friend to process my emotions and the harsh email. With wisdom she told me:
“Renee, you’ll never be perfect. And if you ever get to where you are, you will be all alone!”
Boy, she was right!
I am not perfect.
I’ll never be perfect.
And if I ever get there, I will be all alone.
Sweet friend, I don’t know if you ever feel like a failure ~ completely imperfect and full of flaws – like I do sometimes. But here is what I do know ~
Jesus was the only perfect Person to walk this earth… yet He was constantly criticized.
But, guess what? Nowhere is it recorded in scriptures that Jesus ever doubted Himself. No matter what, He stayed secure in His purpose and confident in His calling.
That day, my friend spoke reality into my reeling feelings. And God used her wisdom to reminded me: Jesus depended solely on His Father’s approval.
What His Father said {about Him} was all that mattered {to Him}. And that is what He wants for you, too.
No matter what, God loves you and He is there for you… not to criticize you but to encourage you.
- He is there in the midst of your sometimes lonely, imperfect life… when your disappointments and failures leave you empty and make you doubt your worth and purpose.
- He is there when you’re going through the motions, aware of what needs to be done but afraid you won’t be able to do it all.
- He is there when you’re criticizing yourself and questioning whether you have what it takes to be a godly woman.
He sees you. He notices all you do and He knows what you need. Today He is pursuing you with the gift of His perfect love — love that is patient and kind, love that keeps no record of your wrongs, love that won’t ever give up on you!
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Simply click “SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS” and do just that.
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It always amazes me how God gives us just what we need at the right time. I needed to hear your message today. Bless you.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY! If I act in accordance with God’s will, then God is glorified and the opinions of others don’t matter. Every action needs to be done as if it is an offering to God.
I was so struck by by those words……”He is pursuing you with His gift of perfect love — love that is patient and kind, love that keeps no record of your wrongs, love that won’t give up on you!”…….It reminded me of a post from Ann Voskamp a few months back about God’s goodness and mercy pursuing us all the days of our lives. In Voskamp’s post she was referring to Psalm 23:6 – specifically the work ‘pursue.’ She had found the Hebrew of that word which is ‘radaph’ and it means to pursue, run after, chase. When I read her post I was struck by that image…..God pursuing me with goodness and mercy……She wrote, “…..the goodness and mercy of God isn’t just following after me placidly. The goodness and mercy of God pursues after me passionately. It’s what I keep thinking, picking up lost legos, errant books — like how my mama used to dash off the front porch and run down the lane after me, waving about whatever book I forgot for school — and who else is behind a forgetful, rat-race world but the chasing God? God is so bent on blessing, He chases. God’s not out to get you — He’s out to give to you.And God’s blessings don’t pursue temporarily — but relentlessly. It’s right there in His Word: His goodness and mercy pursue me not just some days — but all the days of my life. When I’m in a wilderness, His mercy and goodness run after me. When I’m hurting, His grace hunts for me. When I’m plagued by problems, His goodness pursues me. No matter where I go, He has his two blessing men right there in hot pursuit: goodness and mercy, and no shadow of death can overshadow the goodness and mercy that shadows the child of God.”
When I read the post today from Renee, I was immediately reminded of this and oh how I needed the reminder. The Lord knows me so intimately that He is revealing a Truth to me today that needs to be engraved in my heart…..He pursues me…..Wow…..all I can say is wow……
Jennifer,
Thanks for sharing! Ann is one of Renee’s favorite authors and a friend of Renee’s. So glad that Ann’s and Renee’s words spoke to you!
Blessings and prayers,
Donna B
Renee Swope’s Email Ministry Team
I have read your book and love it!
I need to read it again.
I have messed up relationships because I struggle with perfectionism.
Yes, I am just beginning to realize this.
So I would love some more guidance in this area.
Thank you for your book & the giveaway.
God Bless
Renee, your OBS A CONFIDENT HEART was a life changer for me, so much so that I signed up for the P31 study as well! I would love to win the devotional! I have the book on my Kindle but there is a young woman that I have been praying for and helping…trying to gently open her heart to Jesus a little at a time by sharing and showing my faith and God’s blessings! It is my hope and confident expectation that she will see Him in her life…the past and the present and the future! “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give hope and a future…” Thanks and God bless!
I struggle so much with self doubt that your devotional would be a blessing for me. Thank you!
I dont have your book. I am not able to buy it. We dont have the money but I found a link to your blog on Facebook and I really like it.
Just reading this blog brings tears to my eyes and a lump in my throat. I feel so unworthy and battle negative thoughts about myself constantly. Thank you for the encouragement and reminder that I am a child of the one true King! He is perfect so that I don’t have to be!
AMEN!!! You are perfect in His sight!
Blessings,
Donna B
Renee Swope’s Ministry Team
You sound just like me! I read your blog and I can relate to
everything you say! I am going to have to get your book sometime
down the road as I am reading a book now and have another after
that. Thank you for reminding me that I don’t have to be perfect and
that it is okay to like myself. Thank you so much!
Hi Renee!
I read your book A Confident Heart a couple years ago and participated in the on-line study… It spoke so much to my heart and encouraged me to let God’s love and Words of truth flood my mind instead of listening to my own fears, worries, doubts and insecurites. Thank you for encouraging my heart through your book and devotions, and the reminder that Jesus is there with us through our everyday life. He is our blessed assurance!!
I come from a Christian family. I was raised in a southern Baptist home and have known the Lord since I was a young child. I have never doubted him or thought he has given up on me. I have 4 sisters and one brother. I’ve never lost the Lord, but I do feel like I am such a disappointment to Him and my family. My mother is a very godly woman and all my sisters and my brother are such good Christian followers and leaders. I have no doubts in the Lord, but I have lots of doubts about myself. I feel very insignificant in my family and in my faith. I want to find a way to feel better about myself and my Christian life.
Renee,
Lovely message just when I needed it! This morning I forgot, again, that I am not alone. It is always a pleasure to open my email and find your devotions. So often they speak directly to my heart. 🙂
So very thankful we serve the God of 2nd chances!
While I can readily admit that I am far from perfect there is no denying that His timing is! These beautiful words of wisdom, encouragement, and truth could not have come at a more perfect time for me…definitely a God-incidence!
Confidence is such a daily struggle in all areas of my life. I want to be confident in who God wants me to be.
I really love your devotion. I struggle deeply with insecurities. Too often I let fer and doubt creep in and soon I feel so alone. I could be in a room full of people and yet feel like I’m by myself dwelling in my insecurities. I need to be reminded that He is always with me and that He loves me unconditionally no matter what I do. I just need to fully believe this and trust that He will carry me through my tribulations.
While I’ve moved beyond a lot of the self-doubt and taking things to heart, words and actions (or lack thereof) do still sometimes sting. Thanks for offering this giveaway. I’m in search of a new devotional book, and this will be perfect to keep me from sliding back to my self-doubting ways.
Thanks for this. I really needed at this time in my life.
Thank you for the reminder that what the Father says about me is all that should matter to me. I long and pray to be a woman who fully knows who she is in Christ. I need Him to remind me every day and I am thankful that He never grows tired of doing that!
I want to share an unusual testimony. If I may. I want to thank you for this post. God works in amazing ways and I feel so blessed. I turned my back in Christianity long ago and am not what I call a Christian but a believer in the principles of Jesus. Somehow your message made it to my email and to my heart today and I thank you. I look forward to reading your Confident Heart Devotional when it comes out and pray it continues to lead me back to Jesus. Today I let go of the urge to be perfect and trust that in God’s eyes I am enough. Thank you.
Ananda,
Praying for you! Praying for God to WOO you back to Himself. Always remember His promise that His love never fails and He will never forsake you NO MATTER WHAT.
Prayers and blessings,
Donna B
Renee Swope’s Ministry Team