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Renee Swope

Encouraging and equipping moms to parent with God's grace and confidence.

Living Beyond the Shadows of Our Doubts

Today I shared the story of how I discovered the shadow of my doubt.  That day was a huge turning point for me.

As I stood in my bathroom looking at the humongous shadow on my wall, I sensed God whispering to my heart: Renee, you can only see the shadow because you have turned away from the light. Turn back toward the light.

Slowly I turned back toward the lights above the mirror, and realized I was no longer standing in the shadow. I also realized I’d created the shadow by blocking the light.

Shadows are created all around us when something blocks light. And so it is with the shadow of doubt.

When we focus on ourselves and how inadequate we feel, or what others are thinking about us, we block the light of God’s Truth in our hearts which casts a shadow of doubt over our thoughts.

Our thoughts end up being mostly about ourselves: how we’re performing and what others are thinking about us. It’s not that these thoughts are bad. It’s just that when we focus our attention on ourselves, we turn our attention away from God.

We become concerned and sometimes consumed by what others think of us, instead of what God thinks about us.

If we want to live beyond the shadows of our doubts, we have to turn our eyes toward the Light by focusing on God’s thoughts towards us, instead of our thoughts about ourselves.

Turning toward the Truth
Until that day in my bathroom with God and my shadow, I thought doubt was simply a negative emotion. I kept thinking I’d be more confident if I’d just try harder to believe in myself. But it wasn’t about trying harder, it was about turning sooner.

Self-focus had turned my heart away from God’s promises. What about you? How many of these doubts have lured you away from the truth and into doubts shadows?

  • I’m not good enough.
  • I’m always disappointing someone.
  • I can’t follow God consistently.
  • I’ll never change.

That day was my turning point. I wanted to burn the image in my mind. Turning away from the shadow—turning toward the light. Turning would be crucial.

Turning away from self – Turning toward God
Turning away from doubt – Turning toward Truth
Turning away from darkness – Turning toward Light

Instead of waiting for God to zap us with confidence and remove our doubts, let’s ask God to use our doubts to draw us into a deeper place of dependence on Him and His promises. It’s not necessarily going to be easy, because it requires turning, but it is possible and worth what it takes to turn.

Turning leads to transforming, as we allow our thoughts to be made new, and transforming leads to believing as God’s thoughts become our Truth.

When doubt casts its shadow over us, let turn back to Jesus and live in the Light of His truth:

  • When we feel inadequate, God says: You are CHOSEN.
    “‘You are my witnesses,’ declares the Lord, ‘and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he’” (Isa. 43:10).
  • When we feel afraid, God says: You are REDEEMED.
    “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine” (Isa. 43:1).
  • When we feel unloved, God says: You are LOVED.
    “You are precious and honored in my sight, and . . . I love you” (Isa. 43:4).
  • When we feel forgotten, God says: You are REMEMBERED.
    “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” (Isa. 49:16).

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I know this is a lot to process but today can be a turning point if you only remember this: Having a God-confident heart is not about trying harder, it’s about turning sooner.

I’m giving away two copies of A Confident Heart and two sets of conference calls for the upcoming Confident Heart online Bible study hosted and led by Melissa Taylor from Proverbs 31 Ministries. I’ll tell you how you can win in a minute but first I want to tell you about some free encouragement/resources:

Now, be sure to click “Share your thoughts” below and do just that. I love hearing from you and praying for you! Your comment can be short but it’s what I need to have your name for the drawing.

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Comments

  1. Hi Renee, I have just returned from my daughters in OK after a months stay. She gave birth to our first granddaughter on July 31 so I went out to help her get settled in since there is no family and very few friends out there. Her husband has been stationed at FT. SILL since 6/’09. Long story short…our relationship has been strained since she was very young, she is 27 now, I got saved when she was 13 but my self doubt and fears have always made me doubt EVERYTHING I do. This month with her and the baby was strained to say the least but my time with my new angel was amazing. I have tried to mend my relationship with Jillian but she is not saved and won’t have anything to do with it so I think she still sees me as I was and not all the changes I have tried to make. Your post today was exactly what was wrong with my visit, my daughter actually used the words “you care too much about what other people think about you” in an argument we were having. So thank you for reminding me and showing me the picture of how shadows only appear when we block out the light. That was an eye opener and a good reminder.
    I am in the process of starting my own accountability group b/c of one of your posts I received in an email a while ago. So hopefully with godly women in my life on a regular basis I will be able to focus on the truth and not the lies and be a better person to my family.
    Blessing, Mair

  2. Thanks for sharing! I have signed up for the e-mails and really look forward to reading them!

  3. Renee, like so many others your words have reached a tender spot in my soul today. Turning sooner . . . before doubt has time to take root. This is a powerful reminder and thank you!

  4. How I would love to rid of doubt, but since that’s unlikely to happen anytime soon, I’ve prayed instead for God to use my doubt to draw me into a deeper place of dependence on Him, as you wrote.

  5. I can so identify! This spoke volumes to my heart. Thank you for sharing what God spoke into your heart. How His graces reaches to touch us and teach us and transform us in the simplest yet most profound ways…a shadow of all things!

  6. Renee, I know you are flooded with posts, but I just wanted to share with you how God is working in my life. I am very quiet and tend to keep to myself. It is very hard for me to meet new people and start conversations. I have been reading “A Confident Heart” and just last Sunday I sang a solo, “Heal the Wound” by Point of Grace at church in front of 300+ people. Thanks to your book, your transparency, and the Holy Spirit, I was able to do this. Also, I have signed up for the online study with Melissa and can’t wait for that to start. God Bless you, Renee!

    • WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so proud of you Cheryl. How the heart of our FATHER must have pounded with joy and celebration as HE watched you sing. Sweet sister, you go girl!! Praying for more and more GOD-fidence to be yours in Christ as you trust in Him for your confidence, hope and courage!

  7. Renee, I came across your book and blog after reading your devotion in Encouragement for Today… wow, did I ever need to hear these words! God used your powerful testimony to shine a light on some things in my heart that I’ve struggled with for years but never knew exactly how to put words to them. Your description of our doubts is so powerful and has left a lasting impression on my heart that I pray will begin to transform me from the inside out. I hope and pray that today will truly be a turning point for me- Surely, doubts and insecurities have hindered SO much in my life! Looking forward to picking up your book SOON and am praying about participating in your online study coming up…
    ~Blessings to you!

  8. Renee,
    I enjoy your devotionson CrossDaily. I was insipred to start a poem from your beginning in 8/31 Encouragement for today…Hope you don’t mind
    When you feel unloved
    God says you are loved… Here’s my Son, He was despised and rejected.
    When you feel unstable…
    God says you are able… Here’s my son, A man of sorrow acquainted with grief.
    When you feel unworthy…
    God says you are worthy… Here’s my Son, Wounded for your transgressions, bruised for your iniquity.
    When you feel unsteady…
    God says you are steady… Here’s my Son, By His stripes you are healed.

  9. Renee, Thank you for this post. I struggle with doubting myself all of the time. I just feel like I am not good enough. I have very little self confidence. I am trying to turn this around by being in God’s word more and letting him lead me.

  10. Renee,

    I have truly been blessed by your devotions on God-Confidence. This is the area in which the enemy has been attacking me. I have begun to turn back toward the light. As you said it is not easy but I know that I just have to push forward. I have also donwnloaded your promises. Thank for allowing God to use you.

    God Bless.

  11. Thanks so much for your encouragement! I really have to learn to focus on Jesus! I am looking forward to read more as I downloaded the first chapter. Be blessed!

  12. A friend of mine posted your devotional from Proverbs 31 Ministries on my wall on Facebook. She lives a million miles away in Costa Rica. She became a friend through a short conversation at a church where my husband and I were on staff and she and her husband were visiting missionaries. I keep up with her via Facebook and I can’t even say I know that much about her, but what I do know is that she loves Jesus! She posted the devotional about doubt on my wall and it was such a timely encouragement for me. She had no idea what my circumstances were. We are at a new church and I have just taken on a new job…a job that I don’t feel qualified for. We are in a new staff position that is challenging to say the least. I had been praying that God would encourage my heart and give me direction. I believe your devotional was an answer to that prayer. God bless you, sister. Thankful for “friends” that may not know your birthday or your favorite ice cream, but they know and serve the same real Jesus that loves and cares for us so intimately!

  15. Liked you on Facebook and have added you to my google page and email. You probably wouldn’t know it to speak with me but I struggle with social phobias. My heart tells me that the LORD has something much better..a ministry of encouragement. I’m believing God. Thank you for your transparency.

  16. Renee,
    What an appropriate word picture of how distorted our views can be when our eyes no longer focus on our Savior. Thank you for relating your insights with us.
    Colleen

  17. Thank you for sharing what is a most intimate picture of where you are on the journey. You have created for those of .us who have lingered to long in the “shadow of doubt” the way out of this maze of darkness. You have shown us ” the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” I choose to dispel the doubt by following the Light. Thank you for allowing God to speak to and move us from a place of uncertainty, to a place of intimacy with the Father. BLESSINGS!!!

  18. Renee what a blessing you have been to my life. A vocal student of mine had tickets to the Conf in Princeton,WV(where I am from) because she couldn’t go. At the time I was going through so so much…yet another break-up with my fiance of 22 months just 2 days before the conf., and it hurt so much worse than my divorce in 08. I came there a broken woman…believing in her Father and following His will which is why my fiance and I decided to split. From the moment you spoke it was as if God had me looking in a mirror. I have been through so much, a diagnosis of ms in 03, divorce, dealing with an abusive father until i was about 18 which effects my relationships, and other things i won’t say here. Thank you for showing me that I am not alone in this. Bless you my Sister. Now if I can just find my song again…I stopped performing after the divorce. I would love to get the book, i need it, but just can’t afford it right now.

  19. WoW!! I am so glad I stayed up late to check my email! All day the thoughts flooding my mine were; Who am I? Since my accepting Christ as my savior, my husband loosing his business 2 yrs ago, (no unemployment or income) and my mothers passing my family has tried to make me be that old me not that she was a bad person but she let them bully her and took what they dished out the put downs… any way this post came at the perfect time for me. Thanks. Will work on our budget to get your book sounds like it is just what I need right now. Thank you and God bless you.

  20. Today I had to travel and during the drive, I battled thoughts of fear and inadequacy. I reached my destination and in fact took care of some responsibilities and drove back home. I journaled about my feelings while driving after reading your wonderful devotional. Me centered. I want to turn and I can turn with His help. I feel inadequate because I do not drive on the highways. like my friends and family and am in no way perfect but God my Father is perfect and that is enough for me one day at a time! I thanked God for his help today.
    I still cannot get the Doubt Diet devotional. Can you help me? I forgot the person you mentioned for me to contact about this problem. Thanks