Does stress impact our confidence? Today I’ve asked my friend Tracie Miles, author of Stressed-Less Living to share how stress once diminished her confidence and threw her into a pit of doubt causing her to question her ability to fulfill God’s plans for her life.
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Although it was seven years ago, I remember it as if it were yesterday. Every morning I dragged myself out of bed, dreading another stressful and emotionally draining day at my job. A job which I had grown to hate, working for a supervisor whom I had grown to fear.
Not only was I overwhelmed with job stress, I was trapped in a deep pit of despair that was filled to the brim with doubt, low self esteem and zero confidence.
My heart and my mind were ravaged with turmoil. I had a demanding and stressful workload and a supervisor who used continual harsh words and often unwarranted criticism.
Even though I gave 100% and tried to do my best, I started doubting whether or not I was good at my job. Eventually my doubts began to creep into my personal life as well. Thoughts like “maybe I’m not a good enough wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend…” plagued my heart. Self condemnation started consuming my thoughts, and eventually I hit an all time low in self-confidence.
Juggling all the stress and pressures of the workplace was nothing compared to trying to carry the crushing weight of self-doubt.
The time finally came when I admitted I needed to make a change in my life. You see, I knew God had been calling me for several years to lay down my job, and allow Him to lead me into new places, but I had been too afraid and too insecure. But change was necessary, or else my physical and emotional health would continue to decline.
I resigned from that position, and although I no longer had the stress of corporate responsibilities, my life was still filled with many other stressors. Yet, upon leaving my job, I picked up my Bible more than ever before. And when I started making my walk with Christ a priority, I came to realize that even though my life was still stressful, my heart was at peace.
Why? Because as my faith grew, my self confidence grew with it. You see, I was coming to realize that my value is based on who I am in Christ, not who a supervisor said I was. I embraced the acceptance and value God promises, tucked in Deuteronomy 14:2, which says “You have been set apart as holy to the Lord your God, and he has chosen you from all the nations of the earth to be his own special treasure.” (NLT)
As my heart slowly healed from the brokenness of a broken person’s words, my spirit began to soar. God helped me understand that my value lies in Him, not in the approval or acceptance of the world. I need not base my self worth, intelligence or value based on what man or woman says, but on what God says about me instead.
It was a long journey, but the more I kept my eyes focused on Christ, the more my self confidence increased. I not only discovered my confidence again, I also learned that God is the answer to our stress, no matter what form it comes in.
And I finally found a calmness in my spirit that was not present simply because I left a stressful job, but because I had embraced my unstressed God: a Savior who loved me, despite my mistakes, sins and imperfections. My Jesus who told me I was His precious treasure, even if nobody else saw my worth, including myself.
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God not only showed Tracie the path to acceptance, self-confidence, and worth in Him, but He used her experiences as the training ground to build a story in her life which is now the basis of her new book, Stressed-Less Living: Finding God’s Peace In Your Chaotic World.
Today we’re giving away 3 signed copies to three of you! Leave a comment below this post and share with us something that is currently causing you stress. I’ll share too.
To find out more, be sure to visit Tracie’s Stressed-Less Living website: www.stressedlessliving.com . And if you purchase Stressed-Less Living between Sept 30-Oct 7th you’ll receive 7 FREE GIFTS.
I find that living under constant stress has diminished the confidence I once had in myself. I find that I’m less confident then I was a decade ago.
HI, I look forward to try to find time to read this. I never thought I was stressed, just the way life was, well, my body told me different the last few years, it has reacted badly to all the stress to where I couldn’t take it anymore. In the last 1 1/2 yrs I have tried to get healthy ( I have numerous health issues). I started yoga & bike riding, threw everything away and started a new way of eating (not a diet), saw many dr and had tests. Today I am better than I was, but not quite there yet, everyday I continue my journey to be healthy in mind & Body.
As I read this I relate to it..how I feel today…10 yrs of being a single mother of 2 now teen girls + 40 hr. corporate job, with due-lines and where for management your performance is never good enough…I must say some days are just tiresome…. Thanks for your Testimony, Reminders and Encouragement xoxo
I have been in the position of stressful job turning into stressful life. Fortunately I have a great job that is very fulfilling. I’ve been here 12 years and am hoping for at least that many more!
I am stressed a little. A lot because I’m a single mom who had 3 girls 9th , 6th, 2nd. I teach 1st grade, and try to hold an active live with family n church. I’m stressed because my ministry of educating other people’s kids leaves me to drained to minister to my own kids. I need help
Everyday we have to thank God for our blessings- living on this earth is a constant opportunity to have stress. Thank you for this teaching.
Wow! This is me. I had just been thinking it was me…I’m a failure, this is what my work life has become and there is no way out of where I’m at in my job. I feel very torn with desiring to honor God in where I’m at, but wondering if this is where I’m to be. My family life has suffered…that time, events, etc. that I can’t get back. In 28 years of working since college graduation I have never felt this stressed, tired and weary. I keep clinging to my Savior as this time has drawn me closer to him.
Honey! You are not a Failure! U are a creationof God, His Child! He gave His Sons life for you and accepted His son and love His Son! You sweet sister are no failure! Satan wants u to think u are a failue! U are standing in the shadows of your own doubts! Be Confident in the Promises of God! He will never leave u nor forsake you! RUN OVER, dont walk this is a crisis!!!TO THE P31 store online and order Renee Swoope’s A Confident Heart. Or download it to ur Kindle! If P31 doesnt carry the app, Amazon Kindle Store Does! That book pulled me from the same self destructive mirey mudbog of no worth and self loathing. Email me eith a book report after Chapter 3 or so. If u can stop reading long enough!!!! I could not be more serious girlfriend! Movethyself!
Stress kills joy and I would love to share this with a beautiful friend of mine!
Thank you for sharing!
I would LOVE to have this book. I’m stressed and feeling all alone right now. Never married, no children and getting on up in years. Lost my job, financial problems, depression and lonely. Trusting in God!
Stress in my life is currently supporting my mother-in-law, praying for our oldest who recently went to college, and helping with a sister-in-law diagnosed with cancer. We do all have stress-and have to find ways to “let go and let God” even especially when its difficult.
Time management is one of my biggest stressors. And lately I am having added stress learning how to parent my teenage daughter who chooses to engage in self-harming behaviors.
There are so many stressful situations in my life at the moment. My finances, my children and their situations in their homelife aren’t good and worry about my 2 almost 2 year old grandchildren who life in those homes right now.
The stressors of handling/disciplining behaviors and attitudes my kids portray on a regular basis.
I am stressed right now due to the suicide of my niece. The sudden, unexpected loss has caused me to lose focus on day to day things.
M. Waters
Love the 7 day diet, now would be thrilled even more to have a copy of “Stressed-less”. You are awesome at sharing God’s word. Keep it up!
My weight is causing me stress… I just can’t get motivated to diet and exercise.
My marriage is causing me stress. I am considering a separation after 13 years of marriage, where the last 9 have been a big struggle. This is a very difficult and stressful situation.
My dad has been diagnosed with Alzhemier’s and my mother has not come to terms with it yet and it has been approximately a 1 1/2 since diagnosis. My sister lives in the same town, but does not really check on them. But when I read this my thoughts were really of my friend who is not feeling well and has RA and is stressed out over a aging mother, no health insurance and felt like this book would be beneficial to her.
I would say that I find the speed of life stressful and overwhelming. It can be difficult to figure out what I need to do and what I is just busyness.
Would love to read this book.
I am stressed because of a loved ones lifestyle.
My mother has an as yet undiagnosed mass on her (non alcoholic) cirrhotic liver. It is in the process of being diagnosed. My step father, mothers husband, with severe althzeimers and Parkinson’s and’ has a tumor in his pancreas and a cyst on his liver and is in the nursing home 1/2 mile from my mother. They live 17 miles from my home. My older sister who is almost blind, and is single; retired from her job to move in with our mother to care for her. I am 51 and a Mental Health/Counseling Graduate Student. And I care for my inlaws, Father in law with Althzheimers, Mother in law with Macular Degeneration. AND I am pursing this study on a Call from our Lord. He is carrying me through. He will not carry me where His grace will not cover me and deliver me! Today, I discover I may have plurisy in my right lung. The pain is incredible! I allow my self a stress and pitty party…Like today…I have a mid term this week and need to study!
Praying for each of you right now. My stress has been stretching me in so many directions lately but as I read your stories the hard things we are going through seem manageable – although they have felt monumental for the past few weeks. Right now, my greatest stress is working from home with a toddler who has special needs that include a severe speech disorder, sensory processing disorder, anxiety and sleep disorders and developmental delays that require physical and occupational therapy each week. I want to give her all that I can to help her grow and become all Jesus created her to be – while also giving my teenage boys the attention they need and somehow figure out how to fulfill GOd’s calling on our lives in ministry. Finding a new normal is our prayer and goal these days.
So where did you get your SUPERWOMAN Tattoo? LOL!
HA HA. If I had one it would wash off Im sure! :0)
Thank you for writing the book & following God when you resigned your job! My current stress is finding out girlfriends (so called christians & some not) are gossiping/spreading lies about me behind my back. It has been stressful, painful & downright ugly. What’s worse was finding out your long time friend (so called christian/not really) of 28-30 years cuts me off as a FB friend ~ talk about stress, shocking & heart-wrenching pain & tears, not including the physical side effects of these situations. I know it was a test from the Devil & he’s trying to win my joy. I’ve been praying for all the ladies who have gossip behind my back & the Lord to give me the attitude to “forgive them for they don’t know what they’ve done”. I would LOVE a copy of your book. My previous stress was caregiving for my mother who passed away last year.
God bless you!
Strew can be so consuming. I have been searching for a book to do a small group.
study on with my friends. This just might be the book.
Stress not stew!!!!!! Can you tell I am stressed? Lol
Stress is hard to avoid. Learing to completly trust God to help us with it is the key. Any help and insight would be much appreciated. I have learned so much from the different books that Proverbs 31 has offered. Would love to read this book.
Going through a ton of stress, lost house, lost husband, firstborn daughter husband left her with 2 kids, no where to live, no jobs, etc… yes it does affect health. We will get through it all by the grace and peace and strength of God.
I have a job that basically I am on call all the time. My time is not my own. Whenever I plan something fun or relaxing it never fails, the phone rings and there go my plans. To make matters worse, my sister-in-law was diagnosed with melanoma yesterday. We just lost my father-in-law to melanoma 1-1/2 yrs ago. I am not looking forward to going through this all again. Just when I thought my life was finally getting back to normal . . . I feel like I’m complaining but that’s what you all asked us to do. Thank the Lord I have the Lord in my life and I just finished Renee’s Confident Heart bible study which was WONDERFUL!! Highly recommend her book.
As soon as I saw the title of this book on my facebook feed I had to find out about it! Especially when I found out that you were giving away 3 free copies ;). And Free is good for me! I’m a full time mom of a toddler and a teenager, pastor’s wife, volunteer children’s director at church, homeschooling mom, and did I mention full time mom of a teenager and a toddler! I fight against anxiety and stress daily. I’m so tired of living that way. I know that I can’t avoid all the pressures and responsibilities ministry and of life, but I know I have to allow the Lord to take control of the anxiety and stress. Please pick me!! I would love to read your new book 🙂
I am currently homeschooling our 5 children (range in age: 8-12 – I have 2 sets of twins – 22 months apart), and although the younger years seemed to have been very stressful and pulling me in lots of directions – it seems the older years are not only stressful with time and energy, but also with emotions!!! I took the call of homeschooling very well last year – but I am not an organized person – trying to keep up with 5 at home, and their education, and the house and all that goes with it – needless to say there are a lot of days it’s just hard! Everyone is encouraging, reminding me that God will not give us more than we can handle – there are days I do question that. I know that with homeschooling I have learned more about my own shortcomings/ failings than my kids’. I am thankful for the days of having my kids at home, just need to learn to stress less and live more!
I should have read some earlier posts…..please don’t include me in the drawing – yes my life is stressed, but there are lots that are more stressful than mine. I will look forward to purchasing a copy of your book soon!
Have 2 kids in college. Learning to let go, stop trying to fix things when they make their own choices even if they are bad ones, give up control and surrender them to the Lord.
Right now all of my stress is health related to me. I can’t do much.
Thanks for the chance to win. Can’t wait to read the book.
Tracie’s excerpt describes exactly how I feel every day. It is a consuming feeling that has stolen the joy out of my life. I must read this book!
My son has Asperger’s Syndrome and is still dealing with the affects of Viral Meningitis almost a year ago. He has spinal inflammation and nerve damage in his legs. He’s being homeschooling. I am taking 3 college courses, 2 of which are 5 weeks long at the same time. It’s been very intense lately.
My stress is hormone related issue with husband, problem with employee at work, and health of widowed mother. Would love to get a copy of book!
Keeping up with aging parents.
Drug addictions with my family members! It’s difficult and some of the scariest situations my family has faced! I’d love and enjoy getting to read this book. I pray answers will come out and in addition to great release, forgiveness & freedom! I feel like stress is all I know anymore. I feel tested and confused but my faith keeps pushing me forward!
My name is STRESS I pray that one day it’s released and I never have to look back. 🙁
I would love to read this book!!
This book sounds great. I was really at a breaking point earlier today. Just feeling the heavy weight of single parenthood, and all the stress that comes with that, and also needing to find work to just keep a roof over our heads. Really just feeling overwhelmed and very much “on my own”, in this single parenthood journey right now.
I know God’s ways are best, but the reality of it all is very daunting sometimes.
I don’t even think of it as stress any more, it’s just LIFE!! Six years ago we went from a 2 income 1 house family to a 1 income 2 house family… trying to get our youngest daughter out of a bad situation, we packed up and moved from FL to NC right as the housing market crashed! We know that we did the right thing, God absolutely put us here in this community, to raise our 10 year old son – even though our daughter rejected us and our efforts to help her… I work part time, but my main job these days is taking care of our 8 acre farm, the house, chickens, horses, rabbits, dogs and dairy goats… and it’s HARD! I am almost 50… My husband is gone 12 hours a day 5 days a week, and though he is EXCELLENT at what he does, it almost isn’t enough to pay the bills these days… God always provides, even though the numbers are impossible and have been impossible since we moved, and cannot get the house in FL sold… lately we have had extra expenses and, honestly, I just dont know how we’re going to make it… but I will continue to TRUST that God knows our needs, and He will provide as He always has, but it is HARD some days when nothing makes sense and you’re staring at what appears to be impossible. That, my friend, is STRESS… if it wasn’t for our faith, and commitment to the bible which says to honor your debts (despite the world’s voice, which says let that house go back to the bank!), we would be in a new world of hurt. Doesn’t mean it is easy, but it is manageable with God on our side… Thank you, Jesus!
Would love to read the book.
I, also, could not find a place to enter to win one of the copies being given away. Thanks for helping us figure this out. Blessings!
I would love to win a copy of this book. It looks fabulous. Going to pin it right now 🙂
I clicked on every possible thing on the website and couldn’t find any information about winning one of the free copies. Hmmm . . .
Leaving a comment is all you need to do to enter. Sorry that detail was missing when I first posted today.
I don’t see anywhere to enter for the signed copies. Do we just leave a comment here?
HI friends,
So sorry I wasn’t clear on how to enter when I first posted this. :0) Just leaving a comment is all you need to do.
I had a job where I was so stressed out that I went to the doctor for help. I told him I did not want something for depression because I was not depressed. I was so stressed out to the point of being burnt out. He wrote me out a prescription for a pill and sent me on my way. I finally quit that job but unfortunately went from the frying pan into the fire and ended up with no job. I am now back in church and am on th road to recovery but am scared it will happen again if I go back to working in the same line of work. I would like to win a copy of this book so I can prepare myself for what God has in store for me. Thank you. I loved reading your Confident Heart.
I’m looking forward to reading her book!
Her 10 day detox was amazing! Proverbs 31 is amazing in my life right now!!!
i agree. all sorts of great stuff to read and learn. its my life too.
Stress can lead to all kinds of bodily side effects…I know, I’ve had about all of them I think!! I am learning now matter how much I stress out about a situation, it’s always out of my control. God is and always has been in control of every situation!!
i have so much stress that i have constant heartburn in my throat and chest. also IBS.
Renee, Hi! how have you been lately? this book sounds good.
The statement written from the book was very useful this morning. I still get up in the morning; and I am just now starting to want to get up and know it’s God’s day. I need to rely on him for every thing. I also feel God is possiblly wanting to make some changes in my life and I’m scared of it. I need to remember it’s in Gods hands and what ever he wants to do is ok. I use to have the same type of boss and can relate to what you are talking about what ever the boss did (well, the picking about everything was hard,) I knew I could do my job, but when she was around I began to wonder. I would have to pray before I could ever go to work every day that God would work through me, and help me to know what to do each day. Those are the days I would ahave a good day, But, if I didn’t have my time with God first, I would have a really bad day with the boss wondering about me. I must state hear and now, I had know idea at the time I was coming down with diabetes, which will threw of your ability to think. But, I am a person that suffers from depression. but, I also know the job God gave me was mine for a season and I know he has something else in mind for me. I just get scared of changes. I know you undersstand what I am talking about. Thank you for listening, and for being able to read what she put down. God bless your dayl. Cindy
My daughter sent this to me. I too have been so buried in a stress-filled life. My job, life, and low self esteem where killing me. Here I was a Christian, pastor’s wife, Sunday school teacher, mother and grandmother. I had forgotten how to live and sometimes felt I had to remind myself to just breathe. I have determined to gain my life back and follow God’s lead to a better way.