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.
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Tracie Miles really shared her heart and what happens to a lot of women who are in the work place. Supervisors tend to only want more, more, more and forget that we are not machines. A simple thank-you goes a long way on a job. We (women) also tend to forget that our jobs are not our source, but GOD is. Once Tracie realized this she began to soar. We live in an imperfect world, but we serve a PERFECT GOD. Thanks for helping me to remember whose in control – My Father God, not the world (job)
I experience stress constantly especially at work (which I am trying to change) But after attending a Girlfriends conference on 9/29/12 with Renee Swope I KNOW there is peace and hope for me!! I am sharing it with a fellow coworker who is going thru the same thing as I am It is a daily battle but God on my side we will be triumphant.
Learning STRESS should be stress,
and God should be GOD in my life!
Stress can rob us of so much in the wonderful life God has given us.
I love that I can pray and give over my stress to God. Thank you for this healing message
This is just what I needed to read today. I fell stressed about my job, the feelings of not being a good wife, mother, friend, sister, or co-worker are consuming my mind. I feel like giving up but I know that God has me here for a reason, not sure what the reason is but I am here for something. Reading this just gave me some answers like I need to stay in the Word more than I do and I can go to the Father and lay it all down in front of Him and he will answer. Thank you !!
Just like Christina G., I have been experiencing so much stress and anxiety, my IBS has rendered me nearly useless. We moved out of state about a year and a half ago. It was my first “real” move away from all that I have known, and it’s been rough. With the added pressure of staying positive for my kids, I have just buckled under the pressure of it all. Not having my family and friends and church and community for support has made a much bigger impact in our lives than I ever dreamed. Renee, your book has been so great to read, and I look forward to reading Tracie’s!
I’ve allowed myself to be pulled into the demands of this world (aging parents care, dtrs. marriage that was just postponed after everything has been arranged for and paid for, son who has returned home abruptly with a mental disorder, running a small business and have put aside the time spent in God’s Word opting to listen to Christian Radio thinking that would fill the gap-somewhat but certainly I’ve lost the peace/joy and my confidence is in the basement. – seems like one more thing on my to do pile – nobody gets satisfied – hmmm, I picture a juggler, juggling but he’s dropping more objects than he’d like. A hamster wheel – but how do you get off. Help!
A daughter who is on the mission field and expecting her first child. She and her husband are having trouble getting back into the United States. God is in control and we put our faith and trust in Him. Sometimes I “think” He needs a little help from me….ha ha ha…..I just have to keep trying to pull it out of God’s hands.
I have a son who is trying to live life as a recovering drug addict, whom the drugs have done a real number on his mental health, did i mention he lives with me! my daughter who lives with her dad bounces from one teenage high and low, approving and loving and wanting a relationship on the highs, dropping me, trashing me and leaving me love-less on the lows. my mom is elderly in poor health and my only sibling is in poor health who has been out of work for nearly 2 1/2 years. i’ve taken a new job, starts in 2 weeks and will be required to travel for the first few months but it promises finanical security and opportunities i felt i couldn’t pass up. i AM SOO STRESSED and yet trying hard to remember i am not alone and God’s love is constant and secure so even when i feel lost, alone and like the world and it’s weight is going to drown me, He will lift me up! prayers PLEASE!!
Tammy
I can so relate to this blog post and I think the book is going a valuable resource. I too have been wondering if God is calling me to do something else and make a change in my jobs…
My current stress is my vehicle being repaired. I was in a hit and run accident friday and now my car is in the body shop. I am stressing that is repaired correctly. Also, I am stressing about money. There is alot of things we need to repair in our home and don’t have the money right now. But the longer we wait, the worse the problems get, the more it will cost to get the things done. So many different reasons to stress and be fearful but I am trying to cling to the fact that God works all things to the good in my life. Sometimes it is hard though.
I look at all of the needs I see around me in my family and friends and I feel I should do something yet I feel so inadequate and I hear this voice that says if only you would…. then… and this really stresses me.
I know how Tracie felt, I too have an overwhelmingly stressful job. There are days when I close my office door and cry. There are so many demands placed on me that I can’t keep up and I feel like I’m not good enough for my job. The financcial situation at work is bad and I may lose my health insurance and have had to hold my paycheck for a week or more before I can cash it.. I go home at night to my husband whom I love very much but is not walking with the Lord. I have to deal with his demands and those of his home based business. Again I’m left feeling like I’m not good enough. I will be turning 50 in November and am dealing with accepting that change along with accepting that I’ll never be a mom. I need to lose weight, but I’m a stress eater so it’s a vicious cycle. There are situations with my siblings and other family members that cause me stress too. Though I know God is in the midst of all of this, I feel like I’m slowly being crushed by the weight of life. I need to focus more on Him and less on my circumstances. My stress are pretty insignificant compared to most on here, but thanks for letting put in writing, it helps!
S T R E S S….seems like its everywhere these days. My husband and I are at our peek of stress as of late. A business that is struggling, selling our home. And aging parents.
We look to God for strength and guidance and pray continuously. But admittitedly its just so hard. I humbly ask for your prayers in shoring us up through this time. I know no matter what God is with us and we need to just keep looking up.
Thank you so much for your daily words of encouragement
I am stressed out about my dad’s health lately. He is not doing good and needs alot of help just to get around. He is 85. Please pray for hi. Also my daughter just got back from Afghanistan and is looking for work. Keep her in your prayers also. Thanks alot.
So true…I loved this know that feeling and right now I’m moving into a different norm of parents relationship to Jesus. I need to be honest that I’m not connecting with who I want to be. Feel trapped but I know where I should follow Christ in my own way. I know no Church is perfect. I believe if we were perfect we would not be here on earth. Don’t know for sure. I’m scared I’m going to hurt them but I think they already know the answer though…I just need to tell them. My goal is to tell them in the next two weeks. Talking to a pastor sometime next week to see what his suggesstion might be.
I had been so stressed that I didn’t even realize I was so stressed. I went into a depression for a couple of years that I didn’t even recognize until a good friend outed me on it. Marriage is stressful, along with family life, along with work, along with extra curriculars, along with church obligations, etc. I have since realized that I am worth it to take care of myself first. I am a giving person and had given until I was “bleeding” so to speak. I have cut back on my responsibilities/volunteering/etc and am now focusing on me. It’s amazing how much more free I feel, I’m a new person. I am special, I am wanted, I am a daughter of God!
It seems everything in my life is causing me stress right now, like the world is caving in on me. Would love to have the book.
This is where I live. I chose going back to school rather than taking on more clients a the death of one client and the need to put another in a nursing home. My self worth was gone and my walk with God wasn’t what it should be. Returning to school and my Bible I gained the self confidence I needed. I am in a 31 Day “Crazy Joy” search with Ann. http://www.aholyexperience.com/
Today’s goal is to find three things: one caught, one given away and one on the way.
I praise the Lord for my son’s goodbye kiss I caught on my nose this morning, my hug I gave him and the job on the way.
Isn’t it weird how we allow a person’s negative comment, or a coworkers mood or just the fact that someone didn’t return your smile or even constructive criticism will make us start that ‘stinkin thinkin’ and it will tear you up unless you realize it in time and ask God to help you realize it is satan stabbing at you with thoughts he knows will hurt you. You can be on top of the world one day and feel like pond scum the next.
I feel like I am constantly saying ‘Jesus is Lord over my thoughts, finances, coworkers, whatever the case’
I just came out of one of those ‘funks.’ Thank you so much for your encouraging words and truth that you share to let us know we aren’t alone with this never ending battle.