I hated feeling this way…uneasy and so uncertain. If only I knew what what was making my emotions so wobbly. If only I could name it. Then I could figure out what to do about it.
One day He showed me. It was doubt. Not fear or worry, but self-doubt that made me question everything I thought, felt and said. I didn’t like it, but naming it helped me know how to pray. Naming it led me to confessions I needed to make and promises I could claim. Naming it made me feel like I could finally stand up to it.
Recently I spent some time with my friend, Ann Voskamp. Leah and I visited with her family on their farm in Ontario. While we were there, II was reading a chapter in Ann’s book, One Thousand Gifts, where she talks about the power of naming things. How essential it is to our healing and hope.
We spent time on the porch talking and Leah recorded our conversation so we’d be able to share it with you. It’s so good to know we’re not alone in our doubts and fears. As you’ll see, Ann and I had many that overshadowed our lives for so long, but we found healing and hope once we learned to them. Would you join us on the porch? Be sure to turn up the volume. A truck or tractor passes and it gets kind of loud. <Also, if you are reading this via email, just click on the post title to see the video on my website>
I love how Ann shared, “When you don’t have a name for something, you’re haunted by it’s shadows…But when you can name something… It loses it’s mask and you can find a strategy to deal with it.” (One Thousand Gifts)
Join us Friday…Ann and I kept talking, and we’d love for you to join us again on the porch. I could have talked with her all day! We’ll be back Friday to share more. If you’d like a reminder, simply put your email in the update box at the top of my website, and I’ll slip you a note in your inbox when it’s posted.
We have a few gifts… Would you leave us a little note by clicking “Share your thoughts” below this post. We’d love for you to be part of the conversation, too. And I’m giving away 3 signed copies of Ann’s book, so I”ll draw names from the notes you leave here.
One last thing… I wanted to share how Jesus has been working behind the scenes knowing the topic of today’s post. I’ve been receiving notes from many of you reading my Confident Heart devotions in The 7-day Doubt Diet. Just this week, here is what two of you wrote:
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“Renee, I just finished reading the Introduction and the first chapter of A Confident Heart . Thank you so much for writing a book like this and knowing exactly what it’s called that I’m going and have gone through all my life and didn’t know what it was called. ~ Sharon
“I’ve always doubted myself, but like you I called my different names. It felt so good to know and hear that I am not alone and that I can find my God-Confidence. ~ Megin
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I smiled, knowing it was all HIM!! You are on His heart and in His thoughts, my friends. And if you are curious, maybe now wanting to read Chapter 1 of my book, I’d love to share it with you.
Remember to “share your thoughts” below so I can choose the winners of the 3 signed copies of Ann Voskamp’s New York Times Best-Seller, One Thousand Gifts . I’ll announce the winners next Monday. And since we talked about overcoming self-doubts, I’ll tuck in a copy of my book with each of Ann’s for the three of you who win.
If you are reading this via email, please click on the post title to “share your thoughts” on my website and enter the drawing.
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Thank you for sharing that visit on the porch. I think that most of us have heard all of our lives that whatever we receive comes from God’s hand, both good and bad. The idea of naming it, whether it’s the bad of a sickness or a struggle or a doubt or a sin, or the good of a gift, a blessing, nature, or a relationship, a conversation, a new thought, a scripture…whatever it is, when we name it we are being like God, using our creative powers and we look into his heart and his face–as much as is possible while still in our mortal bodies. One day we will see him face-to-face. I’m trying to slow down and notice them and write them down, but this is the first that I considered that the “bad” things are gifts to write down too. We can see his face in them, we bless God when we’re grateful for them, we allow him to bring beauty from the ashes of our “sacrificing” them…the sacrifice of praise. “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of Christ Jesus concerning you.”
I recently finished reading One Thousand Gifts, and have begun naming gifts too. As gratitude grows, so does confidence – Thankfulness does feed faith. It really does.
WOW! It is through women like you (Renee) and Ann that God has been showing me the past couple of years that I AM NOT ALONE in what I’ve gone through and continue to go through BUT THERE IS A WAY PAST IT!!!!
Yes, I know I’m really ‘late’ reading this but on July 20 (when you posted it), I was spending the day buying a car and preparing to get up and leave the next morning to head to North Carolina for SOME reason – lol
I believe that I am reading it in God’s ‘perfect’ timing though – I was so happy to receive two free copies of your book at the conference. You signed one for me and one for a friend – and I already had one on pre-order that I have since received. I am offering it as a give-away on my blog 🙂 I wish I had the money to buy your book for every person I know that would benefit from it – that is how strongly I feel about it.
It was such a privliege and honor to meet you at She Speaks and to be able to see your “heart”. You were one of those people that just immediately struck a special place in my heart because of your ‘genuineness’ and honesty. Keep on “keeping it real” as Mandisa says…….
Love you!
Oh – and just in case you read this and hop over to my blog – don’t fret! Although there are no comments on that one, there have been a couple of comments on my other one – http://www.WATERforKingdomGirls.wordpress.com – for the same deal 🙂
This book sounds so interesting and helpful to me,,, I am 62 yrs old and still struggle with self esteem and confidence in many areas, I am so weary of it, I would love to win a copy of your book, “a Confident Heart: ” I believe it will help me, If I don’t win,,, then I plan on buying the book for sure!! thank you sharing your heart. coni
I never knew about the naming of things but know that when I was able to express it and share with a trusted confidant, that it lost it’s power over my life and released me from the hold on my life. Great message and I love the inspiration and encouragement from your site. Thank you so much and God bless your ministry.
Renee,
Thank you for listening to God’s call to visit Ann and have Leah record your precious conversations with Ann. Before I have even read Ann’s new book, the ordained conversation between the two of you has given insight into my lifelong struggle of self-doubt. Thank you for being obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
I am so blessed to name two more gifts in my life: Renee Swope and Ann Voskamp – real life friends, sisters in the Lord. Thank you!!!
Thankfulness. When I steal a moment to imagine a world of thankful people, I see a world free of all evil-doing. I get a glimpse of pure joy and it warms me all over. It makes me want to mow my neighbor’s lawn, pay for the stranger’s frozen yogurt, and hold my little girls a few seconds longer.
Agreed, there is something profoundly different between an “unknown” and a “known” and proclaiming a name…also makes me think of a new perspective on proclaiming the Name of Jesus..and “at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, every tongue confess..”
Yes….this is truth. Naming things brings them to light and
is the first step away from fear. Thanks.
So blessed by your discussion, ladies. I resisted the idea of naming for many years–thinking that labeled or pigeonholed a person, but have since come to realize, as Ann says, that it chases away the frightening shadows. Naming also breaks denial, helping us be more open to saying “Abba, I need your help and healing in this.”
Hope you are both encouraged as your efforts are a blessing to so many.
What a wonderful conversation and how great to put voices with both you and Ann. I wish I could name it but I right now I can’t. It’s a struggle with ……..something. Is it fear, is it lack of confidence, over confidence, lack of trust? I wish I knew.
I just love listening to the 2 of you talk. Wish I was there to feel the excitement I see on your faces as you talk of the goodness of the Lord. I wish we were neighbors!
I ENJOYED ANN’S BOOK FOR THE MOST PART. I WOULD LIKE TO READ IT AGAIN BUT GOT IT FROM THE LIBRARY AND HAD TO GIVE IT BACK. SAD FACE. YOUR BOOK LOOKS INTERESTING TOO. I AM A NATURAL DOUBTER SO I WILL PROBABLY LIKE IT. I AM GOING TO READ CHAAPTER ONE NOW. THANKS SO MUCH FOR OFFERING THIS. BLESSINGS, JULIE
Just what information you have sent me this past week has had such an impact that I couldn’t wait for the book to come out in August. My OCD kicked in and I wanted to get better yesterday so I found the book and got it. I just can’t believe how well you know me. I wish you had written it sooner but when I first needed it you wasn’t even born yet. I have to get myself A Confident Heart before I can help others. My kids are grown and I can see the damage I did to them. I so wish God would say to us that it’s okay we’ll just do over the messed up parts but it doesn’t work that way. I grew up with so many doubts and fears and everything that started with lack of self, (self-doubt, self-contimnation, self-disipline, self-love, and self-understanding) and gave myself, fear, pain, hurt, lonliness, being mistreated, eating disorders. Couldn’t believe God could love me because my own parents didn’t love me. I look forward to walking this journey with you and others that have had similar lives. In God’s name we can get better. Love you, Sharon
Wow – two delightful, humble women. Thank you both for openly letting God live through you. His glory in you is evident. Would LOVE to own these books. Thanks!