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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Wow!! This post today was something I so needed to hear! Thanks for stiring my heart to seek God more in this season that I find myself in right now!!
God has been working in my heart and mind to depend fully upon him. I have always loved the Lord but I feel him drawing me deeper and deeper into my faith walk. I long to not be enslaved to the worldly concerns that threaten to steal my joy and fill me with doubt and worry. Anxiety creeps in and seems to take over but I’m growing and learning. As a dear friend brought me to Ann’s blog and quite a few other inspirational sisters in Christ to inspire me and sometimes gently challenge me. It would be an honor to enjoy a signed copy of One Thousand Gifts.
Naming that which we are thankful for is life changing!
Oh! So THAT’S why I question every thought and intention that I have. That’s why I analyze my part of every situation. That’s why I assume that I’m to blame for things that don’t even make sense.
I signed up for the emails. I’m anxious to read your thoughts!
I have read this part in the book and it was so encouraging. I love how Ann and Renee talk about how naming something helps to bring clarity. I would love to win these books!
Wow! I finished this book a few months ago – but the truths and practices I learned are so day to day relevant. I’d love to win this and be able to share the love! I’m still learning and weaving my way through “naming”.. a day at a time.
The concept of “naming” is also so important in a grief journey….so liberating and healing. Naming each specific loss in my life that I experienced when my dad died helped me grieve those spaces in my heart and in my life that were now empty.
It’s both heartbreaking and encouraging to me to see how many women struggle with fear and self-doubt. In my marriage over the years I have often tried to explain myself and my own fears and doubts to my husband, and I often tell him that I wouldn’t wish this on anyone else. To know so many other struggle with the same things is so sad to me, but also encouraging that I’m not alone – even if this is something most of my friends in real life don’t talk about!
How wonderful that you and other Godly women have tackled this tough subject, especially when fear and self-doubt is such a taboo kind of subject. Today, as women, mothers, wives, and even leaders, we are “supposed to be strong and confident,” but I’m finding that’s not often the truth of the matter.
Thank you for bringing God’s light to this – I hope to read both of these books soon!
Wow! I sit here listening, tears streaming down my cheeks. Two little boys playing trains at my feet and I’m giving God glory for it all. My tears, my boys, your words and hearts shared here. I’ve been facing some health issues and with utter joy I tell you it is NOT cancer as first suspected by the doctors. Hearing that was relief but the real sense of HOPE happened when I found out what I have, has a name. It has changed everything for me. Like a calm after a storm. Thank you for sharing your conversation with Ann, your heartfelt words and for giving me an opportunity to quite possibly win a very generous gift too. Thank you for blessing my day in a special way.
Such an encouragement to from both Ann and Renee. I have struggled for most of my adolescent and adult life with low self-esteem and anxiety, though I have been learning a lot about how to live in freedom from that bondage in Christ. I have no doubt that encouragement to name my demons and to name the gifts God has given to me is so that I can experience Christ and His freedom more fully. As as start, I am grateful for both Ann and Renee and for their willingness to share their life’s disappointments, struggles, joys and victories with other women in order to help them to grow closer to Christ. Blessings, Paige
Amen and amen! I believe it’s God’s design for us to KNOW Him and be able to know exactly the places where He is at work. That is why I believe that NAMING the doubt, the blessing, or even the trials, is God’s design for us… in order for us to understand, KNOW and SEE where He is at work. Thank you for the encouragement!
I have been so deeply ministered to by Ann’s book and by your blog. Thank you so much for sharing!
Renee, thanks so much for this post & your message on doubt. It’s funny how we Know of God’s promises, yet WITH DOUBT we forget those promises & manage to swim in a whirlwind of mixed emotions, worries, & fears. I look forward to reading the rest of your devotions!
Thank you for the reminder to continue to call upon Jesus’ name. He is the Jehova Jireh, our Provider, for everything we need. I am excited to have the opportunity to read One Thousand Gifts!
May God bless you richly!!
I LOVE Ann’s book and am still working through it. Any friend of hers would be a friend of mine, so I’m happy to have found you, too. I have embarked on a journey to create a new ending to my life story….something that I have been praying for for a long, long time–where I can be grateful for where I am, where I’ve been and where I’m going. It is no coincidence that I have bumped into SO many affirmations of this change recently. Thanks to God!
Wow, Imagine my surprise when I saw this interview. Last night in my ladies bible study we just started “One Thousand Gifts” and coming soon I will be studying “A Confident Heart” with the group Cruising Chicks Doing Bible Study Together. I’m thinking that since I have seen the two authors together that God has big plans for me and He really wants me to study hard and really really learn from both Ann and Renee and I am so excited..Thanks ladies!
I cannot even begin to say what an inspiration this is. I would love to win a copy of each of your books. I think in this time of negativity focusing our sights on God’s blessings is essential.
This is exactly what I needed this morning. I am so greatful that the Lord just knows exactly what I need, and when I need it! God Bless.
Wow! What a revelation…when things are revealed for what they really are, then you can name it and start confessing God’s word to overcome whatever challenge you are facing. Sometimes our fears try and mask themselves as coming from God; but we have to stay prayed up and in His word to be able to call it what it really is, and then be able to continue to confess God’s word in the mist of the challenge and watch God do what He does best!! Renee, thank you so much for this website. I am glad to know that so many other women are experiencing the same doubts and insecurities, and your forum is an avenue that we can use to not only let other women know that they are not alone, but we can also encourage someone through what we’ve been through. God bless you!!
I have been trying to write my testimony and felt that somehow I was in the way of God’s blessings. This post was a aha moment for me. It seemed to speak directly to me. Not fear, worry, self-pity, but self-doubt.
I truly enjoy the blessings your website brings.