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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Thanks so much for sharing this!! I cannot wait to read your book! I sometimes worry and am afraid and now I realize it is just self-doubt!
I just want to thank God and you for leading me to your devotion tonight. I have recently started a new career ..at 40 and I have been having doubts, well, ok, fears too!!. But I did not know that this was my issue until a friend and I were chatting earlier and the tears began after we talked . So…I told my friend that I think God is calling me and I better go chat with Him. On nights that are quiet, I like to read my email and find Proverbs31 devotions! And guess what- yours was there “Trigger points”. So as I read, tears flowed (& still now as I write this) and God gently pointed out that I need to let Him have all my doubts and fears. He is in control-NOT me! He gave me this new career and has revealed to me that I can do this with Him by my side!
So thank you for your words so I could hear Gods! I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me! Now, to discover what my triggers are…hmmm? P.S. I signed up for your 7 days doubt diet- so THANKS!t!! Shelley
I often find myself saying that if I knew what was bothering me (if i could name it) then I could do something (pray) to overcome it and claim God’s promises in reguards to it. I struggle so much with this and it’s a wonderful reminder to know that I am not alone! Somehow there is strength and confidence in knowing that He will use this too to bring about HIs good and perfect will! Thanks for the chance to win would love to work through these books and let God transform me!
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I HAVE HAD SUCH BLESSINGS TODAY FROM THE LORD. I TURNED ON THE COMPUTER TO FINISH SOME LOGGING BEFORE RETIRING FOR THE EVENING AND THERE WAS YOUR E-MAIL. I READ IT AND WATCHED THE VIDEO. WHAT A BLESSINGS TO END THE DAY OF ALREADY BLESSED DAY. I WOULD LOVE TO OWN BOTH BOOKS. I BELIEVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE WILL RECEIVE THE BOOKS. IF I AM ONE OF THEM THAT WOULD BE GREAT. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS KAY
Thank you for this! I am struggling forward after a long plateau in my faith, and naming something to give focus to my prayers is not something i had considered before.(It also makes you look a lot more closely at youself and motivations.)
I love when Ann said…once you name it then God can make beauty out of the ashes. I just experinced this last week. Its name was strife and it was making me miserable and I felt disconneted to God. One day, God was very clear with me, He let me know that I was going back to a place in my marriage that I didn’t want to revisit. My attiude had to change because if was affecting my life, in my marriage and with other relationships.
Yep, I named it…or I should say God named it…strife! Oh, things are MUCH better at home.
~Tammy
I never named what it is – that doubt of myself that leads to doubt of God because I did not recognize that I was fearfully and wonderfullty made. Now I plan to look in the mirror and thank the Lord for my beauty found in my relationship with Him. I plan to go to my husband as his virgin bride by the blood of Jesus. I plan to bless my children and grandchildren in the holy name of Jesus. I am a child of God, a Jesus girl, a lover of the Spirit.
Thank you so much for this blog today. I will keep it and treasure it.
Thank you so much for this! I have not thought of it this way, when we don’t have a name for something, we are haunted by it’s shadows. And, by naming it, we can find a strategy to deal with it. I am loving this~learning more every day-the truths of God. SO VERY thankful for those He sends to share His heart w/us! Happy Day!!! 🙂
I’m on day 6 of your 7-Day Doubt Diet, and I cannot begin to tell you how it is changing my life. I’ve so enjoyed listening to your “front porch” conversation. I think I could stay all day soaking up the encouragement and truth.
Just wanted to say Thank You both for your unfailing love to share the word of God through your own personal struggles. I don’t think you know the multitude of lives that you have touched and will touch. Thanks Again 🙂
As I listened to both of you talk on the porch I felt as if I were seated right there with you! So much made sense to me…especially near the ending when you talked about slowing down and taking the time in the rush of our lives to give things a name…the dark and the light things. This made such perfect sense to me….
It was interesting. When I took the little inventory you sent us in the 7-Day Doubt Diet, it came up that I was taking this for someone else since I didn’t seem to struggle with doubt. I think if I had taken it last week, I might have gotten a little bit different result. The mini-lessons you have shared with us from your book coming out later made me want to do this study so badly. I think it’s interesting how we women are ruled by our emotions–that doesn’t seem to change much. One week, we can be filled with faith, and the next week, we can’t seem to trust in anything.
I did pick up just yesterday on Satan trying to infiltrate my thoughts. God gave me some special promises several years ago that have not come to pass. I found myself saying “if” such and such occurs, and God quickened my spirit. If I say “if” in regard to God’s promises, isn’t it true that I am expressing doubt? Yes! So I changed my thinking immediately.
I was just at Wednesday night church looking at this book!! Looks good
I was just at Wednesday night church looking at this book!! I didn’t understand it at the time, thx for the explanation:)
Just what we were talking about today in my bible study – how do we know what to pray when we can’t name the stumbling block in our road? Thank you for the timeliness of your post.
A friend of mine invited me to join the 7-Day Diet Devotions. I love everything I have read so far on your website!! God is really teaching me about trust, recognizing my fears and realizing the Enemy uses my fears to doubt and distrust my Lord. God desires to replace my fears with His comfort and peace. I so want Him to! I look forward to growing closer to my Lord Jesus through your website!
Wow! Your blog was right on time for me today! Thanks for taking the time to write about this topic. BTW- I’d love to win a copy of ANn’s book!
Hello,
Trusting in the Lord is SO important in all of our relationships and also to take away the anxiety Satan tries to bombard us with. I hope I win your book so I can learn more about your thoughts on the subject. God bless you and your efforts to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Such a good devotion from P31 today that I had to follow up on your website with the video & sign up for the “doubt diet”! Really hit home & made me think. I have such negative self-talk when faced with things that cause me doubt myself. Your book looks great! Thanks for all you do to encourage others! God bless you & your ministry!
Thanks so much for sharing this video! I totally agree…there is something about naming the thing, good or bad, that removes some of the uncertainty and thereby much of the fear.