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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Your book and the 7 day doubt diet could not have come at a better time for me. I have been struggling with self-doubt a lot lately and felt like I was wandering around a room in the dark trying to find my way out. I know this is God’s way of helping me. Thank you for allowing God to use you to help others!!!!
I am enjoying your devotions and video talks!!!
Thanks for the chat on the porch. Made do some thinking.
I have always had a lot of self doubt. But, with you doubt-diet
and the HJ Study, I am trying to ovr come some of my doubts.
Would love to read both books.
Thanks for your devotions and video talks.
I am thankful for women that are eager to share their growth in Christ with other women so we can grow also.
I am growing in my faith and learn much from my pastor but to learn from women is different as they
are sharing ,experiencing, and overcoming the very same things that I am struggling with.
Thank you Renee and Ann for sharing your words and making them available for me to continue to grow in my Lord.
I know I am going to get this book someday, as it keeps nudging me to read. I would love a signed copy. Both of you are wonderful gifts of God, being able to share the word like you do helps me. God’s blessings!
Hi Renee ~
I came across your website throu Proverbs 31 ministries, and am I so thankful. The devotions in your 7 Day Doubt Diet are so powerful and have really helped me discover some doubts that I was not able to name. Naming your enemy is empowering because knowledge is a key to living! Thank you Renee for sharing your gifts with us.
Thank you so much for sharing! I have a big problem with self-doubt that i have just recently discovered while doing your 7 day doubt diet. I am so thankful that i have discovered the issue and knowing that i am not the only one out there makes it so much easier for me. I have been praying to God to help me out of the self-doubt so that i can be obedient to his calling and so that i can be all that he wants me to be. I have turned down so many opportunities from the fear of thinking that i wasn’t good enough or that i didn’t have what it took to do it. But now i know that it was just Satan’s whispers telling me all those lies. I know that i can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Thank you so much for your blogs and encouragement!
Thank you both for being faithful to truly share your walk with God – not just the highs, but the lows as well. I am a long time follower of both blogs and have both books on my wish list. I would love to have them – as I believe they both will become tools to aid me in my struggle with doubt and letting go of things.
In His grace,
Karan
“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.”
Please don’t think I am challenging you here, but merely trying to better understand. Isn’t ‘self-doubt’ in itself, fear and worry? I also suffer from the aforementioned and when I gave your comments some thought, I see that it is fear and worry that leads me to self doubt. The fear that I am not good enough; the worry that I will fail; leaves me with self doubt. I must admit, I rather like the label because it really focuses in on the place the fear and worry have taken me to, but I still see them as a great part of the package. So, having said that, do you agree that fear and worry necessarily equal self doubt? Are they not behind all self doubt?
Satan will twist and twist to confuse us and to deceive us; call it what we will; fear, worry, self doubt. I do believe that once he has us in fear or worry, it takes hold, we end up in self doubt.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this, and I thank you so much for yours.
Yes!! Name it and kick it out!!
Thanks for the reminder! 🙂
I have been having attacks of acute pain under my ribcage and have had many tests so far. It will be so nice to finally put a name to what is going on so I can deal with it. Your post just hit the spot today!! I would love to read both books as I too struggle with insecurity. Thank you! Josie
I have dealt with feelings of self doubt my whole life. I really love your posts because they are so honest and get to the heart of the matter. I would really love to read a confident heart – God works through people like you to help people like me. Thank you for today’s post it is so true!
Thank you for sharing this insight about doubts in our lives and how God calls us to rise above those doubts. Blessings!!
You continue to bless me by sharing God’s truth! I’m so excited in how God is working in my life right now. Thanks for your part in this! I’d love to read Ann’s book and yours!
I’ve lived with doubt my whole life. To the point where even my identity seems clouded…like I don’t know who I am supposed to be or what I’m supposed to be doing. I even doubt that God loves me and is hearing my pleas for help. I have lost my identity behind “Doubt”.
Thank you for your post.
Great video. It really makes me think. Thanks!!
Uneasy and so uncertain – those words really hit home to me. Living amongst constant ongoing earthquakes right now, fear unease and uncertainty are both huge in my life. Add to that the struggles that I am having with my graphic designing, self doubt is keeping me from being as creative as I should be, and from fulfilling my full potential. I am praying for healing and hope in all the above areas. God is good and His love never fails us.
Awesome, that’s one of the prettiest book covers I’ve ever seen!
Hi Renee,
My devastated heartbreak brought me to a point of my life to doubt, to worry and to fear my future and stuffs like how God will bring everything to pass. I doubt even the magnificent hand work of God, and His Sovereignty. I really thank God for leading me to your blogs and your writing has a big part on my healing process that reminds me that in Him healing is not impossible. Being honest about our thoughts to God would be a big help. And that the ONLY ONE who can give us HOPE and CONFIDENT is the One who created us, who love us unconditionally and sacrificially, and the One who own us – JESUS!
Thank God for your amazing 7-DAY DOUBT DIET! I was blown away by His goodness as I see Him really moving in my life. Im hoping to have a copy of your book soon. 🙂 It really blessed so many hearts. Keep on Renee, for His glory!
Im with you also in prayer.
Many thanks,
Ninz 🙂
Hi Renee,
My devastated heartbreak brought me to a point of my life to doubt, to worry and to fear my future and stuffs like how God will bring everything to pass. I doubt even na magnificent hand work of God, and His Sovereignty. I really thank God for leading me to your blogs and your writing has a big part on my healing process that reminds me that in Him healing is not impossible. Being honest about our thoughts to God would be a big help. And that the ONLY ONE who can give us HOPE and CONFIDENT is the One who created us, who love us unconditionally and sacrificially, and the One who own us – JESUS!
Thank God for your amazing 7-DAY DOUBT DIET! I was blown away by His goodness as I see Him really moving in my life. Im hoping to have a copy of your book soon. 🙂 It really blessed so many hearts. Keep on Renee, for His glory!
Im with you also in prayer.
Many thanks,
Ninz 🙂
God is amazing! Seriously! I just emailed a group of my Mommy friends so that we could set up a “Mom’s group” to study “A Confident Heart” starting in Sept. after the kiddos get back into the routine of school. I told the Mom’s that we would work through “A Confident Heart” for 6-weeks, then we would take a short break and start meeting back up to read Ann Voskamp’s, “One Thousand Gifts.” We are doing the studies back to back! Then, I just got this blog post through my email tonight! Wow! I can’t wait to see what God has in store for us Mommies through Renee and Ann! I’m sure it’s going to be amazing!