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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Renee, what a great interview with Ann…I truly felt like I was sitting on the porch with you…especially when the big truck went by! So true about the power of naming our feelings…all feelings are neutral…when we allow them to come to the surface and give them a name, we are able to receive the healing that Jesus wants to provide through His Word. It reminds me of the Scripture, “You can’t heal a wound by saying it’s not there!” (Jeremiah 6:14 TLB). Thank you for the reminder this morning 🙂
After losing my job along with it alot of friends and then a few weeks later my Mom, my best friend it really shook my world. It has only been recently that I have been asking myself ‘Who am I?’ ‘Why am I here?’. It wasn’t until after I saw you speak at MBC in June that I realized that the doubts I carried with me since being a young girl have stayed with me but I know longer have my Mom and the friends I saw daily to keep me in sync. Listening to your story was like living my life over but I am so inspired by you and what you have to say. Thank you so much for what you are doing.
I have to wait until I get home to watch the video. I am so looking forward to it.
Thank you.
Thank you so much for the 7 Day Doubt Diet and for encouraging us and helping us find a way to overcome self doubt and stand firm in Jesus-Confidence!
The timing of this encouragement is so perfect for me right now! Thanks for sharing your conversation this morning and I look forward to more tomorrow. God Bless!
Thank you both for sharing your thoughts in the video. It is so encouraging to me to see other Christian women be real with their thoughts in this way. I have been struggling with self-doubt when it “seems” like so many around me have it so together. I know God is using things in my life to grow me and teach me these past few years but they have been challenging ones. Still I press on and when others share words like you both have, it encourages me to continue to press on and grow. Thank you!
The daily devotionals of the 7 Day Doubt Diet have been such an encouragement to me in both my spiritual and personal life, at work, at home, everywhere! Thank you so much! If I do not win the book, I will save up to purchase it as I know it will be one I will read again and again. I also know that I would love to share it with my daughters and friends. Thank you!
What a blessing to “sit on the porch” and listen to your conversation today! We know Satan is always working to keep us in the shadows of self-doubt, to keep us in bondage to our own fears. What joy to know God is waiting to bring us into the light and to reassure us of our value, our beauty, and our worth! Thank you for sharing with us today!
Love the new website. Looking forward to more of the discussion on Friday. I would love to receive the two books. Thank you both for your ministry. God bless!
Loved the interview! Thank you Renee and Ann for your honesty, openess and vulnerability of sharing with us. Naming it and giving it to the Lord is so good and so very important to release it so we are not held back in bondage and we can live the life Jesus died for us to live-a life of abundance!!!
Thank you Rene. This is sooo on time for me. As I feel strongly that God is leading me in a direction, however, I have battle in my mind the “What If’s” and fighting fear. I am so grateful to God and to you for sharing this on yesterday. Thank God for your ministry.
Self doubt can be so paralyzing – I can wait to read the books and it would be great to win!!
I enjoyed the interview with Ann. I am in a book club at church and we are finishing up Ann’s One Thousand Gifts. It has been an awesome experience and there are so many ladies that book can touch.
I have seen you speak with Melissa in her Hidden Joy bible study. Your words speak deeply to me, especially since I feel like the master of self doubt. The thought of being able to use this in a good way, is very reassuring. God’s love is so amazing. Thank you for your inspiring words.
That is so true! Once something has a name – it looses it’s power over you because once you know what something is you can begin to respond differently and work towards fixing or controlling the power you’ve let that have over you. All of the books, yours hers, would be such an honor to win and all of them great blessings to read….hopefully one of these times I’ll get lucky…be blessed and thanks for all you ladies do!
Penny
It was so interesting to watch this interview, I have heard of Ann’s book before. I have also loved going through the 7 day doubt diet. To win these books would be amazing! Thanks!
I have heard so many good things about both books! Renee – I heard you speak in Williamston NC last year and LOVED your words of wisdom! I have several friends who are reading Ann’s book and hope to steal it once they are done : ) Thank you both for your ministries…
Loved the reminder that God can bring beauty out of the ashes!
Boy, do I ever have some things I need to name!!! Love this!
I’ve always understood to figure out what the problem is before fixing it. I never took the time though to focus on my self-doubt. The more I read and mediate especially upon God’s Word and the doubt diet devtionals, it has really come to light how much self-doubt has played a role in my life. I always brushed aside the self-doubt as something that was just me and no one else deatl with it. I never took the time to realize that it can be overcome. I am happy to journey down the road of recongnizing self-doubt and working through it and now having the tools to teach my children as they grow up.
Naming ‘it’ takes all the power away from ‘it’!…the enemy is defeated!!
Love, love, love your book! Thank you, Renee!