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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These post lately have been for me yesterday and today its like God is speaking to me thru you I would love to win the copies of your book and ANN Voscamp I have been wanting to get her book and yours I am sure they would bless my life I am trying to be thankful everyday for something , intstead of having the stinkin thinkin thoughts. Thank You Renee and Ann You all are a blessing to me. Can’t wait to have a blessing.
Carol
I have heard amazing things about 1,000 Gifts being used in churches in our area. I would love to read it AND continue to grow in my trust in the Lord!
I love the connection between naming God’s gifts to us & that thanks is a praise back. – Everything in Christ, through Christ & back to Christ.
I lvoe what you wrote, “We have the choice either to let doubt beat us up or to let God’s truth build us up. ” How we need to be refreshed daily, sometimes hourly in God’s promises. Thank you for your book and the encouraging devotionals. We serve an AWESOME God!
Donna
Talk about perfect timing…! I’ve been struggling with something and decided to journal during my prayer time this morning just to get to the root of what was causing my inner conflict. I kept drilling down until I got to the word “anger”. Oh, I do not like seeing that word on paper. I’m such a peace-loving, Jesus girl, I don’t like to see myself as harboring anger. But naming the issue and praying about it specifically has already given me an overwhelming sense of peace today. Reading your blog post and joining you on the porch was icing on the cake or divine confirmation, if you will, that I am on the right track. Thank you! 🙂
I am so excited to see your new book and try the 7 day doubt diet. As a grown woman, I am still surprised how self-doubt and low self-esteem can continue to hinder me. I love the Lord and believe all His promises – but sometimes it is still hard for me to accept His lavish and unfailing love – and to allow that to empower me daily. Thanks for delving into this issue of self doubt and giving us scripture to replace our negative thoughts.
Thank you for sharing. It is so helpful knowing I’m not alone in dealing with self-doubt. Can’t wait to read both books!
Thank you for introducing us to Ann. I battle with self-doubt. Admitting it does help. I know that I need to spend more time in His Word…finding the quiet time to do so is difficult..but I am going to start scheduling that time right now! Everything I have read via email/devotionals today has been on The Truth. Why is it so hard sometimes to simply just give it all to Him and stop relying on ourselves? Please pray for me to become a better example of relying on Him for my daughters.
Just like many of the others I am so glad i am not alone in these feelings as well! I signed up for th 7 day doubt diet, and it is amazing to me how the thoughts and feelings you share are so much like my own. I am even doing the questions….I never do the questions. I am thankful to have come across this book, I am going to name it. I got a feeling it is going to help me change alot of things!
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
I love it when God brings darkness into the light. We may not know why we feel one way or another and (sometimes without realizing it), God opens the door to let the light shine in. It is a huge relief and I feel the weight lift off my shoulders. I have learned to trust Him so much more through this process and have become a much happier person. I have learned that no matter what, He is always with me and that is such a huge comfort.
God is always working behind the scenes. I have been going through a really tuff time, and now I know why I have been so depressed, so let down, so sad, so hurt. Renee your “7 Day Doubt Diet” has been a blessing. I am on day seven today and its sitting in my inbox unread because I dont want it to end. I have never written so much in a journal, you have moved me to figure things out and I am loving it. I sat with a friend last night and talked about what was going on with me, but I could’t name it. So reading this today and learning about Ann’s book “One Thousand Gifts” was another blessing in diguise. God is amazing on how he answers prayers through other people. Now I know that I need to name it and yes in my case its DOUBT. It’s been sitting in me nameless for so long and now I need to give it its name and bring light to it and heal. Answers keep coming and I am forever greatful that God used you beautiful ladies to help me and many other women out there going through the same things. God is for me!
Thank you so much Girls for sharing your thoughts for us and guiding us .Both these books look so good can’t wait to read them both and they are one’s I would like to read with our small Girl BIbleStudy.So very encourging and postive thoughts.Thank you both and hug’s your way ,we really do appreciate all your hard work and time you have put into the books so we can enjoy it through the books.Really want to read both books.
You both are wonderful. I have a lot of self-doubt and now that I have admitted it does that make it any easier. I am so confused on all of this. I probably wouldn’t have so much self doubt if something would work out for us. I am in a slump. I keep praying about it. No doors open. God has been ignoring me for 3 years now. I wonder how long I have to go on. I am so very blessed. And very thankful. But, there has to be more. I need a job. My husband needs a different job. If God loves me so much, why can’t a few doors open. I trust God. I am probably very impatient. But, I have had enough now. I need to pay my bills. Thanks for your words of wisdom. Nanci D
“If you name it, you can claim it…in the name of Jesus”. I heard that many times. A teacher also said often, as we studied through “Calm My Anxious Heart”, our leader would say “what does that look like.” when she was explaining a particular part of the lesson. She wanted it to be personal to us. Up until that time, I had not heard those expressions. This past year and half, a run away daughter, my cancer, now my husband is ill, I’ve leaned heavily into the Word of God. Have picked up a prayer book that helps me focus on His love and care for all of us. We are living out the story of The Prodigal Daughter”. Cancer led me into places I did not want to go, however, when I arrived at those various places, I found God’s preparation for what was coming. I found peace. I still struggle with why SO much at one time. One thing at a time, is easier to cope with. Our daughter was diagosed wih two rare disorders. I diagnosed her and found drs to treat her. I’m tired. Soul weary and think of the many people who deal with issues such as these by themselves. I have a loving husband but he too is worn out.
The only place I remain is in God’s arms; leaning into him deeply. As someone wrote, he cares for the sparrows, how much more he cares for me.
Thank you for your love and how you share it so freely.
Thank you for hearing me. kathryn
“When you don’t have a name for something, you’re haunted by shadows.” LOVED that part and is so true. I’ve been wanting this book, but haven’t bought it because I told myself NOT to buy any more books until I read the ones I have lol. So this would be so beautiful if I win a book and it’s signed by Ann!!!!
I can hardly wait to get home so I can listen to the conversation on the porch. I love talking on the porch, don’t you? It seems as if you can say anything, no matter how personal or troubling!
Thank you for all you do for us. Sue
Enjoyed the video. The cover of her book reminds me that God takes care of the birds of the air, He can take care of us too. I love the title of her book “One Thousand Gifts”.
For a long time I heard people tell me “focus on God” and had no clue what they meant, I thought I was focusing on God.
Unless you recognize what you are doing wrong or really understand where you are putting your focus you cannot correct it and replace it with God’s Word. ( leave the “I” of it.) It still takes work to keep from falling back into that rut, so I have to keep in God’s Word to help me through.
Surrender is giving up something so that God can take care of it and take care of us.
A stronghold is keeps us in sin and prevents us from growing in our relationship with God. It is not easy to give in and give up that which has hold on you. But God is stronger than anything that has it’s grip on us, that is why we must surrender to Him. God’s power is freedom without it you find yourself feeling depressed, unworthy and back into the pit.
Naming the shadows. Allowing Him to reveal what I have been afraid to open my eyes to. Trusting Him. Seeing His Goodness. Seeing Hope even while the enemy attacks. Knowing that Hope has a name too, Jesus! Feeding on His faithfulness like Psalm 37 says to do. Being rooted, grounded, and perfected IN Him. Dwelling IN Him. Walking IN Him. And, often, hiding IN Him. Knowing that all things were created for His glory—-and that includes me too! This is my journey. My story. My gift back to Him. He’s showing me I’m teachable. He has great things in store for each of us, and He knows how to get us there. Thank you both for being a part of my journey to the place He is leading me. Thank you!
Thank you so much for sharing the “porch conversation”. It was very enlightening to me especially given the fact that just a week ago my husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Once the biopsy was done we then had a week to live with the “un-named dark shadow”. It is in a time like that when you learn to really lean into Jesus and anxiously await the “name” of the darkness and unrest you are living through. Even though we received the un-wanted name, we at least finally had the name to bring before the throne of God and place at the feet of Jesus. Once again, thank you for sharing this message.
I frequently deal with what feels like a mix of worry and fear. But now that you’ve opened my eyes to the idea of doubt, I’m hopeful that I’ll start seeing these feelings a different way, and maybe even name them, so I can overcome them.
Like so many have already commented here, I love the simple concept of naming the feeling. I was on vacation when you first emailed your 7 day doubt diet so I was unable to read it every day. I am now in the process of going back and reading the emails. I would absolutely love to win these two books. Thanks for offering this give away Renee. May God continue to bless you and the work you do in his name.