Have you ever gotten that awful pit-in-your-stomach feeling after finding out you let someone down?
It felt like the wind had been knocked out of me as I read through an email from a client, sent to my manager and forwarded to me, describing how I had let some details fall through the cracks on a project.
A horrible sense of discouragement and embarrassment moved in for the kill.
In the past, I would have welcomed my uninvited critical thoughts to stay a while, resigned to the fact that I must be unable to do anything right!
But not this time; too many hurtful experiences had taught me to recognize failure as an opportune time for my opponent, the devil, to devour me with feelings of inadequacy and shame. This enemy is bent on making me believe that when my best isn’t good enough, I’m not good enough.
Fortunately, times of pain have also included hours of poring over God’s promises, gathering wisdom to deal with this unwelcome intruder. I have learned to be alert to the devil’s schemes and ready to stand against them. In 1 Peter 5:8-9, Peter tells us how:
“Keep your mind clear, and be alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion as he looks for someone to devour. Be firm in the faith and resist him, knowing that other believers throughout the world are going through the same kind of suffering” (1 Peter 5:8-9).
After reading the email and letting my thoughts run wild for a few minutes, I knew I had to clear my mind. I asked the Holy Spirit to help me un-clutter my thoughts with the clarity of truth from logistical, circumstantial and spiritual points of view….
Read the rest of this story and what happened in my Encouragement for Today on the Proverbs 31 Ministries blog. But BEFORE YOU go…
ENTER to WIN a Fall Book-Bundle
I’m giving away 3 Fall Book-Bundles
including my Confident Heart Devotional and Lysa TerKeurst’ new best-selling
book, The Best Yes! I’m giving away 3 bundles that include a copy of each book
plus a fall-scented candle from Bath & Body Works!
How to ENTER: She your thoughts about today’s devotion OR how you’ve walked through needing to remember your best is in good enough in God’s eyes even when it’s not good enough in the eyes of others.
Just click SHARE your THOUGHTS below this post and you’ll be entered to win.
{If you are reading this via email, PLEASE click here to ENTER}
Happy Fall Ya’ll!
Discover more from Renee Swope
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I just recently had a friend tell me that she could never work her way into my clique! I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. I am passionate about eliminating the clique and the friends I would deem closest to me often fault me for not spending enough exclusive time with them. It was too much confusion. It broke me. I asked God to help me see clearly and He brought to mind several moment I had invited this friend into my life and into my “clique”. I didn’t need to bring that to her attention (I had already addressed one that came to mind immediately) but I needed it for my own peace of mind. It also just confirmed that God is to be my best friend and is helping me refocus my efforts on my relationship with Him. I truly cannot please humans. It was your Confident Heart that helped remind me that God is the one who will not disappoint… I am human and I will disappoint others. Thanks for your ministry!
This devotion was what I needed today. I recently left a job (career) after more than 17 years and what you described is how I felt. Unfortunately, I did not have the wisdom to look at the situation as you described here. I am seeking God’s help to move past the hurt of condemnation and disappointment. And trusting His plan because He knew then where I would end up. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for you daily thoughts! They always seem to hit home some way.
This is just what I needed today!!! So often in the midst of a struggle God uses these devotionals to encourage my heart. Isn’t He amazing?! I find myself moving toward a crossroads after obtaing my degree at 35years old. I have been feeling overwhelmed with “what’s next”. Good just reminded me to do my best. If I do the work God will show up. That is a life lesson I learned from a previous devotional & have clung to. Thank you for letting the Lord use you.
Slowly learning to preform for my audience of One! It’s hard to focus and not be distracted. Thank you for your honesty!
Es grandioso poder caminar con Dios que es tan poderoso y amoroso en todo momento de mi vida es mi guía perpetuo me agarro de su mano fuerte y no me suelto me da la gran fuerza de un búfalo para seguir con gran alegría,fuerza y animo ante cualquier circunstancia de mi vida.Gracias a Dios voy adelante,siempre,adelante. Saludos desde Oaxaca de Juarez,Oax. México. Dios le cuide.
It’s always a joy as well as informative to read your posts. Thanks
If I was always at “my best”, maybe life wouldn’t be so difficult. With one daughter at college and the other one depressed/lonely/grieving her sister’s absence (and not going to school after I leave for my school), I have not been at my best lately, and I have felt like such a bad mother. I know that I also need to unclutter my thoughts and pray…
I have had lots of hurtful things happen with friendships this year and it is hard to want to invest in peoples lives and not just withdrawal. I love what you wrote about ” can feel offended, but I don’t have to be offended.
I can feel insecure, but I don’t have to act insecure.
I can feel angry, but I don’t have to respond in anger.”
Such a great reminder for me.
Thank you for all you do.
Thank you for this insight-perfect timing for me!! Everyday I feel inadequate, and Satan magnifies it for me by making me feel useless and unforgiven. A wonderful idea-to see us as God sees us! Forgiven! Equipped! LOVED!!!
Thank you for this insight-perfect timing for me!! Everyday I feel inadequate, and Saran magnifies it for me by making me feel useless and unforgiven. A wonderful idea-to see us as God sees us! Forgiven! Equipped! LOVED!!!
The struggles we place ourselves in are not thT ones He calls us to. Your devotions and both books teach me time and time again, that I need to go to Him and trust Him and I can rest assured that I am good in His sight and strong enough to push through.
Thank you for the inspiration and your courage.
It is so easy to second-guess myself, especially in my job. Thank you for this daily devotional. It really hit home with me. I try to turn all my problems over to God and ask Him to give me the peace and confidence to do the best I can.
I would love to win this “bundle”.
My take away from this devotional is asking God to clear my thoughts of what others think or feel about me. Asking for that peace within beyond anyone’s understanding, asking the Holy Spirit for the strength I need to stop beating myself up trying to please everybody. I’ve come realize thought guidance and the Word of God and prayer, that I’m good!!! Thank You so much for this insight.
I often feel my best is not good enough, but I offer it to HIM and pray He’ll use it for His glory!!
Thank you for this timely message. It spoke volumes to my heart, I’ve been struggling a lot lately with attacks from the devil. These attacks have come through the one thing I love most, my daughter. I am dealing with the enemy constantly. God bless!
This is funny that I read this today. Last night during dinner at church I asked another mother what her children thought about Sunday school. My husband and I recently took over teaching their class. My husband leads the RA’s on Wednesday night, so he knows some of the kids well. Anyway, this mother told me that her kids said it was ok… it was different..not as much fun as before and that her son held a little resentment towards my husband for something that had happened at camp during the summer. I was stunned. I had no idea there was a problem, no one had said anything to us. Anyway, when we got home I was talking to my husband about it. We were both upset.. thinking our best wasn’t good enough.. that maybe we had made a mistake teaching..maybe God wasn’t calling us to teach… Then today, my husband was reading his Bible and read the verse in 2 Peter and we both realized that we let Satan chew us up and spit us out last night. Our hearts are in the right place, we are being obedient to God, we will look at our lesson and see if there is anyway to change it up a bit and be more fun, but bottom line we want the kids to hear about God and what He has done and is doing in their lives…
God is always there to help us out & He keeps telling me we are perfect in His eyes. So I just need to listen more to Him & not to others.
I enjoyed reading your article, thank you for sharing. I often struggle with thinking I’m never good enough, but after reading this I am good enough in God’s eyes and that’s all that matters.