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Renee Swope

Encouraging and equipping moms to parent with God's grace and confidence.

There is No One Like You!

Do you remember being in middle school? Those were the awkward years. I remember not really liking who I was or how I looked. I have a feeling a lot of us didn’t like ourselves at that age, but we all desperately wanted others to like us, right?

At that point, I think a lot of us secretly compared ourselves to those around us, observed who was liked most, and tried to be like the popular people.

In my Proverbs 31 devotion, “Becoming the Real Me,” I talk about having that same unhealthy habit in my adult life, too. And I know I’m not alone. For many women, it wasn’t just a phase when we were teenagers; it’s still a struggle now. Sometimes it’s because we don’t have the confidence to find out who we really are. Many of us are just more comfortable buried in busyness and hiding behind our self-doubts.

Lots of times it’s because we’re believe we don’t have anything special to offer anyway, so we just keep being who others want, need or expect us to be.

Well my friend, it’s time to do something about it. How? First we have to stop comparing ourselves to other women. Why would we compare how we feel inadequate on the inside with how someone else looks like they had it all together on the outside? We’ll always end up feeling less than.

Not only is comparison toxic for us personally, it’s also destructive relationally. Comparison makes us measure our worth against other women, and we end up competing with each other.

But God created us to complete one another, not compete with each other.

In my book, A Confident Heart, I share how we can do that by encouraging each others’ strengths, overlooking each others’ weaknesses and celebrating each other’ uniqueness.

The truth is, life is hard and we need each other! “But now God has placed the parts, each one of them in the body just as He wanted. And if they were all the same part, where would the body be? Now there are many parts, yet one body.” 1 Corinthians 12:18-20

God gives all of us unique personalities, abilities, passions and experiences because we each play a leading role in the story He’s writing with our lives.

So, today when you are tempted to compare yourself to another woman and doubt starts whispering that you’re not as smart as she is, or gifted or pretty or godly…remember you are “God’s masterpiece…created anew in Christ so that [you] can do the good things He planned for [you] long ago.” Ephesians 2:10, (NLT)

In my upcoming book, A Confident Heart: How to Stop Doubting Yourself and Live in the Security of God’s Promises, I have a whole chapter on this topic and other self-doubts that keep us from becoming the women God created us to be!

I’m giving away three copies today, but first I’d love for you to watch this 2-minute introduction video.

I’m praying for each of you today as you begin to discover and embrace the woman God created you to be! Remember, there is no one like you…and the world is missing someone special until you become her!

If you’d like to read A Confident Heart when it releases, and share it with friends, enter to win 3 copies (1 for yourself and 2 for friends) below:

  • To enter one time, click on the word “comments” below to share thoughts about today’s topic. (If you don’t have a blog it’s okay, click anonymous and type in the white box. But be sure to leave your first name to be part of a drawing).
  • To enter two times, leave a comment with your thoughts and leave another letting me know you’re sharing this post via Facebook and/or twitter with a link back to my twitter page @reneeswope or back to my Facebook page @A Confident Heart by Renee Swope FB page.(https://www.facebook.com/renee.swope?ref=name#!/pages/A-Confident-Heart-by-Renee-Swope/160376334023273)

A Confident Heart releases August 1st, but you can pre-order yours at P31 today and be the first to receive a signed copy in early August! (P31 is getting early copies in mid July.)


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Comments

  1. I just had my third, precious daughter a month ago…i am so full of emotion and so empt all at once..i spent some time looking in the mirror tonigt and found it almost impossible to smile at the stranger staring back at me. I realized that I really don't know who I am, since I've dropped the old story that used to define me before I married and had kids. Now, though I'm thrilled to be blessed with the titles 'wife' and 'mommy', I have no idea who I am outside that. I also gave up some yucky addictions by God's grace, only to finally realize I've replaced them with junk food. Long story short, I really needed to read this today and I hope I can find your book if I don't win, because I think I really need is insight and direction. God bless you all. -Rebekah

  2. I'm finally learning to hear Him again after years of keeping Him out. Now, I'm asking Him to make me what He wants me to be. Each time I pray for guidance I am encouraged by women around me. Thank you for your obedience. He is amazing! Blessings on your book!

  3. This is the first time I have heard of you, yet I feel like I have known you forever. I cannot wait to read your book and I have faith that it will help me more than anything I have read so far, except for the Bible, of course. I have been struggling for months now trying to figure out how I can become me instead of everyone else's puppet. My mother still, to this day, tries to control me and I struggle daily between keeping our relationship alive and being who I am. I didn't realize until about a year ago that for all of my life I have made decisions to either please my mother or to totally rebel against her. I love my mother dearly; and, I desperately yearn to find a way to be who I am yet still maintain the line of communication with her. Only recently with help from Our Heavenly Father I have found the strength to forgive her for all the hurt she has caused me through out my life, but I also need to start being me. And that's only a small portion of my history. Nonetheless I look forward to the release of your book when I can learn from your insight on how to at least be who I was meant to be. Not who everyone else in this evil world wants me to be.

  7. Wow! I really needed to read this today! I have always compared myself to others, but that is not how God intended us to live!! We have the same power that raised Christ from the dead, available to us today! Why do we not tap into His power! He's there! He's waiting! Thanks for the reminder!

  8. What awesome timing God has! I have been so bothered lately by the fact that I still don't know what I want to be…or what my dream really is. I have a "great" job, but get the sensation that God did not create me for the job I am in, I am just to afraid to move out of that position. I feel flighty and like I will disappoint someone if I choose something else that fails. I have no idea what my strengths are and worry too much about what everyone else thinks. Praying for a peace, and God's dream for me to come to light.
    Thanks!
    Evie C

  9. I'm so excited to be reading your blog today!! I've been on the same path of self-sacrifice for years. After many losses of family members over the years & most recently, the loss of my husband to ALS (Lou Gerhig's disease), I finally realize that time is of the essence & now want only to fulfill God's purposes for my life! I believe He is showing me, but I think your book just may help me move forward with confidence. I look forward to reading & learning from you!

  10. Your devotion today really hit home. I have no idea who I am. For 27 years of my life I was a wife and mother. Then my husband left and so did my kids. I was laid off my job and took another to pay the bills that I really do not like. I have no idea who I am or what God wants me to be. I look at other women and it seems they are so creative and fulfilled. I would love for God to reveal to me what the purpose for the remainder of my life is to be. I do not even feel like I have a dream but surely God must have something left for me. Dana

  11. I'm so excited to be reading your blog today!! I've been on the same path of self-sacrifice for years. After many losses of family members over the years & most recently, the loss of my husband to ALS (Lou Gerhig's disease), I finally realize that time is of the essence & now want only to fulfill God's purposes for my life! I believe He is showing me, but I think your book just may help me move forward with confidence. I look forward to reading & learning from you!

  12. Thanks Renee. I am going to reread and reread this devotional until it sinks in. I've always struggled with who I am suppose to be. I have teaching degree, am currently a stay at home mom, and am trying to decide what I want to do/be within the next year or so when I go back to work. Time to start listening to God and not everyone else. 🙂
    Rachel – [email protected]

  13. You have always inspired me. I can't wait for your book to come out so I can start reading it. What you have said today in your P31 devotion, on your own blog, and on the video is exactly how I feel today…other than I am still living in the shadow. And I want to start living in the light! Thank you for always encouraging us. May God always bless you!!
    Nicole

  18. This is me. I have always people pleased and doubt myself daily. I will say this prayer many times over. Thank you for this reminder. I can't wait to read your book!

  19. I put a link on fb pointing to your book & your blog…hoping others will come to know you! Linda Evans @KBC

  20. I cannot wait to read this book! Thank you for sharing God's truths about confidence. Oh, how I need this!