Hi friends! I am so excited to start this “Confident Heart” journey with you!
We have almost 8000 women from around the US and the world signed up! I’ve been closing my eyes and picturing us gathering together in small groups (cause I’m a small group kinda girl). Anyhow, it’s so amazing to be here with YOU learning how we can live beyond our doubts by finding our security and confidence in the power of God’s loves and promises!
The first thing I want you to remember is: This is YOUR journey.
You’ll be reading the chapters. You will be asking and listening for God to speak to your heart. You’ll be the one who takes time to highlight sentences, promises and quotes you want to remember.
You’ll be looking for ways to apply and live what you are learning. You’ll be answering reflection questions and interacting with the group.
You’ll be doing the faith-work of not only believing in God, but really believing God.
I’ll be shepherding, leading, praying, encouraging, connecting and pacing us. I’ll be sharing more of my story – and inviting co-leaders who are helping me with the study to share theirs.
I’ll be praying for you, encouraging you, believing in you and challenging you – but you will make the heart investment and be the one who gets out pretty close to as much as you put in.
Here are a few IMPORTANT reminders:
What’s Needed: A copy of the book, a notebook, a Bible, and a ready-for-God- to-do-a-new-thing in you attitude!
When We’ll Meet: Because we’ll meet online, you can check in at your convenience any time of the day and week.
(Day 1) Assignment
Read the Acknowledgements. This will give you a peak into my current personal life and I’ll be asking you to share about yourself later this week too. 🙂
Read Chapter 1.
- If you don’t have your book yet, you can click here to read Chapter 1 .
- Highlight verses and sentences that grab your attention or tug on your heart.
- Write down what you sense God is speaking to your heart in the margins of your book or in a journal/notebook.
- If you’ve already read chapter 1, share your thoughts here. And then take time to look up the verses mentioned in the chapter prayer and answer the questions at the end of the chapter.
Connecting in Community: Click “Share Your Thoughts” below and let’s all answer this question:
What sentences in Chapter 1 resonate with your heart or speak to you in a personal way? How did you relate to my story in this chapter?
I can relate to Renee’s feelings regarding her mother. I never really bonded with my mother. I was the 4th daughter and felt I was the 4th disappointment (the son was number 5). My mother was not very affectionate and at times was scary. She was verbally abusive and physically abusive on occasions, not severely so, but being slapped across the face (both sides) during her rages, sure messed with my sense of value.
Renee stated in chapter one that “as a child I doubted I was worth keeping”. That resonated with me, often feeling that if my mother could have sent me back, she would have. However, I was blessed with a wonderful father, who is the one I did bond with. And I am so thankful for him, he was my childhood hero!
I grew up feeling like a big disappointment to my mom and later to my first husband, etc.
But God saved me and revealed to me through one scripture, that I had a purpose and He ordained for me to be born and become His.
That scripture set me free, and it was John 1:13: “children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision, or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
I love the part in the prayer at the end of the chapter that says, “My confidence is in Christ and I am no longer one who shrinks back and is destroyed.” My husband and I have been together for 15 years and are working through infidelity. I’ve felt destroyed and hopeless, but I can see a new day dawning. It’s taken over a year to make our way out of the fog, but God is faithful and is bringing us out. This book/study has happened at the perfect time.
I will be reading Chapter 2 this afternoon when my LO goes down for a nap. I have already felt satan trying to rob me of learning how to be confident. Last night I was in the most depressed state. My husband and I talked for a good while. I told him my doubts as a mom, as a wife, as a daughter in law to his parents who claim they are the worlds most perfect Christians. My husband said the one thing that I believe all this self doubt (in myself) stems from. I had unrealistic expectations of being a wife, a mother, etc. I believe this is so true, especially for my life. Having unrealistic expectations can rob you of enjoying your life just the way God imagined it. Hope you all have a wonderful day.
Please be in prayer that as I continue with the study that satan will lose power over my happiness.
I was so excited about this online study, I couldn’t wait! But now, I got busiest schedule ever! I already doubt I won’t be able to keep up with you. 🙁
This is really something I’d like to do as I’ve been living in a huge shadow of problems and doubts for last 9 months.
Thank you Renee and whole Proverbs31 team for your ministry.
Be blessed!
Renee,
Wow! First, Thank you for this Bible Study
I have been praying about Confidence, Self Doubt and to develop a closer relationship to God. I came across your website I believe “The Lord guided me there”
The First Chapter really resonated and was speaking to me right off the bat.. Like you were writing about me and were in my shoes..
What really touched me was Doubt and Hope can’t live together in our hearts at the same time.. I have said that so many times.
I am so excited to be on this journey. Since, God has given me the direction. Now, it’s up to me to learn all I can and do the work. God Bless
That resonated with me too, Angela. It really makes sense and helps put things in perspective. God Bless you as we start this journey.
Hi Roxanne
You are not a lone beleive me. I’m at where you are and i hope this study changes that for all of us I will get back into my story later to night. My prayers are with all of us on this jounry together.
God Bless
There was a lot that spoke to me in this first chapter. I loved the prayer at the end of the chapter. I plan on writting it down and putting it up on my bathroom mirror. I feel so relieved reading all these posts and seeing that I am not the only one who struggles with these things. I’d love to be able to tell you where it all started, but honestly I have no idea. Ever since I can remember I have had a really bad self image. I never thought I was good enough or pretty enough and I am constantly comparing myself to other people. My parents had me very very young, and my dad wasn’t around much. And if he said he was coming to get me he usually never came.I always wanted that “daddy’s little girl” relationship with him, so I tried everything I could do to please him. Which never worked, he always seemed more interested in what my two brothers were doing. And sadly enough that is still how it is today. That could be where all my self doubt issues came from but i’m not too sure. I tried to find my self worth in what guys thought of me. If they thought I was pretty or attractive I must be right? That only worked until I figured out what they really wanted from me, yet I still tried to find my self worth in every man I met up until I met my husband. Trying to find your worth in many many non-christian guys did a lot of damage to my image of men and A LOT to my trust. My husband is a GREAT christian man and I love him so much. I thank God so much for bringing him into my life and giving him so much patience with me. I have a really hard time trusting him when he has given me no reason not to. He reasures me every day that I am the only one he is interested in, the only one he loves and tells me that he is not leaving me no matter what happens. Yet for some reason I still can’t believe him. I know I have a lot I need to work on. I think starting with having confidence in myself. But for some reason I still see nothing good about me. I feel like I have nothing to offer God or my husband. I feel like my husband can find someone better than me, someone else who has talents or better looking. I’m praying that this book will change my outlook on things. I’ve tried to read it once, but got too busy to finish it. This time I am commiting myself to it, I NEED to start seeing changes. I NEED to start feeling important and like I matter. I know that these are not the thoughts and feelings that God intended me to have. Sorry so long, I tend to be very long winded 🙂
sorry had to go something has come up be back later. please pray for me.
Hi Sisters in Christ
reading chapter 1&2 have really hit some soft spots and made me cry like a baby. I connected the most with Sam, I to have been married 4 times and i also live with a man ( 20 years now) and he has no plans to marry me. He has never been married or had his own kids but he has been a great dad to mine.The son we lost has hit him as hard as me. He don’t think God dose anything he is just something people can give blame or glory to when something happens.
The only thing that really bothers me is he never give me incourgement on anything. He is always telling me I can’t do something
As a 30+ never married woman, I have been filled with self-doubt regarding my purpose as I have an overwhelming desire for love and children. I relate well with Emmylou and agree that I do not believe I am called to be single as God would not have placed those heartfelt desires within me if that were the case. I recently was called back to a wonderful nondenominational church in my area and am inspired after reading the first chapter to get involved with service and small group Bible study within the church community. I know that working past my doubts around my frustrations of being single and childless will not be an easy thing but I trust that this book study will help.
Some of the sentences that I identified with were: p.22 “You can only see the shadow because you have turned away from the light. Turn back toward the light.” And p.23 “Over the past few years, I’ve found lasting confidence by living daily in the security of God’s promises.
My problem is most often consistency. I take my eyes off of Jesus and struggle to live daily in His promises and end up trying to live and change in my own strength. Sometimes I’m frustrated because it seems there is so much for me to “do”. I feel I’ve done all I can and without much result. The reminder to turn back toward the light and to become consistent are a challenge but if I can do that perhaps Jesus can do the rest.
I am so grateful for this study and have already been so blessed by reading the posts from so many women who struggle just like I do. I know that God has provided me with this opportunity to study and be in this community of faith at just the right time! I have struggled with self-doubt my entire life. Growing up, I learned to always expect the worst and be surprised if something good happened.
That being said, the parts of Chapter 1 that resonate with me the most are the imagery of the large shadow of doubt and hearing God whispering “You can only see the shadow because you have turned away from the light. Turn back toward the light.” That is so powerful and I have already found myself hearing those words as doubt has crept into my thoughts today and I was able to turn back toward the Light.
The other part that really challenged me was about finding lasting confidence by living daily in the security of God’s promises where Renee said “He’s lead me beyond believing in Him to really believing Him by relying on the power of His Words and living like they are true no matter what my feelings tell me.” I to pray that I can choose to dwell in the assurance of Whose I am and who I am in Him.
I’m so excited to be on this journey with Renee and all of the wonderful sisters who are a part of this Online study.
Liz,
Your on the right path this is going to be a wonderful journey and am glad we’re on it together. John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; not as the world gives, give I to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.
When I first heard of this book, I heard the voice of doubt right away. For a long time I had accepted all the thoughts that landed in my head to be mine. Not until a few years ago, was I even aware that “my thoughts” could be coming from the pit. I have to be very intentional and take captive negative thoughts that do not agree with what God says about His people. It is a daily, sometimes hourly practice. What I did not realize was that I was not always believing God. Sure, I believe in God, but did I believe what He said about others also for myself? That was trickier. I purposely Believe Him now, and what a change that has made to my heart. It is in accepting/believing God’s promises for myself that lets God into my heart to do the work that needs to be done. I felt fearful towards the looking back part of this chapter, but I realize that moving forward with victory is not possible unless I let God help me understand the lies that I have been carrying around. God will shine light on those lies, and reveal His truth for me.
Cassandra,
We can no longer let Fear stand in our way we’ve to trust in the LORD and not miss out anymore. My prayers are with you and thank you for being on this journey with me.
Maggie,
I can’t agree with you more God is amazing and we’re on a wonderful journey together.
I am a first time blogger. After reading about other’s who were struggling with the same issues as I, I knew I had to respond. Listening to Doubt’s Whispers (p22) spoke the loudest to me. It was like Renee was reading my mind when she listed those comments. “These are the voices of insecurity”…I thought I was the only one that heard these voices, and “no one but you knows the paralyzing power they have on your life”. I can really pull this one off. Just about every word of Chapter 1 was applicable to my life. I want to claim “He’s led me beyond believing in Him to really believing Him by relying on the power of His words and living like they are true no matter what my feelings tell me”. I’m so excited to begin this journey with all of you. I too want to desperately move out of my doubts and live a life free of depression, anxiety, and fear. Thank you Renee for listening to God and taking time out of your busy life to write your thoughts down so others do not feel alone and know there is hope through Jesus Christ. God Bless.
Thank you for this Bible study! This is just what I need. I have struggled for years wondering if I am truly saved and on my way to Heaven. I know that I have come to Jesus as a sinner and asked for His forgiveness and that the Bible says that I am saved, but I also have alot of insecurities over other things in my life too. Please pray that God will help me to overcome these doubts and fears through this study and that I will be able to live confidently in Him and serve Him the way He wants me to.
I have always found it so much easier to believe God’s promises for everyone but so hard to believe them for myself. I have seen Him move and have prayed for Him to move in other’s lives. Its always been a blessing.
I realize now it’s time to believe for me also. Not just everyone else. That He pursues me and wants to move in MY life as much as I have seen Him do for others. I need to quit dismissing that’s possible. To come to the realization its for me too. I have much to overcome in my own mind. That doubt is really deep within me. I did not realize just how deep until now. Hopefully that means God is getting ready to deal with that.
“Take CAPTIVE EVERY thought to make it obedient to Christ” 2 Corinthians 10:5
I look at it like this: Think of your mind as an airport with lots of runways; the devil likes to send thoughts into your head that are not your thoughts but his lies( i.e. you’re not pretty enough, you’re unlovable etc), if you think of these thoughts as airplanes trying to land on your runway, you can choose to not let them land, because if they land they can become your thoughts. So you have control over what thoughts you accept as truth and what are lies from the devil. When he sends a thought into your head that is a lie, you can rebuke it it by thinking of a passage from scripture and quote it in my head as the truth from God. I don’t underestimate the power of negative thoughts, they draw us away from God and into the web of deceit of the devil. He hates that we are studying the word of God and will work especially hard to get us to quit! “Resist him and he will flee!” James 4:7
The sentence that stood out the most was “doubt and hope cannot live in our hearts at the same time.” I am 46 and have had what I thought was a strong faith for many years until my daughter started having anxiety and depression three years ago. She is 15 now and still struggling and missing a lot of school because of her anxiety. The last three years have shown me how weak my faith really is, and I have allowed so much doubt to enter into my heart. I have felt so much anger at God for not helping her or show me how to help her. I can handle bad things happening to me but not to my child. I am hopeful after reading the first chapter that I can have hope again and believe that He works all things together for good.
The verse that spoke to me was Isa. 49:23. As a 29yr old woman I have a strong desire to get married and start a family. This area in my life has been such a disappointment for me. This verse went straight to my heart. I know God’s timing is perfect but there are days where it becomes overwhelming and I become unsure of God’s goodness. I don’t believe He is calling me to be single. Doubt creeps in and whispers lies. I am ready to embark on obtaining a confident heart and I am excited to read the next couple of chapters!!
I’m so glad that God not only encourages us to have faith…. (faith in what His son’s life, death and resurrection can do in, through and for us), but that He has faith Himself. I have hope today because God has faith for me(us) and in me(us). It’s truly amazing seeing we can’t do one single thing to help ourselves but its true, God believes that we can make it. I asked Him today to give me ‘vision’ and to increase my capacity to ‘hear’ the truth, His truth which always comes with hope.
Val
Good Morning,
Thank you Renee and all of you wonderful ladies for the things that you have shared here. They are all so encouraging! I too have been through a divorce, have been abused by others and myself – we tend to be our own worst abuser sometimes. I did finally learn that none of those things will fill that void like God can. Indeed we were created for relationship – most of us spend a lot of our lives [me included] trying to fill that space and need for relationship with our Loving Father, with many other types of relationships. I am a social worker and I see it everyday – desperation in people’s lives and constant searching. Our God is selfish … He wants us to love Him above all. Once we reach that place of being completely and totally in love with Him that’s when the ride really begins – but we seem to not care because He has it all covered. The journey from where we are to where God wants us to be will not be easy, but oh so worth it! I am so excited to start this journey with all of you … have a great day!!!
I keep looking at the verse about “Those that put their trust in me will not be put to shame” I felt so rejected when I lost my job. My husband is retired as he lost his job two years ago. He’s not a Christian so I fell that I am responsible to keep up a good front saying how God will provide me a job. But inside – inside I am feeling that no way am I good enough, no way will I deserve God’s help.
These are all untrue thoughts. I can’t say I never have victory over self loathing and evil thoughts of just end it. But I am grateful for this study because Jesus was already victorious and i can be too in him.
I need to know and trust that God will indeed provide the job when the time is right and that not being hired after an interveiw is just practice 🙂
Most of my thoughts are you stupid loser. Wrong so wrong. So I want to change to be who God wants me to be and all the rest will follow.
For me also, I did not just see one sentence that stood out in my mind. I saw myself in what I read. Since 1988 I have had feelings of insecurities and self doubt. I have been married twice. My first divorce was in 1988, after 7 years of marriage and no clue. I finally thought I met someone, we had one child and when he was 3 divorced. He was mentally and physically abusive. After awhile after much soul searching and thinking that he had changed, we reconciled and we had another child. Well, he didn’t change and a year later we split up again and for good this time. That was in 2004. My children are 18 and 10. I am still trying to forgive him, but I can’t. After all the years of abuse (mentally and physically) and all the mind games that he did on my oldest son. He also does not have anything to do with my second child. It is very hard to forgive. I am trying, but it is so hard.
Thank you Renee for writing A Confident Heart! I can’t wait to dive into the book and start learning.
So much spoke to me… So much to embrace & lean towards when I feel unworthy & defeated . ” doubt & hope cannot live In. Our hearts at the same time”. Doubtful thoughts are the weeds which fight to strangle our flowers of hope & when struggling with this world , with a rocky marriage and it feels lately even easier to let the uncertainties & fears control our minds. Hoping through this study I can hear Gods truth over all the noise of self doubt & live like the confidant woman / child of the King he created me to be. “Self-doubt blocks the promise of God’s power and truth to change us from the inside out so that we can live with a confident heart.”
I really need this. I really want to LIVE this … I’m always asking God to show me what He wants me to do, but then I let my doubt speak louder than Him. I hope that this study helps me to hear God & find my security in the promises He has for me & my family. I want to be a good confidant example to my children & my husband of Gods love
I am struggling with a situation now. I am filled with self doubt. Page 23 says that self doubt keeps us from believing things can get better. This is so true! I felt as though I should just give up. Although I am a committed Christian, self doubt robs me of joy. I plan to use scripture in my prayers as is written on page 25…”When we pray God’s words out loud, and hear them, the Holy Spirit engraves them on our hearts and writes them in our thoughts”. Thank you for these words of wisdom and hope in the Lord!
Okay, so I must have been looking at the wrong week 1 earlier, I saw the comments from last year and was confused. But what I was saying, was, Renee, thank you for the devotional this morning, from Encouragement for Today. It spoke volumes to me this morning. I am slowly getting started on the book and study, but starting none the less and going to complete. Thank you again.
As I am reading more of the posts, I recall what my pastor said this Easter Sunday. He was talking how the devil tries to lie to us, such as “I am no good”, “I’ ugly” or in my case “I am not worthy”. We need to laugh at the devil and let him know he has NO authority over us! I did that last night. Doubts seem to come at night when I am tired. This time I did not allow it to stay. I am looking forward on going on this journey with all of you and looking forward to what God is going to do in our lives! Have a wonderful and blessed day and week!
Reading chapter 1 these words/verses really challenged and spoke to my heart. “You can only see the shadow (of self doubt) because you have turned away from the light. Turn back to the light.” This brings to mind Psalm 27:1a-The LORD is my light and my salvation, so why should I be afraid? Through this study and spending time in His word may I learn to rely/rest in the power of His words and really live like they are true no matter what I am feeling (because they are) and choose to keep my focus on Him and Whose I am and who I am in Him. When the enemy comes in and whispers in my ear “I can’t do this.” May my reply be I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
I am excited about this study.
Waiting on God is so hard for me. I like to have it all planned out and as a soon-to-be college graduate, I especially want to know NOW what He has planned for my life. I want to follow Him and will do whatever it is He calls me to do in a heartbeat, even if its hard. I just want to know!
The very first page of chapter 1 has Hebrews 10:25-26…”You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God you will receive what He has promised.” I want to truly have confidence that God will come through even when I can’t see Him working. When I don’t have this confidence, I feel purposeless and depressed. I want to turn away from focusing on my doubtful shadows and experience His light. Nothing can hold us down when we are focused on Whose we are assured of who we are in Him. I have read A Confident Heart before, but I need to be reminded of the security in Him and HOW to turn away from my doubts and rest in His love.
What resonated with me the most was the statement, my uncertainty had cast a huge shadow of doubt. This like your story is a reminder that no matter what stage of life or “stage of our calling” we are in these shadows can still creap in.
Thank u Renee 4 opening up ur story about self-doubt & writing “A Confident Heart!” I am very encouraged by what God is going 2 teach me during ur Bible study.
“Doubt and hope cannot live in our hearts at the same time”
So true! When we see Jesus for who He truly is, and know our identity in Him, there is NO way to doubt. Nothing can hold you down in depression when Jesus is in your heart.
With me it wasn’t my dad but my mom. I understand her situation a lot better now, and I have a daughter of my own whom I adore. Still, it was hard. I’m going to work on this study, but I’m also going to try to trust God to change me – because He’s the only one who can, really. I’m sick of doubt rotting me from the inside – on the outside I look great, but it’s not reality. I’m hoping that I really can learn to “take every thought captive to Christ” and let what Jesus tells me guide my feelings, not what my demons tell me.
I can relate with some of women here… the forward too spoke to me, It was my dad. Although I know my dad loves me and still does, he didn’t outwardly show it to me growing up and I sought seeking love from other avenues. I am truly looking forward to this journey! Revealing the Woman of God that I know lives in me and believing it by the Word He wrote!
I didn’t have just one sentence that stuck out to me because I was just realizing how much of me I was reading about. I have struggled with self-doubt most of my life. So the words these pages were really hitting home and I can’t wait to dive into this study!!!
I agree with Libby. The statement that resonated with me was that “doubt and hope cannot live in our hearts at the same time.” The enemy is so good at tempting us to do the things that will tear at our assurance and confidence, and then, after we give in to that temptation, he’s so good at smashing us down with condemnation. But, doubt can’t live in the same space as hope, so I’m going to choose to hang onto hope. I think that’s what it takes; a daily decision to hang onto hope and let go of self-doubt. God is the Master Carpenter, the Potter, and He doesn’t make junk! We are His workmanship, created for good things in Christ. No matter what satan himself declares, I can choose to grab hold of hope and not let go. It’s my choice!
When I first saw this study I wasn’t sure if it was for me, God has done a lot of healing, but then God really placed it on my heart to do the study after all and I have realized that I really needed it. The sentenced that captured me the most was “As a child I doubted I was worth keeping.” You see, just a week ago I pinpointed my biggest insecurity, I have always felt unwanted. My father left when I was three to never return, I saw him twice between 3 and 21. I figured if my father didn’t want me how could anyone else, especially men. This has been a huge battle for me and eventually turned itself into a weight issue because now it is how can a man want a fat woman. I feel because of the original insecurity, which was too painful to handle, I found something that was easier to cling to and embrace, after all it fit the world’s standards of acceptable unwantedness. This journey, I feel, is going to be life altering. Thanks.
My uncertainty had created a huge shadow of doubt. I often question my choices and wonder if I’m doing the right thing. I struggle with insecurities and fear of my choices. I often let new opportunities pass me by because I fear rejection. I also fear meeting new people. I just want to be accepted and I feel sometimes people won’t except me for who I am. I’m also having a hard time just typing this post, but I want to reach iut and move past this doubt and gain some confidence.
I have let plenty of new opportunities pass me for the same reasons, I often feel like I have missed out on a lot because of it.
When I began reading this book I have cried just about on every page. It was like my story was being told the one I never told anyone. The parts that affected me most were “What;s wrong with me?” Always questioning if I am good enough to be loved or to love? I fee I have more self doubt and insecurity at age 50 than I have had in my life. You would like being a single mother all my child’s life who is now 24 years old that I would have these feelings more than I do now? Is it because I have stuffed how I felt and I was to afraid to ask for help? There are so many questions now reading this book will I ever be worthy?
Christy, praying for you today. May God strengthen and guide you in this journey. May you discover that your true identity is wrapped up in Him. You are loved, wonderfully made, worthy and so much to your loving heavenly Father.
I am really excited about this study and the topic really hits home for me. I started a new job this year and live in a new place. Everything has been new and scary. I have always struggled with doubt and insecurity, but have watched it become almost debilitating this year. Fortunately, God is good. He has gotten me through some really hard circumstances and has put excellent support systems in place for me, including this study. The part of chapter one that hit me the hardest was that Hod doesn’t want us to be stuck in a cycle of defeat or living in shadows of doubt. Renee gave a great analogy earlier in the chapter of how uncertainty creates such a huge shadow of doubt that is much larger than us. She then pointed out that doubt and hope cannot live in our hearts at the same time. I love this!
So many sentences tugged at my heart as I read. Page 22 “Self doubt blocks the promised of God’s power and truth that change us from the inside out so that we can live with a confident heart.” I so want to change and have a confident heart. Page 23 “doubt and hope cannot live in our hearts at the same time”. It is my desire to break the cycle of defeat with the Holy Spirit’s help. Thank you for reminding us of the importance of praying God’s words. My greatest periods of victory have been when I pray God’s words.
I so relate to your story, Renee. I so often listen to the lies telling me I am not good enough and I will always fail. It has been a life long struggle. My mom was not good at telling me she loved me. I developed very low self esteem because of the things she said at times. I know God loves me but I fall in the trap of wanting my cup filled by the wrong things instead of my Lord. I want a steady confident heart. He is all that really matters!!!
Thank you for this study. God Bless
Thank you for this study. Thank you for daring to be so vulnerable with us… It gives us hope. Never did anything online before but for the study I’m diving in and looking forward to it. Feeling kind of broken right now but the Lord keeps showing me that he hasn’t given up on me so I’m going forward. Tried so many things to fix myself but all out of options and ideas, don’t don’t know how someone could know Jesus and still be such a mess but since hasn’t given up on me so I’m gonna take one step at a time. Thank you again.
Val, I am so glad that you decided to take this journey. I am praying for you as you take one step after another following God’s leading.
I have gone through a lot of hard stuff since becoming a Christian and this has seemed very confusing at times. However, one thing I heard from God over the Easter weekend was that what I have gone through has helped to chip away at my pride so I can let in more of his healing, love and grace in. I still have a ways to go but am grateful for how far I have come too.
Someone posted something that broke my heart about a man never looking at her twice…but I can’t find it in the comments. I began praying for you (I believe your name is Jennifer) and a scripture popped into my mind immediately: “As it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.” (1 Cor 2:9-10)
I believe God wants you to hold onto that promise. I will fall asleep praying for your precious heart.
-I asked God-once again-to please take away my uncertainty. I hated feeling this way.
-I mean, if God calls you to do something, shouldn’t you feel confident about it? Shouldn’t you want to do it? Shouldn’t self-assurance be part of God’s equipping?
-I desperately wanted to move out of the shadow of my doubts, but all I could do was go through the motions and pray that God would zap me with confidence.
These sentences are thoughts that run through my mind often. I found myself saying “I’ve said that before!” I cant pinpoint a moment where I lost my confidence or to be honest, if I ever really had it. But I know, I am positive that I want it. One of my main motivations is my 2 year old daughter, I dont want her to feel the way I felt growing up. I cant prevent everything but if I can show her what God can do, that’ll be the best I can do.My main reason for wanting it, I dont want to feel this way and neither does God! This chapter has literally given me hope that I havent felt in a while. I am excited to move forward. There is still doubt in the back of my mind saying “this wont work” but I am trusting in the Lord that I am in this for reason and I WILL be blessed!
My favorite- Self-doubt blocks the promise of God’s power and truth to change us from the inside out so that we can live with a confident heart.
He’s led me beyond believing in Him to believing Him by relying on the power of His words and living like they are true no matter what my feelings tell me (pg 23-24).
These words remind me of how important the words of Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV) are, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do no lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge HIM, and HE will make straight your paths.” When we choose to trust in God’s words, and live by His promises, we will never fail. However, when our hope and trust rest in our weak and sinful flesh and we allow ourselves to be guided by our own thoughts and feelings, we are guaranteed to fail in every decision, situation, trial, etc. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9, ESV) Therefore, our hope and confidence should rest in our God who is infinitely wise in all things and whose ways are perfect and holy..
I am so thankful for this study! This is one I really need, I have never had much confidence in myself even as a child I suffered with insecurities. From being bullied in elementary school to trying to find myself thru “other” avenues as a teenager. Getting married at 18, having two children to finding myself in a divorce at 28.
Failures upon failures. Now married to a man who doesn’t love me anymore! Depressed yet?
Three things that stuck out to me tonight in chapter 1 are:
I need to hope that life can be different
I must rely on the power of God’s words and live like they are true no matter what my feelings tell me
I must dwell in the assurance of Whose I am and who I am in Him
After reading the first chapter I believe God will help me, I don’t know how but I believe He will!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. My insecurities developed from childhood from a mother who desperately wanted to be loved by my two step-sisters, not leaving room to love her own daughter; her never having time to listen to my thoughts and problems growing up and never having a godly father/male figure in my life to point me to Christ. I struggled all my life choosing other people and things to fill the void in my heart. It wasn’t until I became pregnant out of wedlock that God humbled and captured my heart through great mercy and grace and filled the deep longing in my life to have a godly father/male figure in my life. I am thankful for His unfailing love and that He chose to redeem my heart when I wanted nothing to do with Him.
The same points that stuck out to you pierced my heart as well: I need to hope that life can be different.
I must rely on the power of God’s words and live like they are true no matter what my feelings tell me.
I must dwell in the assurance of Whose I am and who I am in Him.
Praise be to God that “All things are possible for one who believes.” (Mark (9:23, ESV)
I am very “ready” to quit letting satan have any hold on my life. After marrying the same man twice, this second time I realized how much my trust had been betrayed, and my confidence has suffered. I really trusted that he had changed, as he led me to believe for the first 10 months, but then I saw the same verbal, emotion abuses happening again, the same as it did the first time we were married. I wasn’t going to let it become physical abuse, as it did the first time though. I told him to leave in mid September. My confidence, self-esteem, finances, emotions, and self-worth has taken a beating. I want to believe in Him, and believe Him as you have said in your first chapter, and come to the realization of my worth in God…..not my worth to someone who has left me completely empty.
I look forward to learning, and applying what God has for me, and all who share this wonderful journey.
Thank you Renee