Sometimes I’ll be thinking about something I want to do or something I sense God calling me to, and all of a sudden a feeling of doubt washes over me and whispers to my heart, “You can’t do that. You’re not good enough.”
Out of the blue. I’ll just get that awful, insecure sense of not being good enough. Or smart enough. Or _______ enough. Does that ever happen to you?
For the longest time, I thought I was the only one who struggled with doubt. And I didn’t want anyone to know because I figured they might start doubting me, too.
Now, I didn’t always call it doubt. Maybe you don’t either. I sometimes called it fear. Fear that I’d fail. Fear that I wouldn’t measure up. Fear that I’d look stupid. Or fear that I’d look prideful thinking I could do something special for God.
Other times I’d call it worry. Worry that I was going to disappoint someone. Worry that I might make a mistake and get criticized for it. Worry that I might get started but not be able to finish.
What I’ve realized over the past few years is that these may end up as fear or worry, but they stem from a source of doubt: self-doubt.
I think oftentimes we find ourselves standing in the shadow of doubt because we’re really good at focusing on all that is wrong with us (real or perceived), instead of anything that is right with us. It’s like someone’s telling us we can’t measure up and we believe it. We agree with it. And we live like it’s true.
Rarely do we stop to ask, “Who is saying these things?” Who is causing me to doubt myself? Is it me? Is it someone from my past? Or is it the enemy of my soul disguising his voice as my own?
The Bible opens with the story of a woman who had everything she could want but somehow it wasn’t enough. I think Satan knew Eve’s weakness and tapped into her insecurity of not feeling like she was all that she could be, or should be. His questions and suggestions implied that she lacked what she needed to measure up. He told her she could “be” more and “have” more if she’d just seek after what God told her to stay away from.
Satan convinced Eve that her good enough could come from something other than what God had promised and provided. By believing Satan’s lies her heart revealed that she didn’t believe God’s truth.
Jesus was tempted like Eve, and like you and me. Tempted to find His “good enough” in possessions, position and power – a false promise offered by the devil himself. Yet Jesus’ response was different.
He really believed His Father’s promises. He knew Who He was and Whose He was. His identity and confidence came from the Words spoken by His father. It was the only thing that could defeat the power of Satan’s lies.
You and I have the same power to overcome our enemy of doubt and live confidently in who we are in Christ. But it doesn’t just happen because we know it’s possible. The first thing I’ve learned to do is listen to my thoughts and compare them to God’s Word to see if they match His thoughts towards me. If they don’t, then I start looking for truth to replace the lies that have filled my heart with doubt.
When doubt tells me I’m not good enough, God’s Word tells me I’m wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14
When doubt whispers that I am going to let others down and they may give up on me. God’s Word tells me He will never leave me and He knows the plans He has for me that include purpose and hope. Deuteronomy 31:6, Jeremiah 29:11
When doubt whispers that I have nothing to offer. God’s Word tells me that I’m His gift to the world and that I was created in His image. Psalm 127:3, Genesis 1:26
I wish I could share more, and eventually I will…
Because this is the topic of my book (title TBD) that will be released March 2011! I’ve been in Michigan for two days meeting with the publishing/marketing team at Baker/Revell and it was truly amazing. I am so excited to be working with them. And I want you to be part of the process! It will be such a better book with your thoughts and wisdom (and prayers)!
- Will you first let God use you to bless and encourage those who read this (and me) by sharing a doubt you have and a promise from God’s Word that helps you overcome it?
- Can I quote you in my book? This is the message God has called pour out from the pages of my heart to the pages of a book. A book I pray will set the captive free and release many prisoners (everyday women like us), from living in doubt, discouragement or defeat so they can become all that God has created them to be!
Please click the word “comments” below, type in the white box and publish. If you don’t have a blog, click anonymous. Or if you just want to be anonymous, that is fine, too. And I’ll do a drawing for some kind of gift card just to get you all talking. I know you love to win stuff and I love to give it away :-).
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Hi Renee. This topic hit home in so many ways.
I've lived with self-doubt for the biggest part of my life.
When I was between 10 and 12 years old, I would study the Word of God and write "sermons." From the studying and spending time with my heavenly Father, I had the opportunity to speak at a youth conference at the age of 12.
I've always known that I'm suppose to minister, mainly to women. I don't know if its in the form of a book or standing behind a podium.
I'm a church secretary at the church where my family and I are members. There are several women ministers and for some reason I've always felt "unworthy" or "not good enough" to be in their company.
There's one scripture that encourages me to hold my head up and it's Luke 4:18 – "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,…"
So I truly believe that the Lord is directing you to write on this subject because so many women need that encouragement to say, "I can do all things through Christ…"
Renee, wow, God sure has a way of revealing Himself to me and shouting what He has been trying to teach me for so many years now. A person of self doubt, that's who I have been for so long, I'm not sure how to not be that person it's so ingrained in me. Doubt over my choices, my thoughts, my desires, my hair, my clothes, on and on I could go. How it has gripped me for so many years and how I have wished and prayed that would not be who I am.
I decided to go back to school after being home for 11 years with my kids. The fear of failure will overcome me, not only failure in school, but as a Mom, a wife, etc… Wondering if I can I do all of this and wondering if God really called me to become a nurse or if I should just stay put in my comfortable little world.
I realize it's Satan who speaks these words of self-doubt to me, but for some reason I can't shake it, it stops me in my tracks and makes me want to give up.. But I keep going, plugging away, even through the self-doubt, knowing God would never put me somewhere He didn't want me to be.
Thank you for sharing this topic, I really look foward to what your book will teach me and How God will reveal yet more of Himself to me.
Kerry
Renee
For years I lived married with just getting by in every aspect until the selfdout started coming in heavy. I then started believing that I could never get a hold of my finances, being a good homemaker, wife or mom. The Lord gave me Jermiah 29:11 last March. He told me that I needed to quit my job and let him mold me into the proverbs 31 woman. I didnt bother 2nd guessing I went straight to my husband that was a non Christian and explained to him what the Lord wanted me to do.
The Lord has giving me so many revelations over the last yr that I have been flying high all year in amazement of his miracles in my life.
Since then my husband that hated my Faith now shares it with me. He used to put me down and stay focused on negative things about me. Praise GOD he sees the changes in me! I am now a wonderful homemaker a busybee that I never thought I would desire being!! I have lost 30lbs in a yr with several months of distracttion from eating right when my father passed away and am not back on track and enjoying my health!! My husband praises me in public and at home!! Its just amazing to me!! I have become a money saving Mom, I cut corners, shop for bargains and respect my husbands hard earned money!! My Children are getting the parenting from Godly parents that are obediant to God rather than living in a home of inconsistancy.
I could go on and on with all of the changes that he has made in me this year….I feel like I am newly married again! I feel like I have the marriage that God intended for me to have!
Had I not believed the Word that God gave me a year ago…. I would still be working, getting by and living a dull life.
My husband has been in the military for 11 years, we have been married for 10 years, and that equals to 6 states. Each time we have to pack up and move or sign those reenlistment papers or say goodbye during a deployment, I have my doubts that we are doing the right thing for our family.
God always shows us that he is right where he wants us. Sometimes he puts us in a place so that others can be invited to church and sometimes we have to sit back, listen and learn. Doubt whispers to me all along the way and I love it when God comes calling above and beyond that whisper.
Amanda
Isn't that ol' devil such a snake!?! He borders his lies on the edge of truth. We aren't good enough. Well that's true, we aren't. BUT because of Christ we ARE good enough because we DO measure up. We measure up because Christ measured us up in His love. The devil told Eve she would be like God, knowing good and evil. That part was true. He bordered his lie on God's promises. He's a snake. A copy cat. But his counterfeit appears to be the real deal, but it's not. This is how he is so sly. If his lies were more obvious no one would fall for them.
We aren't good enough….on our own. But if we die daily, we ARE good enough because when we die daily, Christ resurrects through us. It's Jesus who IS good enough. And since He is IN us, we DO qualify. ((hugs)) to you Renee!
Friends! You have blessed and encouraged me so much with your stories and your thoughts. I am so thankful you are willing to do life right here with me and each other.
As you read through the comments, will you join me in praying for each other – each doubt – each fear? I can relate to every story and example shared here. I am gleaning so much from each of you. Don't ever doubt God can use you – He already did. Right here. Right now! You have something to say.
Keep talking…I'm listening. And praying.
Hugs,
Renee
Isn't it funny that when you think you are on an island all alone with your problem(s) that you realize there others on that same island with you feeling the exact same way???
Doubt….Fear. We all have it, we all struggle with it, we all know that God is in control but sometimes it's hard to believe it. Why does doubt take away faith???
When I was in high school, I struggled with the doubt that anyone would want to be friends with me, that I was attractive all those things that teenagers and hormones produce and create. However, doubt is a like a seed that once planted continues to grow unless it is plucked like a weed.
So now I am 35, seperated from husband of 10 years, no children and living in a basement apartment. Did I pluck the weed of doubt? No I let it grow and spread more seeds which grew. Every day I doubt my capability of handling my finances and getting out of debt, I doubt my abilities as a wife, I wonder if people are nice just to be nice or do they really like me for me, I doubt my abilites as a Sunday School teacher. Every day is a struggle with the weed of doubt.
Which brings me back to the beginning of this post. I know that God can pull this weed for me but I struggle with believing He will. My doubt has almost become like a security blanket and what would I do without it?
Thank you for reminding me about Esther….I will be reading that book again tonight. Joyful said "I never doubt that God can but I sometimes doubt if He will". I pray that God gives me the strength to let him pluck the weed and know that I am royalty..a child of the King.
Doubt is definitely something I battle. I'm a homeschooling mom of three. Our son has dyslexia and struggles with his work. I'm not just his mom but his teacher, his advocate, his coordinator of the programs he needs. I am believing God for everything I need to teach our son and for Him to open up our son's mind. BUT…just when I least expect it, DOUBT rears it's ugly head and I think that I'm not the one for the job….maybe somebody else can teach him better than me, etc. Recently, I was reading the kids their devotion from Genesis. Gen 22:14 was the focal verse. Father used this kids devotion totouch a deep place in my heart. As a result of this, I made a huge sign that hangs in clear view in our school room…"Jehovah- Jireh – The Lord will provide. Gen 22:14" It's a daily reminder WHO will provide me with all I need to teach our son, will provide our son all he needs to learn…. and even MORE than we can imagine.
Congratulations on your upcoming book! I'd love to get my hands on it!
Jeannie
I constantly feel like I'm lacking in the parenting/wife-ing departments. I always feel like I'm the bad guy and that I should be doing SO MUCH more. Like I shouldn't need to sleep or eat, I should just clean, do dishes, etc. Sometimes I think maybe I take the P31 thing too literally – like no matter how hard I try I can never truly be a P31 Woman…
I have many doubts that can lead me down a path of worry if I am not taking every thought captive in Christ. I am a wife and a mommy to a 7 month old, and I sense God leading me to take classes for my Masters degree. I am very afraid of failure (failure at being a good wife, a good mother, or a 'good student), but I know that God has a plan for my life.
Romans 8:28
"And we know all thins work together for good for those who love God who are the called, according to His purpose."
When doubt whispers you need to supply for the needs of your family God tells me that He will supply all my families needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus
When doubt whispers you need to supply for the needs of your family God tells me that He will supply all my families needs according to His riches in Christ Jesu
When doubt whispers you need to supply for the needs of your family God tells me that He will supply all my families needs according to His riches in Christ Jesu
Whenever I feel as though I am overlooked, alone, or forgotten, I remember Isaiah 43:4, that I am precious and honored in His sight.
Wow… what a great blog post and what amazing comments to read through!
I have a long story but I'll try to give you bits here… It started 11 years ago when I came to a conference and God spoke into my heart Jeremiah 29:11-14 too. I knew He had plans and purposes for my life and I knew it involved leaving where we were and moving to a different state. 6 weeks later my son died. God kept reminding me over and over of those verses and that He had a plan. My marriage almost failed but we moved a year later…
A year ago God planted in my heart to leave my job of nine years and go back to school. At least I'm still praying that it was God. He's been opening doors so I'm still trusting Him. This week I failed my 3rd Algebra test so I dropped the class. I was afraid of failing and having it pull down my grades and ruin my chances of getting into the next school. Today… I wonder if I did the right thing or if I should have plugged through it anyway.
My doubts are fueled by fear. As I asked the Lord this morning to speak to my heart through His word to reveal what's going on… my reading this morning was about Moses. God called him… he was afraid and argued with God. Moses' doubts were fueled by fear.
As I'm looking at my heart and issues I have with intimacy and communication I'm seeing… doubt and fear as being behind everything. I'm so afraid of not saying the right words that I don't say anything at all. I doubt my words will matter. I'm so afraid of being hurt or abandoned that I don't go deep in relationships. I doubt people will love me and stick with me.
This has turned into a longer comment than I had planned. Sorry… In short, I loved this post. It's what I needed. I'm in a process of looking at my own doubts and fears. Thank you for your words… and the prayers I know you pray for each of us.
For more… you can check out my blog or email me.
Love you!
Hi Renee~
I have had quite the time with fear, worry and doubt. This recent journey has been about five years to get me where I am today. But honestly the first four years were God allowing me to do it my way until I finally reached the point I couldn't do it anymore "my way!" I needed Him. His teaching that followed, I treasure daily. He armed with five scriptures at just the right moment for me to be prepared for what was coming around the corner. I would gladly share my story if you are interested, but it's too long for a comment post. Just reply to this comment and let me know if you want the information. Otherwise, I can tell from your post today, this book will touch us all!! Thank you for your obedience, I know it will be worth the wait!!! Jill
When my husband was being treated for cancer last year. I was so very afraid I was going to lose him.We have no children and I am 51 I was so afraid I was going to be all alone. BUT, God kept telling me when I prayed for my husbands healing "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?"
Jeremiah 32:27 And Praise His Holy Name …my husband is healed!!!
i live with doubt all the time every day every hour every second while i haven't found a verse that has cleared out my fear i am working on it and i've found you and proverbs 31 i feel a conection to you and your story. everyday before i start work i log on to see what message you have and then proverbs 31 for their message. i am a work in progress i hope to reach the finish line some day.
until then just keep telling me that jesus loves me and keep with your great messages and love you have for people you've never met.
you are awesome..
I was a missionary in Ukraine. My husband and I, along with other missionaries, had planted a church, and Jeff and I were discipling young people, doing ministry to men and women, counseling, meeting needs… all the things that missionaries do. And then suddenly I began to have physical problems; problems that were so bad that I had to return to the US. We felt cheated, jipped out of finishing the task we had begun. But we knew that I couldn't get the help I needed in Ukraine. As I went through many physical health tests and then mental health tests when the physical didn't turn anything up, I came to realize that the cause of all my health problems was pure doubt. Doubt that I could finish what we had begun. Doubt that the people there loved me. Doubt that because another missionary couple's marriage was falling apart, ours would hold together, either. Doubt that God had even called us to minister in Russian speaking lands.
But then I began to look at what God said about me and compare it to what I was thinking about me. Jeremiah 29 says: For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord.
I listened. I believed. And I played and replayed Casting Crowns' amazing song, "The Voice of Truth," until each time I began to doubt, I reminded myself:
The Voice of truth tells me a different story
the Voice of truth says "do not be afraid!"
and the Voice of truth says "this is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of truth.
What a wonderful post Renee! I look forward to reading your book.
This past summer God placed on my heart a desire for Women's Ministry. I had no idea where to begin. I certainly didn't feel I was "good enough" or "knew enough" to lead other women. I shared with a prayer warrior what God placed on my heart. She immediately told me she had been praying for me to be called up to serve as a discussion leader with our Discipler's Bible Study. I was amazed at how God worked in that situation.
Just a few weeks ago God led me to the verse Isaiah 64:8 "Yet, O Lord, you are our Father, We are the clay, you are the potter, we are all the work of your hand." I began to pray and mediate on that verse. I asked God to help me be willing to follow his direction for my life. As I was praying that prayer I was nervous and scared. What was God going to call me to do now? The very next morning I was asked to lead the worship portion of our Bible Study! Immediately the fear & doubt came. "I am no soloist. I have never done anything like this before." God whispered to my heart, "I am the potter you are the clay, let me mold you into the person I know you can be." As much as I have doubted this new calling I remind myself that God is molding me into the person he wants me to be.
I look forward to praying with you on this journey.
Have a blessed day,
Mary