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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Renee, I am in the middle of hearing from God to write a book, my first…I think…I agree with K. Langston on having many doubts.I am waiting on confirmation.
I love your blog, it sure encourages when I need it, thank you for giving your time.Thank you too for being on facebook.
Monica
[url=http://www.facebook.com/pages/weathercom/298713874092l]www.weather.com[/url]
This is a topic so pressing on my soul. I truly believe that Satan has used doubt to keep me self-absorbed and therefore much less effective in serving my Savior. I have felt for years God calling me to write…yet at 42 years old, not a word I have written has left my journals. "I'm not as good as others….What if I get rejected…" John 10:4 says "…he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice." I need to block out the doubts, listen to the Shepherd's voice and His alone.
Only then will I be able to follow Him and leave the doubts behind.
Sharon
(yes, you may quote me or contact me at [email protected])
ooops. that reference was 2 Cor. 3:4-6
Doubt whispers, "Who do you think you are? You don't have what it takes…" Sometimes I feel like a kid on the inside who is in way over her head: as a mommy, as the wife of a youth pastor, even just as a woman. The thing about our enemy is he always uses the same lies over and over again. He doesn't need to come up with new ones cuz the old ones always work.
But Truth promises this: "Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God."
I can't wait to read your book.
Hi Renee,
Here is my deep thought that just showed up out of nowhere, no doubt (no pun intended) planted by the Holy Spirit: when we doubt, we are thinking and behaving as though it depends on us. God will work through us for His glory, based on who He is, not on who we are. Only a God like Him could accomplish what He sets out to using a fallen people to bring all things that He desires to pass. Do not doubt…He has it all in hand. His great capable Hands.
I worry that I am not good enough to handle a ministry He has called me to, and it is freeing to know that on my own strength I am not good enough. But when we step out where He asks us to, we stand on Him.
May He continue to bless you and the work He has called you to.
Debbie G
Oh yes Renae, I can share a doubt that plague me from time to time and more often than I like to admit.
I grew up in a broken home, where my father wasn't around much and when he was around he still seemed absent. My mother was diagnosed with a mental illness when I was a toddler and she was emotionally unable to take care of us, so I grew up with some unhealthy feelings about my own worth. I thank the Lord for my grandparents who took me and my 3 siblings to church every Sunday and also ended up raising us later, because through them and God's word at Sunday school, I learned that I had a loving Heavenly Father who created me in His image and loved me unconditionally.
I am still plagued from time to time with self-doubting feelings about my own worth, such as trying to be perfect at everything because I'm afraid of failing. Afraid of not meeting up to others expectations and then them giving up on me and also afraid of not meeting up to my own unrealistic expectations that I put upon myself.
Phillipians 4:13 has been the scripture that I use to keep those lies at bay and to get me back on track. "I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME."
and then..I say "GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN ME, THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD." 1John 4:4
Those scriptures always work and put me back in the arms of Jesus where my self-worth is great. I also read Psalm 139 very often to remind myself that God created me uniquely and for a purpose.
In all of my struggles, I have learned that encouragement from God's word and the encouragement from others, really can give you the wings you need to fly. That is the one main reason I started my blog last August. It was for the purpose of hopefully spreading affirmations and encouragement to others so that they will find the hope they need to believe in themselves and to soar as God purposed for them from the beginning.
Proverbs 15:23 "A word spoken in due season, how good it is."
Thank you Renae for being so real and allowing us to be also.
Lee Ann
[email protected]
Renee,
Not good enough to write a book. Not good enough to teach. Not good enough to lead a ladies group. Not good enough to wonder mom. Not good enough to be a real photographer. Not good enoughs go on and on and on.
What I do to combat those pesky doubts? Well, I know that I am fearfully and wonderfully made and that God's plan for me for outweighs the little pesky thoughts in my mind. I have to be diligent to keep moving forward–God will handle the rest.
Also, I've found if I don't combat those doubts with the sword of the Spirit immediately, then those thoughts become words and actions on my part. God didn't create us to be negative beings. He created us in His image. I don't want to walk a defeated life because I let fear and doubt cripple my journey with God. Simply put, I don't want doubts to rob me of the life God has planned out just for me.
Prayers and blessings,
Rebecca
Oh my goodness, Renee. This is the doubt that the enemy whispers…no screams…in my ear.
Most recently, I have fought the lie of not being good enough to mentor a group of 6th grade girls. How could I ever help them when I am struggling with problems of my own.
Thank goodness for a mentor who stepped in and spoke truth over those lies. What a blessing the girls have been.
Can't wait for this book to come out!
Oh where to begin Renee. My heart resonates so much with your words right now; even doubting in this very moment to respond. I’ve learned like you described to be aware of my thoughts and be in tune to where they are coming from and having God’s truth to combat and replace the lies. With each new doubt and fear God has been faithful to replace it in His Word as I seek Him and ask Him to speak to me in His Word. Jer 33:3 is one of my favorite scriptures, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Also, in the beginning of this process of really discerning the call that God wants me to write and speak for Him; He gave me Romans 15:4 “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach you Julie, so that through endurance, the encouragement of the Scriptures you Julie, might have hope.” (I personalized it as if God was talking directly to me and I hear Him whisper often….”keep going!” )
Just to share how awesome our God is at specifically fulfilling a fear/doubt with His truth…I received a gift not that long ago. I was struggling with discouragement and lack of enthusiasm from a close friend and I cried out to God pleading with Him asking Him to answer me. Why do I tend to get distracted by the unenthusiastic people around me, when God has given me His Word (not to mention many other enthusiastic friends). A well known TV Doctor might tell me that I was giving my power away…and I surely was forgetting to remember that God is with me and that He says that I am one Super Girl empowered by Him.
God answered me when I read the story in the gospels of Jesus walking on water afresh! And God spoke directly to my heart and gave me a gift all my own…Beth Moore didn’t help me find this one…no other Bible teacher pointed out this truth…this was all led by the Holy Spirit and I felt like it was my birthday and I got to open an extra special gift. Did you know of the 3 friends who wrote about Jesus walking on water, Matthew was the only one who shared about his friend Peter walking on water too? Oh, my heart was about to explode and I’m typing faster just remembering that moment and the tears of joy that flowed afterwards. God is so faithful. He showed me that Jesus’ friend Mark and even His beloved disciple John also told the story of Jesus walking on water; but they did not mention what Matthew did. Matthew was Peter’s great cheerleader, the only one to write and speak up about Peter’s feat of courage. I don’t know but I am guessing there were a number of reasons both simple and complex as to why the other two did not mention Peter’s part of the story. God spoke to me and validated my heart—not everyone is going to cheer you on and encourage you—you are surrounded by a few Matthews and be content and thankful for that…”Why do you doubt?” (Matt 14:31) Peter’s triumph was not pen worthy to them all and THAT IS OKAY.
I’m so thankful for Matthew’s account of Peter. Peter was told with the rest of the boys in the boat to take courage… and he obviously took it to heart and asked to be on the water with Jesus. When he got discouraged by the winds around him he cried out to the Lord and there He was to save and help Peter. (Matthew 14:22-32) That is just what I want to do; and just what I am doing…taking courage and taking it one step at a time and crying out each time this journey throws me a wind of doubt or fear…He is so faithful to answer in His Word and speak directly to our need at the given time; if only I cry out and ask.
Praising God and asking Him to bless all of your efforts; may He continue to encourage you in His Word. Cannot wait to read your book and pass it along to those I know and love too.
I often struggle with doubt. To have doubt within yourself is really a horrible feeling, but one that I am trying release.
I can't wait to read your book. 🙂
I have pondered this topic since I read this the beginning of the week. I am currently doing a study on Discerning the Voice of God by Priscilla Shirer. We are on week two, but I am done with week three…it is that good. Something that God knew I needed.
A year and a half ago, God called me to start a new Non profit organization. Hope Blooms. It is a multi million dollar project. God helped our tax exempt status go through in less than a month. For those that don't know, that is unheard of. It can take up to a year to get that status. But so far we have not gotten any significant funding. It has made me question what this ministry is suppose to be. We are planning to build a community center, build and buy homes for married couples to live in and provide foster care or adopt waiting children. Our focus is in MN right now, but international adoption is needed also. Our research has shown that the top two reasons why people are not adopting is because of money and house space/adequate housing. So, we will rent out homes on a sliding fee scale. We are basing this on James 1:27, take care of widows and orphans in their distress. Which has then lead us to think about widows. In our broken world, I have a conncection with two women who are divorced due to 1. a husband who was in to porn, turned to an affair, and left his family. 2. an emotional/verbal abusive husband…these women have no where to go. They have children who depend on them, and are struggling to find places to live. How can we ignore that part of James 1:27? We need to help women and children.
So my doubts, we have a neccessary mission, but no funds to carry it out. I feel that God has the plans under control, but coming in March we will have had our tax exempt status for a year, and I feel that everything I have done, has gotten us no where.
God promises that "I can do all things through Christ who give ME strenght…." I just want a little more light on my path….As I discern His true and strong voice.
Renee, I LOVE hearing about your little girl. As I look through pictures of children who are waiting to be adopted, I have a heart for all children. I would love to adopt a child internationally someday…as my age clock is ticking away…we have five children, ages almost 11-almost 19. My husband and I are nearing 40….I just cannot wait to welcome Children and broken widows to Hope Blooms….a place to belong. A safe home…Come Lord Jesus, show me the way!
still in His Grip
Shannon
Hello
I am 25 and it's my absolute last chance to model. I'm in Paris and the only thing stopping me from going to see agencies is my own self doubt. Reading this blog has inspired me to shake it off and stand tall for God and to envision the bigger picture which is a chance to make money for my family. Thank you for your kind and inspirational words and God Bless you for using your talent to help others. Please pray for me!!