I hated feeling so uneasy and uncertain. Lost within my own heart. If only I knew what was making my emotions so wobbly. If only I could name it. Then I could figure out what to do about it. One morning, Jesus whispered it’s name in the quiet of my heart. It was doubt. It wasn’t fear. It wasn’t worry. Self-doubt was making me question everything I thought, felt and said. Naming it helped me know how to pray. Naming it led me to confessions I needed to make and promises I could claim. Naming it made me feel like I could finally stand up to it. Two summers ago, I got to visit the Farm and sit on the porch with my friend, Ann Voskamp. We talked about the power of naming things- the hard and the holy everyday grace things. How essential it is to our healing. We shared how doubt and fear had overshadowed our lives for so long, but how we both found hope and freedom once we learned to name them. Would you join us on the porch? {Be sure to turn up the volume. A tractor passes by and it gets kind of loud.} If you’re reading this via email, click here to view the video on my website.
“When you don’t have a name for something, you’re haunted by it’s shadows…But when you can name something… It loses it’s mask and you can find a strategy to deal with it.” (One Thousand Gifts)
Just days after Ann and I chatted on the porch, I received these two notes. “Renee, I just finished reading the first chapter of A Confident Heart . Thank you so much for writing a book like this and knowing exactly what it’s called that I’m going and have gone through all my life and didn’t know what it was called. ~ Sharon “I’ve always doubted myself, but like you I called mine different names. It felt so good to know and hear that I am not alone and that I can find my God-Confidence. ~ Megin
_______________________
Lord, thank you for showing us just how much we need to name that doubt, that fear, that worry – so we can find a strategy to overcome it with You! There is power in Your Name, and power in naming the things that hold us captive. Give us wisdom and insight to name them, and courage to claim and walk in the overcoming power that is ours in Christ. In Jesus Name Amen! Join Us On The Porch Slip a note in the comments below this post by clicking “Share your thoughts.” As a special gift, each of you who join Ann and my conversation will be entered for a chance win one of three copies of A Confident Heart and one copy of Ann Voskamp’s New York Times Best-Seller, One Thousand Gifts. 
Meet Us On the Porch Again This Week? Ann and I kept talking, and we’d love for you to join us on the porch again on Thursday, when we’ll share more. If you’d like a little reminder, enter your email in the box in my sidebar that says
RECEIVE EMAIL UPDATES and I’ll slip a note in your inbox when it’s posted.
Discover more from Renee Swope
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
This was just what I needed today. I am overshadowed with fears
and anxiety over health, moving,retirement. Will we be
provided for ? I so much need to name it and claim
that Jesus is my sufficiency and be able to REST
In that! Thank you for reminding me that I can trust
Him!
Naming it is so important it gives it a “face”, you don’t constantly question your sanity. Realizing you are not alone in your search. There is less of a void now. I am not questioning myself. I am listening better. Thank you for your books they are dogeared and rainbow highlighted.
I have been struggling with self doubt. God is moving me around and I am struggling with knowing whether I am capable of doing what He has called me to do. I have a good friend reading One Thousand Gifts and she loves it, so both books would be a blessing!
I’m in the middle of reading A Confident Heart … each time I read, I just weep and weep … never knowing that someone else felt exactly how I do and never knew that I believed in Him, but haven’t truly BELIEVED Him … trying to be confident in Him is such a hard thing to do for me!
Thanks for always sharing subjects taht hit home. You are the best. I have started reading A Confident Heart and love it. Keep up the great work.
Really needed to hear this today. Thanks for sharing.
Naming the gifts from God helps me accept what God has for me. I miss His gifts when I rush by and re frame from stopping and naming them. I am a farm girl, thanks for the reminder.
Thanks for the timely reminder to be praise specific! Praising Him in the shadows and in the light. After all, we can’t have one without the other. Couldn’t help but think of the old children’s song, “Count Your Many Blessings…name them 1 by 1…and you will discover what the Lord has done…”
Thanks for sharing. It is encouraging.
thanks for the encouraging words today!
I have been wondering for some time now why I can’t make decisions and now I know. Fear and doubt are keeping me from even leaving the house. Now that I have a name for it I will pray that God will lift this from me and let me get on with my life. Thank you.
Today, I am understanding this video very clearly because I need to put a name to something bothering me.
This “something” is making me so sick. Yes, I would love and need these books!
This is another one of those moments. I am going through a rough time in my marriage/life right now and a very good friend recommended Ann’s book. Thank you for sharing your discussion and for the opportunity to delve deeper into this issue with these two books.
I enjoyed your “front porch” conversation on the farm. I need a friend like that ! — thanks for sharing
I find it remarkable that God placed both your book, Renee, and Ann’s book in my life this year. My daughter gave me One Thousand Gifts for Christmas stating “Mom, this book changed my life.” I have been reading it ever so slowly, underlining so many lines! Meanwhile, I stepped out of my comfort zone this spring deciding to do an on-line Bible study with you and A Confident Heart. Within days of opening your book, Renee, I determined that I would be giving my daughter a copy! You managed to speak things in away both my head and heart could understand!
The fact that you two joined for this interview and spoke of the inter-weavings of your thoughts – Naming our Gifts and magnifying HIM when we can develop clarity and strategy….well, from my standpoint, only God, Jehovah Jirah, could have orchestrated this! I give thanks to both of you for your very unique and heart-felt writings. And, I thank our GOD for his divine intervention through you.
God also placed both books in my life this year! As a matter of a fact, I was reading the chapter in 1000 Gifts that talked about naming it just this morning! We are doing a small group at our church on 1000 Gifts. The gal that is hosting it said that the book 1000 gifts and writing down what you are thankful for has changed her life. God is so faithful!
Love this, thank you 🙂
I really needed to hear this, thank you so much for sharing and for helping me “name it”
Naming what we go through allows to be honest with ourselves and should let to confession and repentance followed by becoming right with God. It sets us free and restores us. I had to get honest with myself about what pride is and also my fear of rejection. Once I realized that those were what I struggled with, then I was able to be set free from them.
Renee, thank you for this small amount of your time. The message that identifying (giving a name) to my problems can enable me to pray about them specifically and have a plan to overcome is extremely personal! I really enjoyed reading your book these last few weeks and participating in your online study. I feel like I need to go through it again and again improving more each time! Thank you for taking the time to share your heart with me and helping me understand how damaging self-doubt can be!
And I thought it was only me – no knowing what to actually call the ‘thing’ I was in. 🙂 God is so faithful and always lets us know we are not alone in our thinking, but lets us know there are many others who feel the exact same way, or have the same thoughts about a problem. I believe the enemy wants us to ‘stay in the dark’, but God’s glorious Light shines ever brighter to show us ‘the path’ to freedom!
I refer back to The Confident Heart many times, especially when my ‘heart’ seems to be ‘feeling’ the wrong thing. I go directly to the reference scriptures in the back of the book to ‘take care of’ the problem, and let God soothe my soul.
Thanks Renee and Ann!