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
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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.
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I was blessed by this video of your conversation. It felt safe to explore my thoughts and feelings of the worry and stress that at times overshadow and overwhelm my life. I love the idea of naming the good and bad. to identify what the blessing is and know what the problem is. I started a new job recently and had been living in fear of failure. the scripture Ann quoted was awesome, Perfect love casts out fear – 1 John 4:18. That touched my heart immediately and I drew strength from it. What a loving and caring God we serve.
I had never thought of naming my doubt or fear and that it would make it real so I could deal with it. Thanks for that insight. I love your book and the study you did on here. I will be doing it again with Melissa Taylor’s group later this year. You Proverbs 31 women give us so much good advice and visuals to help us in our walk. I have been writing my doubts on paper and throwing them in the trash like you showed us on one of the videos. What a freeing exercise that is!! I also have been writing my concerns down and found an awesome table top cross at Hobby Lobby. Now I can take those concerns and lay them at the foot of the cross, another awesome tip on one of your videos. I need those kind of visual aides to help me get it deep in my heart and head, so thank you for just being you and helping us women to find ways to get closer to our Lord and find our confidence in Him only!!!!! You are a blessing Renee!! ♥
This really blessed me. I now see how naming things make such a huge difference. Thanks!!
The two ‘friends’ I needed most at this moment to listen to – thank you Renee and Ann so much for sharing yourselves with us. I’d love to meet on the “front porch” every week with you just to listen and talk about The Lord! You both are bringing The Word of God into practical, everyday moments, “the kitchen sink” of our lives. God bless you both! Sincerely, T
My soul is weary and my body is tired. But, these words have brought me refreshment. And for the first I don’t feel like I’m alone in these emotions. Thank you Jesus for the working of your Holy Spirit.
I have always heard of “counting our blessings” and the benefit of looking at the good things around us. It lifts our spirits, re-focuses our outlook, and changes our attitude. But I had not quite thought about the power of naming even the hard things. It serves a different purpose: to shine light on a hidden enemy. We can overcome self-doubt when we view ourselves through the lens of Christ- how He loves us, despite how we feel. Recognizing both the gifts and the false-beliefs is a powerful thing. Thank you for your words!
I love this! Naming the good and the bad is so very helpful. Naming the bad helps me to notice where things are coming from and not put my hurt and frustration on myself or others and not make the situation personal, but naming the good keeps me grounded and reminds me all the time that the good always outweighs the bad not matter how it seems. Thank you ladies so mich for sharing this with us. I know that I definitely needed it!
Just an hour before I read this I was talking with someone about this very thing-always doubting myself. I didn’t call it that-I didn’t have a name for it. But now I do-thank you thank you thank you for sharing! I feel hopeful-doubt will not rule me any more.
I remember when I used to teach school how scary it was at the beginning of term when faced with 34 teenagers you didn’t know. They felt so safe to misbehave before the teacher knew their names. My first priority then was to learn their names as quickly as possible so they had to pay attention to me when I spoke. This is the same principle as Renee is talking about in the blog. When we know the name of what is bothering us we have authority over it and it has to pay attention when we speak! Wow! WOw! WOW!
Renee and Ann, thank you so much for your openness and sincerity! Yes, naming things that bother and tug at your heart can be difficult. Sometimes I’m reluctant to do that because I do not always want to recognize that certain things are there. But it IS truly liberating and very, very helpful! Thank you so much!
I have always been a worrier. I don’t think I know how not to be one. My life is consumed with that dreadful word “worry”. No matter what the circumstance, be it family, friends, work, financial..the list is endless. I am held prisoner within myself because of worry. It changes my personality and controls my emotions. Thank you and P31!! I have ask God to forgive me of my short comings and to lead me by the still waters..I know the mighty God I serve is true and just and will supply all my needs according to his riches & glory. Praise his name and God Bless your ministry.
Thanks for the transparent look at ourselves!!! It truly helps!!!
Thank you for sharing this! I am still digesting it but very encouraged.
It is amazing how God gets your attention with every blog, discussion and youtube post! I picked up 1000 Gifts “on a whim”, but now I realize God insisted that I read this book and share it with my center of influence.
I have spent my life in the delusion that to criticize is to show intelligence and discernment. I was so wrong!
It has been chewing away at my heart and soul and driving so many good things away. I am starting to “name the gifts” and I find my heart and head transforming into such a grateful state that I hardly know myself at times!
I pray that this is contagious and I’m so excited to be using Ann’s book for our first fall bible study. It is also time to find my copy of “A Confident Heart” and look for the treasures and provide this as another stepping stone for our lives to be set free in Jesus. Thank you, ladies, for pursuing your calling!
Hello thank you both so much for sharing. I ve learnt so much.I m truly grateful. God bless yo u both.
OH I know why I get to feeling un settled, or sad… I am not trusting God
I know what I want… but instead of being patient and waiting…I just get so down and get hurt… for no reason
So as I give my doubts to God, one by one , I now try to praise God for each goodness he delivers…
He may not see to it that I get exactly what I want…but He will see that I get exactly what He knows I need…
His choice will be the better… and in trusting Him, I may be surprised : )
Two of my favorite and most life- changing books. I’ve given both away, & would love a freebe to share
Wow! Talk about God’s timing. I spent the day with one of my very best friends today. We are opposites in so many ways but our faith in God is what joins us together. We learn and grow together in faith. Fear was a huge issue today. She has lived in fear all her life in one form or another. This is something that is becoming more and more apparent as we get older. She expects the worst to happen in any and all situations. We had gone shopping when a downpour began. The rain came down so fast and hard that it caused street flooding. We were never in physical danger, yet she was paralyzed with fear. She does not want to react this way but doesn’t know how to change. I have already forwarded this email to her hoping that by doing what you have suggested in naming our fear(s) it will refocus our attention on God. Don’t we have an awesome God! His timing is perfect. Thank you so for being faithful to God’s calling in your life. We feel so alone, thinking we are the only ones that feel that way. God wants us to share and in doing so reaching out with His love to others.
On my way home today, I was crying and telling God I can’t figure this out. I don’t know what’s going on, I don’t know what it is but I need you to do something about it. Please do something in me. Now I have a name for it!! It’s the doubt I didn’t make the right decision about my marriage, the doubt that I’m not a good mom or employee, the doubt that I can get that promotion or run a half marathon. It’s self-doubt!! It has a name and I can call it by its name and put it into my Father’s hands. What a blessing!
I checked this book out from our church library in March and fell in love with it. I have since given away 6 copies to various ladies but I still don’t own it myself. I’m on number 257 in my list and am trying to get more consistent on adding to it every day. I am ready to read it again!