I was completely blindsided. I’d been called into a meeting at my church with another women in leadership who was upset with me. She’d been upset with me for months, but I had just found out about it.
Someone had told her I didn’t agree with the way she was leading. But that wasn’t at all what I’d said – months before – in a meeting with several other leaders. I had simply been asked my opinion about a situation and I shared my thoughts and they weren’t directly about her at all. And I was so sad that I was just being asked about it, several months later.
I was hurt. She was hurt. We both volunteered countless hours in ministry, pouring our hearts and our lives into women in our church. All the while, we were on the same team and assumed we both fully supported one another. But now the trust we had built for years was coming unraveled.
It was a mess. I was a mess.
I was done. I decided I wasn’t strong enough. Wasn’t resilient enough. And I was exhausted from trying.
That afternoon I went home and cried. Told God I was ready to call it quits. Laying my head down on my desk, I said I couldn’t do it anymore.
But… {my heart whispered} there was more to it… “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
I knew in that moment if I was willing to die to myself and completely rely on Christ in Me I could experience resurrection power.
I could walk away from God’s calling on my life or I could allow Jesus to live HIS life through me.
I could die to my desire to protect myself from getting hurt again and choose to tap into His power by relying on the strength of His Spirit in me .
I wasn’t enough … wasn’t strong enough, resilient enough, or humble enough. But Christ in me was more than enough.
In my P31 devotion today, I talked about how we can turn away from our feelings of defeat and doubt by living in the Light of God’s Truth. And here is one of the most important truths:
Jesus did not die on the cross just to get us out of hell and into heaven. He died on the cross to get Himself out of heaven and into us! That is resurrection life – and the very place where we get our enough!
If you have been crucified with Christ, you no longer live, but Christ lives in you!! The life you now live in the body, you can choose to live by faith in the Son of God, who loved you and gave himself for you.”
When you feel inadequate, remember God says: You are CHOSEN.
“‘You are my witnesses,’ declares the Lord, ‘and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he’” (Isa. 43:10).
When you feel afraid, remember God says: You are REDEEMED.
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine” (Isa. 43:1).
When you feel unloved, God says: You are LOVED.
“You are precious and honored in my sight, and . . . I love you” (Isa. 43:4).
When you feel forgotten, God says: You are REMEMBERED.
“See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” (Isa. 49:16).
When you feel insecure, God says: You are SECURE.
“Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders” (Deut. 33:12).
When you feel unable or unstable, God says: You are ABLE.
“The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights” (Hab. 3:19).
When you feel worthless, God says: You are CALLED.
“Youare a chosen [woman], a royal [priest], a holy [daughter], God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Pet. 2:9).
DOWNLOAD PRINTABLES of today’s promises {in MSWord} OR {in a PDF}.
Lasting Confidence Giveaway: Enter to WIN 2 signed copies of my book, A Confident Heart, a Starbucks gift card and a Bath& Body works yummy fall treat! To enter, simply leave a comment below this post where it says “SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS” and do just that – you can share your thoughts about about today’s post or my devotion :-).
PS. Be sure to DOWNLOAD a free PRINTABLE of today’s promises {in MSWord} OR {in a PDF}.
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There is definately a lot to find out about this issue.
I like all the points you’ve made.
Excellent pieces. Keep writing such kind of information on your page.
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“….I Love You More Heavenly, Father….” With this I will continue to share the gospel of the Lord. I am greatful and appreciative of your work Renee Swope. Thank You!
Thank you for your thoughts 🙂 I really needed them tonight… I have been dealing with thoughts of feeling like I am not good enough for a VERY long time. I know that it is unhealthy, but, I find that the more I try and fight through the feelings, the worse I feel. Fear just keeps creeping in and destroying my relationships with others and with God. So, I appreciate all the help from God’s word that I can get. Thank you 🙂
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Hi Renee,
I thank you for ministering to me today..
I hope you get an opportunity to read this comment. You are a blessing and I would be so fortunate to be able to get a message like this across to other people. I am praying that God will continue to help you minister to others. Thank you. Love and prayers
Thanks for sharing.I enjoy reading your blogs.
Renee
This is something I struggle with in so many areas.
So this was what I really needed to be reminded of!!
Thank you for being so open about how discouraged you felt about your situation. It is a reminder of how God works in our lives as well as others. As our journey of day to day situations confront us, we may not always think or do the right thing at first, but if we listen and repent, His grace, mercy, and strength will help us to do, His will, not ours. We need to pray for the ability to be more real with other women, so they can see the victory we can have in Him.
I would love to have a copy of your book to give to one of my Praying Wife’s Bible Study!! I got the eBook version of Confident Woman…Thanks & God Bless!!
This is a constant struggle, I jokingly said the other day, I will be known as the lady that explodes then feels guilty and will apologize. Sadly it’s so true and I carry the guilt around like it’s a duffle bag.
I have dealt with feelings of inadequacy my whole adult life. I will definitely add these thoughts and scriptures to my prayer scriptures to battle and overcome this self doubts. Thanks for reading my “mail”.
This is so true when your parents really aren’t accepting my own walk with God. I know I have hurt them but when I was younger there was something that was different I couldn’t explain and still can’t. I was raised Catholic and so are my parents but lately God is calling me to a different church and as I look back to the past. I would always go to the Christian section and Beth Moore books were eyeing me but I was afraid to talk to them. So I was attending Zumba at a Church where you just know Jesus is there it is amazing and that led to me to Bible Study which also lead me to the single groups. About 3 weeks ago, I told my parents they gave me their blessing but you can feel that disconnection of dissapproval. Before both of my parent were married let me state that again before both of my parents were married there were in minister vocation. Plus I’m their miracle child…I’ve been crying about this for a couple of days just because but I know it is my walk with God and His plans for me. Plus I feel so much closer to God with the Church community of believers where I can see His reward and His glory and it is amazing. Asking for prayers and would love the confident heart to give to a friend and unglue..Thanks.
a wonderful posting, renee…thanks for sharing.
those promises are so wonderful thanks for sharing the pdf download
Would love to win your book Renee. I struggle with self-doubt, and feel like I learn bits and pieces from different study’s and sources, but I have a long way to go. I have heard wonderful things about your book and would love to read it and see for myself. Thanks for the opportunity.
Love your book and blot posts! Your book blessed me so much! I would love to win to share the blessing! God bless you!
Renee your blogs usually seem to fit my life as I need them and I’m so grateful God led me to your blog. Today as I read your message it seems you were in my head again as this was a perfect reminder as God & I just spoke about this very subject the other day. I have doubted myself most of my life, especially if I am a good enough daughter of Christ. Often I feel as thought I am such a disappointment to him but see he is reminding me through you that I am not and his love for me is truly unconditional.
Thank you for your words of wisdom, encouragement and love. Also thank you for the printables page. I clip them and tape them up on my bath room mirror and car visor mirror, my notebooks for school and bible studies and even in my kitchen cabinets to serve as reminders.
Thank you for the wonderful insight. Always a blessing to read your devotions.
Living in the Light <3
Thank you Jesus I am chosen, redeemed, loved, remembered, secured, able, called. Help be live in your promises daily.