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).
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PS. Be sure to DOWNLOAD a free PRINTABLE of today’s promises {in MSWord} OR {in a PDF}.
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Thank you for sharing this today. I really appreciate having specific scriptures to be reminded of for those self-doubt moments. Lately they have felt too many! I would love a copy of your book. Thank you for allowing God to use you to further His kingdom! Blessings.
Wow! Thank you, thank you. Your devotion this morning knocked on the door of my heart. For the last almost 4 years ago, the seed of doubt was planted in my life through losing my job. However, God has kept His promise of provisions. Recently, in the last two months is where the real struggle began. Because of things happening in my church my husband (his way of protecting me) asked me to step down from the positions I held. After the initial shock was over and the “whys” were shared; I went into a sphere of several emotions: rejection, disappointment, anger and self-doubt. I could not grasp how those who said they loved me; disappointed me, especially when I had open myself to be accountable to them. I became angry not because of the request, I became angry because the evidence of them not loving me. I believe if you really love a person, and that person is walking in a way that will bring shame to our Father’s name, lovingly tell them. Of course this became fertile ground for slef doubt. I question my purpose, I question my self-worth, I question my gifts, I question who I am, I question am I adequate, I question my competency, I question everything.
However, God shed light through your devotion. I have allowed this humongous shadow of doubt over-shadow what I know to be true. “I have NOT” been living in the light. I have allowed the shadow of self-doubt reign supreme in my life; blocking the light of God’s Truth in my heart. Thank you, Thank you for visiting me in the place where I was and setting me on the path to freedom!
Thank you Renee for this wonderful devotional today. Exactly what I needed to read today! I’m feeling the lack of my GOD-fidence lately and this was a great reminder to turn to HIM and turn everything over to HIM (and not take it all back!). I struggle with self-doubt, but this teaching reinforces (again!) that HE chose me, and I am redeemed, loved, remembered, secure, able and called. Thank you providing such a timely devotional.
Many times in the midst the challenges of work and life I feel like I don’t measure up, can’t get it all done, or don’t do “it” very well. Reading this post today is a tremendous help, letting me know I am loved, I am good, and the efforts that I make in everything I do are good. Thank you. Once again, this ministry has spoken to me in an unexpected and blessed way!
I love the new word God-fidence. This blog was exactly what I needed today to know that I am loved, redeemed, called and remember. Thank you for all your work in The Lord.
Thank you so much for your blessed reminder of what I am to God. So often I forget and get caught up in life of kids, husband, work, household chores that most of all I am God’s beloved.
Thank you for your words of encouragement. What a great reminder (EACH DAY) that we are CHOSEN, REDEEMED, LOVED, REMEMBERED, SECURE, ABLE, and CALLED.
Confidence and security in the Lord and NOT in myself is something I have been battling with as I walk the road of life. I have found, with each and every day, that HE is life and HE is all that I need! Resources like those provided by this ministry are so appreciated!!! Thank you!!!!!
Your blog and devotion both hit their mark today. I have suffered these insecurities since childhood and struggle daily to keep my head up. I would love to win your book to delve more deeply into overcoming this obstacle. Thank you!
Thank you for not giving up and for allowing Christ to work through you! By continuing His work, you are blessing others and allowing us to learn and grow. God bless you!
What a beautiful new word ‘God-fidence’! I cannot wait to get your new book! It is much needed by me…Thank you so much!
I recently had my self-confidence shaken. This word is very timely for me. Thank you.
Thanks you for today’s devotional. It’s always a nice reminder to stop doubting ourselves and remember who created us.
Thank you!
I loved this devotion. Thanks. I like the thought of Christ died to come into us. That gives much strength.
Thank you for today’s devotional . I loved the comparison of the shadows and light. I am also going to print the today’s promises you have above.
This is a great book, I love to gift this to a couple women and do as a small group study! This is definitely one of those books that has helped me and something I needed 20 years ago, confidence!
Today’s devotional went straight to my heart. I could almost feel the tug on it, and hear God whispering “pay attention, I had her write this message for you”
Today’s message blessed my downtrodden soul! I had a really, really bad day yesterday….. I was ready to quit – EVERYTHING!! Today, I feel unbeatable, unstoppable, unbreakable – because HE that is in ME, is greater than he that is in this lowly world!!! Thank you for sharing – I will be printing this and hanging it where I can read it all of the time!!
Thank you for this devotional. Because of emotional abuse suffered in seventh grade, I have suffered times of inadequacies. I needed the reminder that I am all I need to be in Christ. He formed me in my mother’s womb just the way He wanted me to be. I also needed to be reminded that I am the one who is blocking the Light. My prayer is to remember to rest in the Light and see myself as Christ does.
In the midst of my storm these words were like water to my soul in the midst of it It is a reminder of who I am in Christ and puts my focus back where it belongs. On Him. Thank you for this today.