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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I have read many of your posts, and I have enjoyed them. I’ve even shared some on my facebook. Thank you for writing and sharing insight.
I needed to read this today! Thank you! 🙂
Thank you for sharing your heart, for being vulnerable. Real. Beautiful. Oh, have I had days like this. Thank you for giving me the confidence to keep going. To live in God’s truth, His light. Blessings to you on this fall day! I so can’t wait to read this book!
What a beautiful post and exactly what I needed today
Thank you for this. I have forever felt inadequate, in everything I do. I’ve always looked to the world, to those close to me for confirmation. I know I need to quit doing that, I know where I need to look, to Whom I need to look, for confidence and to quit being afraid & feeling inadequate. Thanks for sharing your hurt and for your ministry!
” 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 .”
Thank you for this reminder… Sometimes we wonder if we can survive the hurt, but with HIS power we definitely can!
The Confident Heart has been a life changing book for me! Thank you for writing it and for your ministry to women around the world!
I struggle with this daily. As a widow (my husband passed away a few weeks after his 48th birthday), mom of two, teacher of developmental education college students, and novice follower of Christ, I know that I’m not enough. But I remind myself daily that God IS, and I’m thankful for your wonderful blog entry that so eloquently has put it far better than I ever could.
Thank you for sharing. I really needed to hear it.
I just found your website. I am so thankful that once again God leads me where I need to be. Thank you for the promises printable. I forget so quickly…
Renee, Thank you for sharing your hurt with us. It helps to know that we all face trails, many times this all due to mis understanding and lack of communication. I am trying to be more open to ministry opportunities, becasue it seems women often do just what you decribe and I have fear of dealing with this. I will print and pray over the verses you privide.
In Christ, Karen
Thank you for your ministry. I really needed to hear your post today. I constantly struggle with feelings of inadequacy, self-doubt & fear. I want to learn more about how to turn to the Lord in those moments.
I especially like the verse about being engraved on God’s hand. Even if my husband were to forget our anniversary or my best friend forget my birthday, even if all my friends forgot me on the anniversary of my son’s death, God would always remember me and be there for me!
Thank you for sharing about “God-fidence”! This is exactly what I needed to hear today…I have been struggling with feelings of unworthiness and not being enough and the verses really helped me to re-focus my thoughts on Jesus, instead of myself. Thank you!
Thanks for your encouraging words……glad to see your going to be having another
Bible Study in February!!!!
These are just the words that I needed as they arrived in my inbox yesterday. I cannot tell you how much your ministry has aided me in my walk. Praise God!
I have just recently started checking out your blog/website and each time I have been uplifted and reminded of what a great God we serve. I strive to listen to God’s calling for my husband and I but sometimes I feel unsure, as if I am failing him. I am so thankful when I am reminded that God is a forgiving and merciful God and want so much to be confident when I am witnessing and sharing the love of Christ. Thank you for the boost of encouragement and reminders through your words on the radio and devotionals.
I have been insecure forever. As a mother of a special needs child, I am constantly not enough for what he or the rest of my family need. Thank you for the devotional.
Amazing how God intertwines things and brings you to what you need when you need it. I’m feeling all of those insecurities as I am deciding to resign a position–something I really enjoy doing but taking priority over my family. The doubts and negative thoughts about giving up this position weigh heavy, yet I know in my heart that I need to step back. I know God led me to your devotional right when I need it the most! Thank you!
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and heart with us. I so badly needed to hear this message of God is enough. I don’t have to be enough, because God is.