Have you ever had that awful, sinking feeling of not being enough . . . not smart enough or good enough?
For weeks I had felt inadequate and incompetent about everything — from the way I parented to the way I served God in ministry to the way I organized my time and my life. It got so bad one day, I literally begged God to take away my feelings of insecurity.
He didn’t answer the way I hoped, but instead He showed me what I needed to see in the most unexpected way. That afternoon, while I was putting on make-up in my bathroom, I turned around to put something away and noticed a huge nine-foot shadow on the wall behind me. I’m only 5’2″ so the humongous shadow caught me by surprise.
As I stood there looking at the shadow it dawned on me: I could only see the shadow when I turned away from the light. Not only that, I had created the huge shadow by blocking the light from above my mirror.
In that moment, I sensed God showing me something I will never forget: My insecurities create shadows of doubt over my heart and soul when I turn away from the Light of God’s truth about me.
Shadows are created all around us when something blocks light and so it is with the shadow of doubt.
When we focus our thoughts on how inadequate we feel, or what others think about us or how we’re performing compared to someone else, we cast a shadow of doubt in our minds by blocking the light of God’s Truth in our hearts.
But we were not designed to block the light. We were created to live in the Light by focusing on what God thinks about us instead of what we think about ourselves.
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” {John 8:12, NIV}. When we follow Jesus closely and completely in our thoughts, turning away from doubts and lies, we can find lasting security and confidence in Him.
Feeling paralyzed by uncertainty and insecurity is not where God wants us to live. Instead, He calls us to purposefully shift our focus from our feelings of inadequacy to the promises of His sufficiency in our lives.
When Jesus spoke to the people in John 8:12, He called them out of darkness. And each day He calls us as well, to walk in truth {Light} as we replace feelings of low self-confidence with lasting soul-confidence.
So the next time you feel like you’re not enough, pause for a minute to recognize you’re standing in the shadow of self-doubt, and turn your heart toward the Light by focusing your thoughts on God’s truths instead:
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.’ {Isaiah 43:10, NIV}
When you feel unstable, remember 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. {Habakkuk 3:19, NIV}
When you feel unworthy, remember God says: You are PRECIOUS and LOVED.
. . . you are precious and honored in my sight, and . . . I love you. {Isaiah 43:4, NIV}
Lord, You say I am a chosen woman, a royal priest, a holy daughter, a woman belonging to You. Help me believe You, and live beyond the shadows of my doubts as I follow and focus on the Light of Your truth today.
~Renee Swope
author of A Confident Heart
What a beautiful way to start a Monday morning. I AM a chosen daughter of God. I could not have typed that and not backspaced out of that a couple of days ago. God has met me in the middle of a darkness so thick I couldn’t even see a crack of light in the last several days. He has crashed His truth and love so fiercely into my heart that I cannot refuse to believe it was God. I’m a little stubborn and doubt and fear have had dominance for far too long. I know I won’t do this perfectly but today I am choosing to live in the truth of who God says I am and then tomorrow can worry about itself. Thanks for being a blessing today!
Tracey
Tracey,
No one does it perfectly…no such thing. Joining with you in taking steps forward in the right direction. Two forward…one back…three forward and so it goes. I’ve been in such seasons too…praying for you sweet sister.
Bev xx
Bev, well said! Tracey, just want to add my prayers for you, too. Those seasons of darkness are hard. You’re not alone!
Sweet Bev, you are such an encourager! Thank you for reminding me that God is my partner in this dance we call life
Love this Bev. So so true.
Tracey, all praises to our Lord for His truth melting through to your heart. Its hard in the darkness, I’ve been in these places too, but our God is so faithful for He is greater 🙂 Praying for you today, dear sister, that your baby steps are strengthened as you walk with Him, that you bask in His loving hands, and be gentle with yourself in imperfect progress 🙂
Amen.
Tracy – I can relate to the hard place you have been. My word for you is EXPECT. Expect the Lord to crash thru the darkness. This requires you to be in a state of agressively expecting God at any moment. Tell Him so – Lord, I am waiting on You. I worship You and wait for You to move against my enemies and bring forth my deliverance. Excited for the new place you will be.
Oh Tracey, I am praying for you girl. I have to work on my believing almost every day. And His grace covers us. Every doubt. Every fear. Every sliver of darkness brought into the Light of His love.
Jesus, help Tracey live in Your love today and soak in the warmth and goodness of your promises over her heart. Give her the gumption to believe and the assurance to hold onto You as she is being held by You. Amen.
I was just thinking about doubt this morning. It is amazing how quick my confidence in something changes when there is a seed of doubt planted. Thank you for this.
Praying for you Mary, that these seeds of truth would take strong root in your heart today. xoxo
Love this. I deal with this often and its a fantastic reminder of God’s truths which certainly outweigh whatever I might be making up in my head
I love the weight of GOD’s word when I allow it to sink deep into my soul and take up residence in my thoughts. Oh that we would let the Word of God dwell in us and re-write our thoughts and the stories we tell ourselves each day.
I needed to see this and reread it over and over. All my life I have struggled through never measuring up! Applying for so many jobs and never getting hired, it wasnt about my work ethics as I have strong work ethics. play guitar and sing and never felt good enough to play and sing like most. I finally landed a good paying job and worked three years there and company laid off . I have had this dark cloud about me for the last few weeks. I have not felt this way in awhile. Im am trying to land another good paying job as I feel Ive always had to settle for mediocre and even working so hard get myself further. Sorry for sounding so blah. please join with me and pray for my walk as I have so many other things weighing me. I have been in a slump and dont lije being or houng there. I cant pin point my dark cloud. Thank you I cancrelate so much with my own life. I bought your book a Confident heart, need to revisit it. God Bless
Fran, I am praying for you now.
Lord, you know Fran’s heart and her story. Her longings and disappointments. Her prayers and your faithful answers over time. YOU provided a great job that she loved and now it’s ended. Jesus, will you step into this empty dark unknown place and remind Fran that you are ((WITH)) her in the most tender intimate ways. That you see her and are fighting for her heart. Holy Spirit, go before her and be her advocate in her next season of vocation. Please clearly direct her path and open doors that only YOU can open. Keep her company while she waits, and remind her that no matter where she is and what she’s doing, she BELONGS. She belongs to you and she belongs in the body of Christ, and right here in this sweet place we call our sisterhood of community online through inCourage. In Jesus name, amen.
Just walking into work from doing a work job and thinking ” I’m just not good enough” I want to be better than I am, make more, be more, why can’t I can’t I be better. D I v I n e timing. Praise God All the time. We d never tell OUR child – you’re not good enough-
Thankyou for your encouragement
There’s nothing like a serious dose to truth to counteract the lies I tell to myself all day long! Thank you, Renee.
So glad you were encouraged by today’s post Michele!! God is good. 🙂
Renee,
I needed this. This week I’ve been seeing plenty of shadows and insufficiency on my part. Thank you for reminding me to turn back K to the light where my vision is accurate. Praying for all who need to turn from their ways and doubts back to your truth!
Blessings,
Bev
You and me both sweet Bev!! I needed to do a whole lot of turning towards the Light over the weekend as I had been really hard on myself about some things I couldn’t get done. And JESUS reminded me of this very post I’d written for today. Oh He is so good. His truth and grace are my only hope. 🙂
Renee, thank you. I really needed this today! I sense a common theme everywhere I go lately. God is teaching me to walk in deeper confidence in Him. My pastor summed it up in a word yesterday: God-fidence. Was pondering that and opened your post. Same message! 🙂 Thank you so much!
That is so neat. I talk about God-fidence in my book. It’s that lasting soul-confidence we can only find in Him. Love how He make sure we get the message He knows our hearts needs. 🙂
This is so lovely, Renee Swope!
Jen Thorn, wrote this today on Club31!
http://club31women.com/not-enough/
It is amazing how God weaves our hearts together.
God Bless, Renee
I love that Ifeoma!! What Jen wrote is so in sync. Yes, we are COMPLETE in Christ alone.
This is a topic that I have been studying for a while. I love the reminder that we are chosen. We are not chosen because of our talents or our success. We are chosen solely, because God loves us.
Mikayla | Mikayla Christiansen.
Amen. I needed that reminder today. Some days I offer nothing that makes me worthy of being chosen – yet HE chooses me still.
This was exactly how I needed to start my morning, thank you. Yesterday I was living in the shadow of doubt & I was trying to bring that shadow with me into this day. I forgot who I was, what my identity in Christ truly is. No matter what people say or do, I am a daughter of light, I am enough because Jesus says I am.
Jill
Amen Jill, you are more than enough in Him. He is your hope and your saving grace. In Him you are complete.
Thank.you Tracy for your heart felt words…..needed them this morning .
I love when God gives us physical examples of spiritual lessons he wants us to learn. So tender, these holy moments. Thanks for sharing such good truth with us today!
Me too Kelly. Having the visual of that shadow has helped me walk in these truths so much more – and I think back on that day quite often. 🙂
What a lovely post today! Thanks so much for starting my Monday out with such wonderful thoughts and promises from God.
I have been blessed.
Beautiful! Renee. Thank you for the words of encouragement today. Just what I needed.
And love to all my sisters in Jesus
Great reminder! I’m glad to know that I am not the only one who suffers from bouts of insecurity and inadequacy! I’m going to post sticky notes around the house!! 🙂 God’s promises about who we are in Him are amazing and so incredibly life-giving.
Love that idea!!
I needed to read this, and hear that others are struggling with this too. I’m still in the midst of a dark time that has lasted too long. Situations and people communicate inadequacy and unworthiness. I really want God’s touch in my life. He put his truth in front of me this morning through your post. Now if my heart can just assimilate it.
Good morning my name is Rosanne I am new to this group. In just the short time I have joined I have learned so much about myself. I’m not ALONE….Why is it our minds dig such a deep hole in us burying us so deep we cannot see light? Our thoughts ,our words, our actions. Distorted by shadows of doubt. All along the Lord says YOU are good enough !!! And your not ALONE. Thank you
Renee, thank you for this tender grace of encouragement from the Lord. It is such a grace to hear that I am not alone in this time of trial, to be reminded that the Lord’s holy people “undergo the same kinds of suffering”, to read each beautiful response. Its been so hard to focus on the Lord lately, on what He is doing to His praise, to trust in His faithfulness-that “He will do it.” But today, He lifts my heart up a bit with His gentle consolations in this post to His praises 🙂 May we all trust in His timing, His faithfulness today, as we wait in anticipation of His grace and love and goodness 🙂
Powerful truth shared here. Reminds me of what author Sue Detweiler said on her blog, “Rise to the height of God’s call on your life”. He calls us worthy, beloved and lovely…and I’d say that more than enough. Praying your day is saturated in the truth you’ve shared.
Oh Renee, this post resonated with me! As a woman who’s walked most of her life in the shadow of insecurity, your insight that if we’re in a shadow in our hearts, it may be because we’re blocking the Light. Profound. Over the past few months, God’s been speaking to me and working in my heart regarding these insecurities. Turning my heart to the Light has to become a habit, a lifestyle.
Thank you for your beautiful verses and reminders.
Turning to the light of God’s Word and reminding myself what He says about me. Thank you, Renee, for the encouragement. Love the graphic!
Renee,
I am right there with you. It is so easy for me to feel “not enough”. All it takes is one mistake or a misspoken word and I get those feelings. I must constantly remind myself of the truths of Genesis 1:26-27 & 31 “God said let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, So God created mankind in his own image in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God saw all that he had made, and it was VERY GOOD.” If I am in made in His image & call myself stupid, dumb, ugly then I must be calling God the same thing. It’s a day by day struggle, but the reminder is working.
Blessings 🙂
THANK YOU!! So much for posting this. I really, really needed to hear this today! Satan has been giving me a hard time lately. He’s been booted to the curb.
I so wish my self talk would go away . I know God is able and I believe in him so very much . It’s just so hard to not have self talk when u hear only negative from the people u love . I do need prayer for the Lord to bring a wise woman into my life and also for my prayer life . Sorry put this on here but I just felt I needed to . Thank u so much for your prayers
“Chosen”, this word caught my eye while checking my email. Just this morning I said to The Lord, “Many are called and a few are chosen. Why can’t I be in the few?” Thank you for sharing. Perfect TIMING for a Perfect WORD.
Renee – I love your sweet heart! You always inspire me. It’s so strange that so many of your writing and posts are just like you know my heartache, pain and needs. I thank God for you. He’s working through you to help us all. So many times, I step out, to do Gods work, only to be disappointed with the outcome. I sometimes let people’s words determine my worthiness. Many times I feel I don’t measure up and not worthy. I’m working really hard to remember and keep it in my heart, they are not the one to judge. It doesn’t matter what they think, say or do. It’s between God and I. For he is the only one who knows my heart and has the ability to judge. Thank you again for your beautiful words, deeds and heart.
God Bless You
Debbie
Thank you for all of your encouraging comments. I had not realized how doubt has consumed every fiber of my being. I am grateful I can see when it begins to rear its ugly head. I am trying not to be so isolated and spend alot of my free time studying for a class I am taking or listening to Joyce Meyer cds. I am so grateful for people who love Jesus. Thank you. DD
I’m close to tears after reading this. I was just about to write to my sister for encouragement regarding the situation with my son & his wife. Lately my husband & I have felt very rejected by them, leaving us out of our 3 grandchildren’s lives. One is only 1 week old, our only grandson. It’s a complicated situation, but, needless to say, we are feeling rejected & “less-than”. Her parents are coming first. We wonder, “did we do something wrong? Can we talk about it? We love you so.” Please pray that we’ll be able to resolve this, &, in the meantime, that we will find faith in our great Savior’s promises.
After reading this it was like my own feelings. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with thoughts, emotions, regrets etc. But something I know for sure is that even I have made many mistakes the Lord is there to give me his hand. All of our mistakes with our husband, kids, family, friends etc, we don’t make them on purpose we think we are doing the right choices. That’s why when the shadow of doubt and guilt come to our life we have to focus on what God says , like you said. Thank you for your wise words.
I have struggled with feelings of unworthiness for as long as I can remember. I trust the God has a plan for me and that when the path becomes apparent, I will be equipped. The day to day is difficult sometimes, so these statements are precious to me. I pinned the image. :O)
Love your analogy of the shadow blocking out the light. That is the thing about doubts. They can grow in our mind until they are so huge we are afraid to think them or say them. Yet I have found that saying my doubts aloud takes away their hugeness and helps me see them in the light of God’s words. Thanks for your article.
Renee,
Thank you for reminding me that God chose me. I too saw that 9 ft shadow , not realizing what it was , but feeling the darkness all around. It’s that helplessness that is attacking me.But after coming here and reading all these post and gaining encouragement I realize that some of my shadow is once again pride. Me trying to do things myself and not letting God do His job. I must decrease and He must increase. Thank you all.
nancy
Thank you. That was beautifully written and just what I needed to hear today. God and I are working to breakdown the stronghold of insecurity. I am struggling to let go of my need to be perfect. Your words were very encouraging. God Bless you.
I’m a little late to this conversation, but better late than never! Something just prompted me to go to Renee’s blog tonight and I’m so thankful I did! I just concluded the first of (what I hope will be) many meetings to discuss how God has called women into leadership no matter where they are or in what stage of life they find themselves. None of the women had ever met before and are all in VERY different places in their lives. I was already struggling with inadequacy before we met, and now that they have left the enemy is trying very hard to convince me that the evening was fruitless. So, needless to say, the shadow is looking pretty long….Which means that the light must be shining really bright!!!! Thank you for the encouragement I needed before I go to bed. I will sleep (in)couraged….
Thank you Renee for this beautiful healing article. received it at a time of deep need. I would appreciate prayers too. Suffering deep depression.
I’m praying for you Vivecia. I’m so sorry you are in such a hard place. I’ve been there and I’m asking Jesus to bring these words to life in your life. “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” Psalm 40:2