A Confident Heart Giveaway with Renee Swope
Published August 3, 2011
Have you ever felt any of the following?
~ I’m not good enough.
~ I have nothing special to offer.
~ I’d love to voice my opinion, but I’m afraid I’ll sound stupid.
~ Why does God seem to give everyone else the brains, skills and qualities? I am just a nobody.
~ If I am a Christian and serve the God who made heaven and earth, why do I lack confidence in myself?
Can you relate? If so, you will LOVE my friend Renee Swope’s very first book, A Confident Heart. Take 3 minutes to watch the book trailer here:
Renee Swope – A Confident Heart Book Trailer from SoundPost Productions on Vimeo.
I read Renee’s book just after her manuscript was completed and before it was published. As a woman who vacillates between sorely lacking self-confidence in certain areas to fearing I’ll cross the line into self-pride in others, A Confident Heart brought me balance.
Renee has drawn deep from the well of her life experiences, both pleasurable and painful, to craft a life-manual that is solidly biblical and perfectly practical.
This book will enable women to discover God’s original plan for them–that they would operate in the power of His word and as a result, unearth a holy confidence. Let this volume be your godly girlfriends GPS guiding you to a self-assured life lived for Christ!
~If you’d like a little taste of A Confident Heart, you can download chapter one here.
~ If you’d like to order the book, click here.
~ And, if you want to be entered in a drawing to win one of three copies Renee is giving away here on my blog, leave us a comment with the area in which you most struggle with doubt and a lack of self-confidence. (or God-confidence as Renee calls it!)
Winners announced Monday!
181 Responses to A Confident Heart Giveaway with Renee Swope
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My Family
Motherhood…nuff said?
I struggle with balancing work and family. I want to be a stay-at-home mom but have to work full time for financial reasons. I never feel I am doing enough in either place.
Being a single mom of 3 who works full time outside of the home, I struggle with the confidence to do it all. Am I really being the mom my kids need me to be? Half the time, the answer is no. Am I really walking the path God wants me on? I really don’t know. I feel like most times i am just putting one foot in front of the other to get through the day without a complete meltdown (me, not the kids). Needless to say, i do struggle with confidence in so many areas of my life.
I struggle with doubt that I’m valuable. I have had lots of negative people experiences since moving to this town, and it’s made me want to pull my head into my shell like a turtle and just hide. I have no desire to be a part of anything here – which isn’t possible as a mom and wife.
I constantly struggle with wondering whether I’m good enough. Am I a good enough wife? Am I a good enough mother? A good enough home maker? Am I a good enough friend? And I constantly compare myself to others-which makes it impossible to feel good enough. I am ready to stop the cycle of comparing myself and not feeling good enough. I want to feel confident in my gifts and to be a better steward.
I did Renee’s Seven Day Doubt Diet and I realized I struggle with every aspect of confidence. I’m not good enough, I’m not pretty enough, I’m definately not smart enough. I’m not a good wife, mother, or friend. I want to write and speak and all I hear in my mind is a whisper of “what makes you think you have any business doing any of that?” I even struggle with being too confident. I worry that if I am confident and speak positive things to myself I will get too full of myself and then God will have to know me down a peg.
It’s really pretty terrible how I allow myself to believe the lies.
And sad.
I constantly struggle with whether or not I am good enough to be my children’s mother – am I doing a good job? Am I ruining them? blah, blah, blah……surely God didn’t entrust to them to me for no reason???? Right?
Oh Karen, I struggle with doubt so often. I know I’m growing stronger, but the doubt lingers and haunts me. I would love to read Renee’s book. I just love all of the inspiration and wisdom that the P-31 women bring to me. Thank you to all of you!
Being a mother. Constantly asking myself if I’m doing the right thing and wondering if past mothering decisions will have an adverse effect on the rest of their lives. Am I really the right person for this job? Am I helping or hindering their journey with Christ?
I struggle to believe that I have anythig of worth to give at the women’s group at church…they all seem to be so Godly and knowlegable and I have so much to learn…
What great content for a book!!! To be totallyhonest, I lack confidence in every area of my life. Right now I am in a very broken way and am begging the Lord for healing. Thank you for the opportunity to try at this give-away. ~Amy S.~
I struggle with feeling that I am not good enough for the things I am asked to do. Sometimes I turn down opportunities because I feel inadequate and I am afraid to fail. I would love a chance to win this book.
I struggle with wondering if I am doing enough to help my three special needs children and whether or not I’m a good enough wife to my husband.
Doubt is easy to get caught up in and hard to dismiss. Everyday. I struggle with really believing I am loved. Oh I know it in my head, it says it straight in the bible, but really feeling it is a hard task If I felt really loved and confident of the plan God has would my day look different? Would my communication be better? Doubt is huge and the devil seems to take hold of it and make it even bigger. Thanks be to the God who is bigger than that!
I would love to win one!!! Thanks,Barb
Dear Karen,
I struggle with feeling I’m good enough and that I can do everything I need to do. I regularly feel overwhelmed and struggle with self-confidence.. I try to plant God’s Word in my heart, but I still feel as if I come up short.
Blessings
I definitely struggle in the department of parenting. It seems like my doubt is getting worse instead of better because I will have a teenager next year and I remember the struggle being a teen was for me. It sounds like this is a book for me!
I struggle with doubt. I often think that I am not good enough for {fill in the blank}. I continually second guess myself on so many things.
I struggle in a few of the areas you mentioned but the one I most relate to is: “I’d love to voice my opinion, but I’m afraid I’ll sound stupid.”
I have felt this way all my life. I always felt like if I said something or gave a suggestion no one would listen and I’d end up feeling dumb.
I doubt that I will ever be good enough to find a God fearing, loving husband that we can spend the rest of our lives together.
I can’t wait to start this study!!
after losing my business 2 years ago and then our house 1 year ago now I have been asked to step-away from working with the youth at our church I feel like a complete failure, like I can’t do anything right and I have nothing to offer
I can relate to where you are, Dena. I was also asked to step down from youth ministry after a suicide attempt and feel that I will never again be “good” enough to serve that ministry again. I know God has a plan for each of us and I am learning to look at “detours” as a new road and not a setback.
I also struggle with feeling like I have nothing to offer and I have to turn that over to God and realize that HE does have so much to offer and I need to open myself to Him and allow Him to work through me. In my weakness, His strength shines.
I have struggled all my life with feeling that I am not good enough or not valuable enough. I always feel like I am not smart enough or strong enough to do anything that I have been asked to do.
I struggle in a severa;of the areas you mentioned. The one I most relate to is: “I’d love to voice my opinion, but I’m afraid I’ll sound stupid.”
I grew up in a family where my suggestions were not heard. When I made national Honor society in High School, my mom’s comment was….” they must have made a mistake.”
I definately struggle with feeling like I am not good enough – and when I am focusing on that, I find myself struggling in so many other areas as I trust the storm and not the Lord I know and love.
This book sounds amazing…and I will be praying for the winners, that He will use it to touch their hearts for him
I never give myself a chance. I always think I can’t do that.
That my past disqualifies me from recieving anything great or serving (i KNOW it is all a lie and not the truth but the enemy still bombards me with that) along with trying to be mom and dad both while working all the time.
I struggle with thinking that whatever I do will not be good enough. I don’t like to voice my opinions because I’m afraid someone will think it’s not a good one. I struggle with having people over for supper because my cooking or house won’t be good enough. I struggle with motherhood.
I struggle with fearing what people think of me… Doubting my worth.
I mostly struggle with confidence. I feel like whatever I might say will come out wrong or I will get tongue-tied. Therefore, I don’t like talking in front of a group or to people I don’t know.
Getting ready to send youngest of 4 off to college and all I have been in the past 18 years of her life is a mom. I have to now let go and be a mom from far away and have God lead me in the direction to grow. I have the fear of not being able to let go and let God lead me and my children. Never felt smart enough and haven’t been back in the work force in so many years to know exactly what I’m able to do but be a MOM. God has blessed me with that but I know I need to grow in other directions now! Thanks for this study, will do it for sure!
Who would want to hear what I have to say? Motherhood is the biggest though.
I have always struggled with low self-esteem Afraid that what I say or do would not be of any significance to anyone. I became a little more verbal after my kids were born, but now years later, I seem to slowly be crawling back into my shell. I look so forward to reading Renee’s book.
Sweet friends of Karen’s and blog readers, I just want you to know I have felt all of your doubts and know how hard it is to be stuck in that place of uncertaintly – questioning your worth, your competency and value. But it’s not supposed to be this way for us as children of God! I”m praying for each of you right now — and asking Jesus to make a way for you to get a copy of my book – whether you win it here or buy one or find it at a library or borrow it from a friend. I really believe each chapter will speak life into those empty yucky places and breathe hope into your heart. Hugs, Renee
I struggle with doubt about what God is calling me to do and about failing if I respond to His call. I struggle with doubt about the effect past decisions have on my children. I struggle with coubt about being loved for who I am instead of what I can do for people.
i think i struggle with all of it. i have been saved since i was 12 and i have been taught what the Bible says about being a new creation and how much God loves me and that He loves me unconditionally but i really doubt it when i mess up or when someone points out my faults. i did renee’s 7 day doubt diet and loved it. my goal is to gain God confidence so that my children will have an example to follow. thank you for offering the give away.
I’m a mom of 5 girls, wife and full-time graduate student. I struggle with feeling as though I’m giving enough time to everyone. I’m a people-pleaser but seem to always put myself at the bottom of the list (and there are days I don’t even make the list!)
I struggle most with showing love to those I love the most. I have high expectations in life and while I stress to my family that the most I expect from them is their best (we have defined “excellence” as doing the best you can with what you have in the time you have available) I struggle with showing how proud I am of them and how much they mean to me. I allow my upbringing of never being good enough to color my words and actions. I know I love them, they know I love them, I just don’t know how to show it.
Relationships / People Pleasing can really throw me into a tailspin =D
I struggle with doubt all the time. I know that He doesn’t ask us to do things that we cannot do. I know that He is with me through all things,but I feel like I am going to mess things up, or that I can’t handle what He has asked me to do. Each year I coach upward cheerleading, I do weekly devotions with the kids. I always worry about not setting a good enough example or totally messing things up completely. I would love to win Renee Swope book.
I struggle with the prospect of not becoming all that I know I can be in Christ.
I stay home with my girls and I love it! And although I wouldn’t change it for anything, I struggle with feeling like sometimes it is not a real “job. And because of this, I battle against the pressure of having to yes to every volunteer opportunity that comes along due to other people’s idea that I have a lot of free time on my hands.
Over the years I have learned to say no, but many times I still feel guilty and doubtful for having done so. Can’t wait to read this book!
There is a constant battle in my mind. I am continually second-guessing myself. Despite the out-going, strong personality I display to others, I am extremely insecure. It never fails that I question my friendships and my value and worth. This book sounds like a must read for not only myself, but all women. Who doesn’t truly struggle with a lack of confidence in some area?
Karen,
I, too, suffer from feeling inadequate, unworthy, doubting my abilities…..I look forward to a day when I can walk in confidence…..This book sounds amazing and I know it will bless whomever wins.
Thank you for this wonderful ministry!!! It is such an encouragement….I need that lil boost every morning….and am blessed to have access to the Word thru it.
Thank you.
I struggle with being good enough at everything…. motherhood, being a good wife, good friend…. being afraid to voice my opinions… lots of self-doubt. This book would be a blessing!
I struggle with doing those things I desire to do and often feel the Lord encouraging me to do, but would be outside my comfort zone.
I am glad I am not the only one who struggles with this. Sometimes you just know you need to read a book and this is one of those times.
I have raised 3 stepchildren over the past 15 years. Now I am able to stay at home with my 8 and 12 yr olds. Times have changed so much. I see how they want to act so much older then what they are, and it tears my heart apart. I often say to myself that if I could just do it again I would have made a way to be home with them instead of following my career. I feel guilty and pray that God will direct their hearts and to fill my sould with his love and peace so I can touch them in someway. Now I see my stepkids having kids and I carry such a heavy heart that I may have missed teaching them about His word and Love. I know I can’t live in the past and I should be thankful for all the blessings he has given me, but still have I done enought?
I have always struggled with a lack of self-confidence, and bad self-esteem. I just don’t know how to love myself, or forgive myself. That translates into not knowing how to forgive others, or to understand God’s forgiveness. Makes like scarey for me.
Out of the areas you mentioned, the biggest area I struggle with is confidence.
I struggle the most with the season of life I am currently in. I am single, 28, and back in school trying to pursue God’s calling on my life to work with orphaned/abandoned children. This desire grew after working in an orphanaged in Romania and seeing the needs these children face each day. Even though I truly believe I am where God wants me to be, I struggle with self-confidence, trusting in God’s timing, and contentment. I long to have a family and find it difficult that I am still single at 28 when being a wife and mom are roles I have always deeply valued and desired to embrace.
Andrea, I was so there not that long ago! I was really amazed at how God brought along the right person (we started dating when I was 28 1/2) at just the right time in His plan. Please keep up hope and know that these experiences will make you a better wife & mother!
Andrea … I remember that. I didn’t marry until I was almost 29. Now I am 40 this month and still do not have children. God’s timing in my life has always been HIS not mine!
I have struggled with quitting smoking for over 40 years, I know God has been and is calling me to quit. The doubt that I can do this continues to be overwhelming. And the doubt in myself had plagued my life in so many areas. I am doing the Doubt Diet Bible Study with two other friends and I believe it is working for us. Thank you Renee for sharing with us.
I struggle with not feeling good enough too, and since my husband died, I have felt so much pressure to keep everything together, and there is just not enough of me. (I live in the UK so I am probably not eligible to enter the giveaway…)
My struggle with self-doubt and lack of confidence is like a roller coaster ride full of dizzying loops, stomach churning drops with short, serene straight passes mixed in. When I allow myself to feel confident (the serene, straight pass) almost immediately I am hit with negative thoughts of doubt (stomach churning drop). If I overcome the self doubt and actually attempt to do something, I enter into a cycle of positive, can-do attitude (climbing into the loop) and then I will hit a huge wall of doubt (upside down in the loop) only to be so far into something that I can’t quit so I am propelled through (downturn of the loop) to the end. I bring so much unnecessary pain and angst on myself; but that is not the worst part. I find myself hindering my own children in stepping out into life because I am secretly doubting for them! I make the excuse that I don’t want them to be hurt or embarrassed if they mess up so if they seem hesitant in doing anything, I encourage their own self-doubt! How horrible am I! I know it is God who is capable and nothing of ourselves and I truly need to start living that….not just talking that. Prayers please….
I struggle ALOT with doubt-am I a good teacher,am I a good wife/mother,is this really where God wants me-am I in His will or just going off on my own..etc.
Where do I not? Seriously? I’m not a good enough wife, mother, daughter, friend… I just try to remind myself I am fearfully and wonderfully made exactly how God wanted me to be.
My biggest struggle is if I’m enough for someone. I went through a divorce a little over a year ago . I was with my ex for 25 years total since the age of 15. We were married almost 18 years. He cheated and compared me to others while we were dating and while we were married. Yes it sounds pathetic as I type this!! He walked out and soon remarried(less than 6 months after the divorce was final). So my self-worth is my biggest struggle.
I doubt myself – who I am, what I am capable of, if I am good enough. This applies to everything from who I am at my job, as a wife, as a mother, and as a friend. I battle a lot with feeling like a failure, but I have a few good friends that always point out that no where in the bible does it say I am a failure, but rather that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. They remind me that I am using man’s standards and not God’s. So, needless to say, I would be blessed to win this book. Thanks.
As I hear Renee talked about “I am not good enough”, “I have nothing special to offer”, it was like she was talking to me. My husband just took the Pastor’s position in a small church and even though I knew this is the reason why we moved to Missouri (to follow God and serve Him) I always find myself doubting is I will be a good enough Pastor’s Wife, wife, mother, friend, listener, etc.
Sometimes I feel very confident and can go on, but other times I can hear my Mom’s voice saying, “You are not good enough”, “Why are you even trying?”. I will be bless to read this and shared with other women that struggle like me. Thank you for taking the time to share your story!!!!
I struggle with confidence with various parts of my life. My main struggle is with my son’s health. I want to make sure he’s getting the best care possible, so I spend many hours researching and chatting with others in support groups. (My son has 22q11.2 deletion also known as DiGeorge Syndrome. He was born with a hole in his heart and a left clubfoot (both have been repaired) and has recently had growth issues along with a recent diagnosis of scoliosis.) Along with that, I have trouble more frequently now than in the past with my Tupperware business. Every party I’ve booked in the past month has cancelled on me for various reasons. I know these reasons might not have anything to do with me, but it does take you down a step or two when it happens back to back. I know that I am truly blessed beyond measure, but sometimes confidence needs to be brought on by pure willingness. God will give confidence in little amounts. The real test comes when He asks you to grow more with what He has given you.
I appear so put together from the outside…making it that much harder to talk with people about my insecurities! I struggle with the same things all of these women have mentioned…not feeling good enough in any of the positions I am in. I grew up surrounded by Critical Christians and I hear all of those messages playing in my head each day. I want to become the woman God designed for me to be and I know that the messages I hear in my head are NOT from God; however, Satan seems to be shouting them the loudest. I want to get to the point where I hear GOD’s voice above the resounding lies of Satan! That would be true freedom! The lack of confidence is a very personal issue and isn’t always readily seen by others. I feel like I am hiding who I am and in the process I am dying a slow and lonely death. I am ready to make the changes necessary and am looking for guidance in doing so.
Blessings to you all!
I struggle the most with wanting to voice my opinion but worried I would sound stupid or that I might come across as invalidating someone else opinion.
I struggle with thinking that my opinions/ideas don’t matter. It is tough as I had a mom who never encouraged me positively, only in a negative way, telling me that I was never good enough. It still sticks to me today as I’m almost 30. I am a new PW, my hubby started ministry 6 months ago. I feel obligated to do more in church, but feel my ideas/lessons and things won’t be good enough. Would love a copy of this book!
I struggle most with doubt in my ability to function in areas where I once excelled before I got sick. Like many others, this job situation has left me feeling very doubtful and less self-confident about myself. I never had a problem getting a job in the past but it seems that it is the exact opposite now.
Lol where do u start. Im vip n overweight. Single two kids two dads never married what could i possibly do.
Well i try hard to remember who i am and i try to serve God well but i always have to work at being confident. I have to fight to overcome the lies.
Especially the lie of who would ever want to marry the fat girl who cant see much any more.
I think for me it is in 2 very different places…
one being as a parent of a very soon to be college freshman-doubt-did I do all I could to prepare him to leave home? have I led him to a place where his relationship with Jesus Christ is 1st & foremost?
the other my job-self confidence-I just don’t always feel like I do a good job and can even doubt when other people do affirm me!
Thanks for the giveaway!!!!
It is hard to pick just one area that I struggle with having confidence. I would love to win Renee’s book for encouragement to have more God-confidence in all of the roles I live daily! Thank you for all that you and Renee do to encourage others in Jesus’ name.
I struggle with self-doubt, the confidence in mothering and homeschooling. I don’t like to talk in front of people because what if I don’t say it right, what if they don’t care about what I have to say etc. I look forward to reading your book. God bless.
Given what my body has been through over the past 4 years due to the enemy’s disease, and being a 52-yr old single mom with cancer, and an 11-yr-old daughter, I struggle with the idea that I will probably never have another love relationship with a man. That’s a tough one.
I really struggle with finding myself adequate enough to sit and just talk with Jesus. I hear and envy friends who have a conversational tone in their prayers that sounds has if Jesus is sitting beside them. I envy that. But I become really reluctant that I don’t have the same attitude, gratitude, humbleness, or whatever to engage a simple conversation with God.
My biggest area of doubt is about how others see me. I know I shouldn’t care, but I am forever doubting whether people really like me or what they really think of me.
I struggle with being a perfectionist. I need my heart to apply what it knows but has not learned – thru Jesus, we are good enough.
I just feel like I’m tangled up in webs of it… About so many things. Motherhood, who I am as a woman, the gifts that I have to offer on a larger scale. The list of things I haven’t tried because I’m afraid to fail is way too long. I would love to read this book.
My current struggle is with the ‘skills’ God has given me. I am hitting a transition point in my life – seems like life is a LONG string of transitions… I have been a stay-at-home mom for eight years now. My youngest is four, going to school readiness this year, then off to kindergarten next. I keep getting asked ‘so what are you going to do once all the kids are in school’? I have no idea… Actually, I have ideas of what I WANT to do, not sure if it’s what I SHOULD do, nor if I am ABLE to do it. To feel confident in whatever direction, that whatever I am doing is of value, would be wonderful!
struggle with work and being confident in the abilities God has given me.
I am a 53 year old grandmother who recently pursued her dream of becoming a RN. I failed out this semester (my last one) and am doubting my abilities and where God really wants me to be. I struggle between discerning His will and my way!
Balancing family and work…never feeling good enough at anything I do…and feeling ugly…nuff said…
MOTHERHOOD AND Marriage
I struggle that revealing my past will hinder my ministry rather than advance it. I know that God has forgiven me for my sins and that I should trust He can use my story to show others how He redeems us from our past.
I struggle with confidence that God loves me as much as he would any other of his lambs. I know the usual scriptures but its difficult to focus on that love on a daily basis. I know that he always has my best interest at heart, has a plan for me, but I struggle with the spiritual attacks. I’m glad to know that I’m not the only person struggling with confidence in some way.
Balancing family and work. I want to raise stong God loving girls. I struggle with how to do that in today’s world. I know what is right but sometimes it”s hard to have the confidence to do right. My girls learn from my example so I want to set a confidence in God example so they know they can face anything that comes there way with Jesus by their side.
I struggle with leadership, voicing my opinion and speaking in public. God has presented me with two opportunities to lead devotions this fall and I’m afraid of failing and not feeling worthy enough for the task.
Um, with three children under 4- motherhood for one!
I also constantly struggle with feelings of inadequacy after my dad left our family over 7 years ago. I met and married the love of my life, but I’m an Army wife and with how much time we spend apart, it’s even easier to feel “not good enough”. That being said, I am learning to trust the Lord completely realizing that He has created me to fill these shoes no matter how difficult or mundane they may seem at times. He has blessed me with a man who loves the Lord and desires to lead his family the Lord’s way. I feel so blessed to be a wife and mommy of 3 (and hopefully more to come) and want nothing more than to live each day His way.
I would like to enter for the drawing. I struggle with confidence, worrying about what people think of me, sounding stupid when asking questions, not feeling I am doing any good in life and could be doing more. I am currently going to counseling two times a month I am on medication that I have just increased and added sleeping pills to help me sleep at nights. I want to be able to enjoy my children and family. I attend church some, always leave there feeling like a failure and don’t want to go back. I would love to read the book and see where it can take me.
Thanks
Michelle
I struggle with my self-image (weight) and my confidence in being a good enough mom to my three precious children.
I struggle in many areas of my life. I recently let go of my job and am really having trouble with who I am without the status of who I used to be. Why is it that our identities are so tied up in our professions? I’m really finding it hard when people ask me what I do. Even though I’m working in our own business, it seems that many people don’t feel that that is a valid profession (or perhaps that is just my perception of things). I would love to win one of the copies of Renee’s books.
As a wife and mother!
I struggle with confidence (pregnant with my second child and have a 3 year old). I’m in a Bible study group and that helps and also in a moms group which has been a life saver. But I struggle with doing more – all those hopes and dreams from pre-mommy days.
Would love a copy! The area I most struggle with… I believe it’s deep down in my heart… believing that I really am loved like that. Believing that I am worthy.
Well that just sums up my CV!!!!
No confidence and living with tremendous fear that cripples me and tells I am not good enough. No matter how many people tell me, you are smart, organised and loved none of it hits home beyond the wall I have built around my heart. Fear and lack of confidence ends up somehow ruining relationships in my life. I Pray about it and sometimes get a temporal relief but what I need is a release that only God can give and one that will allow me to be the woman Gods wants me to be. Funny how the enemy has a way that makes you feel you are the only person in the world dealing with fear, but it’s comforting to see I am not the only one.
So many areas I struggle with! However, this summer I am part of a Bible study based on the book Lies Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free – by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. Re-aligning my thought process along God’s Truth is my goal – to walk out my faith as if I believe the Truth rather than just being conversant in the Truth!
I am not sure where to start because I struggle with so many things. Narrowing it down, I would say my looks and my lack of confidence in my abilities. I am hoping a book like this would help me.
I already have the book, but I just wanted to comment that I am going to be leading this as a small group book study for women! I think it is so relevant for all of us – we all have areas of insecurity, and it’s time to read, listen to, and believe God’s promises that He has a plan for our lives and that He will equip us!!
I struggle with failing- failing in friendships, failing in marriage, failing in weight loss, failing in being the best daughter I can be. I also struggle with people pleasing along with fear of money, time, strength, and health.
I did the 7 day Doubt Diet, it helped a lot, my struggle seems to be, I feel God calling, I am looking for a new job( the I currently have is giving me little to no hours) but that is okay, my pastor spoke Sunday evening about having your priorities lined up with God, and that job does not allow for that, so I know I must move on. In what direction I am not sure, only that I have keep in mind, my priorities, I actually got an email that said, “Do you ever feel like you would like to write a book, spiritual of course, and I decided to pray about it. Now it would take a while to do something of that magnitude, so I would still have to work in order to get by, and I am just struggling with, is He really talking to me, I am nobody, just a common person that happens to Love the Lord and share any way I can. If I don’t win the book please keep me in your prayers, I feel this tug but I am clueless at this point. I too will continue to pray, and pray for your continued success, Proverbs 31 has brought me so much closer to God in the past year, I never knew how close I could be, and then I realized I was in Love, with our Author and Creator, and my Savior, sometimes it’s overwhelming, but, it is way better than before, so am Blessed to some degree, knowing it, but not knowing how exactly to truly show it, is the answer I am searching for. Thank you for your time and have a Blessed day.
Sister in Christ,
Stephanie Knox
Where do I struggle in the most? Honestly, “where don’t I struggle?” is actually the question.
I struggle constantly in the areas God has called me into ministry (writing and women’s ministries) wise above all – but I also doubt myself continually as a believer, a wife, a mother, a writer/blogger and ministry leader. Coming from a deeply shame-laden background, I find it challenging to embrace the gifts I have been given.
I have been reading through Ann Voskamp’s “One Thousand Gifts” for over a month now, and so far, I am learning to give thanks for all the little things, and big things, He gives to me – but there are times I just still get stuck in moments of defeat, doubt and fear. I have been learning not to take these moments as a moments of defeat itself though – though sometimes, I just do feel like throwing in the towel and saying, “God, I am so done here!” But I don’t – I keep on going…keep on growing…and keep on letting Him reveal to me what He needs me to know about myself as a wife, stay-at-home-mom, college student, homeschooler, writer/blogger and aspiring author and ministry leader.
One way I know I find myself able to defeat the defeat though…is always uplifting others, and encouraging them to always seek out God’s best for themselves. Through my blog, and conversations I have with people, I find myself little by little discovering a little bit more of that confidence He wants for my life. A good bolus injection of it though wouldn’t hurt though!
most struggle with being a right model pastor’s wife
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
This sounds like a great book! I often lack confidence in sharing my faith with others.
I struggle with self image. I feel ugly, fat and that everyone who looks at me is talking about me in some way. I feel like I have been a Christian for so many yrs. and I really have never made enough difference because things hold me back. I will serve in little areas at church but my heart screams for something to do bigger. I just never feel Like I have anything to really offer or that im smart enough to help otheres.
I struggle the most with feeling worthy, because I haven’t been able to carry a child to term yet. Everyone around me seems to have children, and I want them, but it just hasn’t been God’s plan for me – I hope it is someday. And I hope that regardless of whether I have children or not, this study can help replace some of my doubt and unworthiness that rear up sometimes and bite me hard with more peace and security in God’s love.
I struggle with wanting everyone to like me. I find myself going over conversations, giving gifts, and doing things for others with the yearning in my heart to be truly loved and accepted by others.