I belted out the words of “I Am a Promise” on the playground. Singing out the truth that I can be anything He wants me to be. Then the teacher rang the bell, and I returned to my seat where self-doubt waited for me.
Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”
—Mark 1:17 (NKJV)
I focused on my limitations and heard often how I wasn’t living up to my potential. My confidence was rooted in what I could do. I was convinced that wan’t much.
What is self-doubt costing you? Self-doubt masquerades as fear of failure. It convinces you you’re not good enough. It can cause you to procrastinate or hesitate moving forward.
… I will make you become …
Jesus didn’t call Simon and Andrew to be fishers of men. He gave them a vision of who they could be when they followed Him.
We overcome self-doubt not by building ourselves up. Self-confidence isn’t the answer. We need to start and end with Christ.
3 Ways to Overcome Self-Doubt
1) Rest in who Jesus is.
“… ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’” —Matthew 16:16
2) Root your identity in Christ.
“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.” —Psalm 139:13-14
3) Remember God goes with you.
“‘Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’” —Isaiah 41:10
Resting in who Jesus is reminds you that greater is He that is in you so you can overcome what stands before you. Rooting your identity in Christ fills your heart with the truth that Christ in you is more than enough. Remembering God goes with you allows you to walk confidently in the direction He leads.
As we follow Jesus, we become who He created us to be.As we follow Jesus, we become who He created us to be. We exchange our self-doubt with holy confidence : “… that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;” (Philippians 1:6b).
Reminder for the heart: As we follow Jesus, we become who He created us to be.
Related resource to encourage your heart: How to Experience the Fullness of the Gifts God Provides and A Call to Be the Brave One.
What’s on your heart? What is self-doubt costing you? Which of the three ways to overcome self-doubt speaks to you? What helps you walk in holy confidence?
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I’m getting encouragement for my heart as we seek God’s heart with my friend Crystal Storms.
I’d love if you pinned this post to Pinterest.
Sweet blessings,
Amen. We need to take our eyes off ourselves and turn them to Christ.
Amen, Barbara.
We become all we were meant to be in and through Christ. Amen.
Love that it’s true, Joanne.
This is good encouragement for me today, Crystal. I have several tasks in front of me that I want to conquer today. But even if I don’t finish them all, my identity is still solid in Christ. That’s the place it counts.
Reminder my heart needs too, Lisa.
Amen!
Christ in me! More than enough!
Yes! Amen, Michele!
It is never about looking more at me and trying harder. But looking at Him, resting in Him, and believing Him. So different from what we are told.
Amen, Theresa. His is an upside down kingdom that when we follow makes everything right.
Thank you for this discussion topic! Hit he here.
A reminder my heart needs too, Faith.
Thank you, Crystal, so encouraging to remember that my identity is not based on what I will accomplish today! Blessings to you dear friend!
A reminder my heart needs too, Donna.
Sweet blessings to you, dear friend!
Exactly. This is my frustration with the “I am enough” mentality and “self-help” books. I am just fine not being enough. Because that’s when He can really work through me. And God-help is all I really need.
Amen, Lauren! A few verses Paul wrote come to mind.
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
~ 2 Corinthians 12:9