Self-Doubt is a difficult thing to overcome, yet in order to become all we were created to be, we must press into the truth of who God says we are and trust that He will not only be with us as we step into our God-given identity but that He will also go before us and equip us for our calling.
I’ve invited Valerie Murray to share her Made for Brave story of how self-doubt left her feeling defeated and alone, but more importantly how she found a way to escape its hold over her to step into the brave life she was created to live.
When I was in junior high, a rumor that I was stupid spread like a vicious wildfire, and I couldn’t put it out no matter how hard I tried.
My worst memory is of chasing a boy who snatched a letter I wrote to my best friend asking her if she thought I was stupid. He ran away with the crinkled note, taunting me to run after him. And I did. I chased that boy right into his next class, trying to grab the letter as he read it out loud and while everyone laughed and passed the note around.
I was chasing my dignity and losing it in the process. Unable to hold back my ugly sobs, I finally gave up and hid in a bathroom stall, where the terrifying threat of being caught ditching class caught up with me.
For almost a year after that, I received crank calls (before caller ID and blocking on cell phones) asking if “stupid” was there. I walked onto my high school campus for the first time as an insecure freshman with no friends and no idea who my enemies were.
One Sunday, I decided to be brave and ride the church bus by myself to youth group. I told God if he didn’t give me a friend, I would never go back.
I knew God answered my prayer when another girl who was all alone asked if she could sit with me. I don’t think I ever missed a Sunday after that. I made lots of friends and attended every activity I could. But during an era when blonde airhead jokes were popular, I became the brunt of them, even with Christian friends I so desperately wanted to think well of me.
I hated myself. I embarrassed myself. I was worn out from second-guessing everything that I said or did and how it might be perceived.
Self-doubt and I have been in a wrestling match for most of my life.
Only now, it doesn’t have me in a choke hold. I’ve had to fight back by knowing the truth of God’s word.
Believing the truth is a choice I have to make on a daily basis. Am I going to base my worth on what I’ve accomplished, how I look, or what other people think about me? Or will I find my significance in God?
“Dignity is not always something we feel. It’s got to be something we know.” Beth Moore
God has already given us dignity. There are scars engraved on Jesus’ resurrected wrists to prove it. He loved us enough to die for us. We are crowned in the royalty of being his. We just need to claim it and wear it.
“She is clothed with strength and dignity. Proverbs 31:25” NIV
Whenever I want to do something that exposes me to the risk of failure, rejection and judgment, my natural tendency is to shrink back and avoid that risk at all costs.
But God reminds me that failing doesn’t mean I’m a failure. And rejection doesn’t mean I’m a reject.
When the fear of man tempts to take over my thoughts and influence my decisions, I still take the next step forward. I take it afraid. Those vulnerable steps have been the places where my confidence is strengthened because I discover how God equips and helps me when I’m at my weakest.
Failing doesn't mean I'm a failure. And rejection doesn't mean I'm a reject. Click To Tweet“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.” Proverbs 29:25 NIV
The Lord is my Good Shepherd who calls me out of the sheep-pen of my fears. He opens the gate and says, “This is the way. Walk in it. This is the truth. Believe it. Trust me. Follow me.”
I’ve come to realize that when I doubt myself and refuse to take the next step, I’m really doubting God.
- I doubt his presence.
- I doubt he’ll make me brave.
- I doubt I’m enough in him.
- I doubt he’ll use my weakness to show his power.
- I doubt he will help, protect, answer and fulfill me.
- I doubt his love for me.
- I doubt the truth of who he says I am.
But every time I walk in faith, I gain confidence and learn to trust him as I experience His constant presence with me. He’s faithful to establish the way ahead of me and makes every step firm.
God is bigger than my insecurities! He makes me brave enough to trample on all my self-doubt.
What self-doubts do you need to trample on today?
What brave step is God calling you to take?
Valerie Murray is a wife of 22 years and a busy mom to 4 energetic children. She writes at ValerieMurray.com about keeping faith and family strong through Christ. Her heart’s desire is to offer hope to others and declare the glory of God in her life through her writing. Her mission is to offer encouragement to struggling marriages, overwhelmed moms and people striving to face their fears and know their worth. Coffee, chocolate and a good movie always make her happy! You can find her on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, Instagram & Google+.
Catch Up On Previous Made for Brave Stories…Here
Sisters, we are called to walk the way of hope instead of the way of defeat. We must claim more than our title of “Daughter of the King.” We must step up and also claim our position.
And we must claim these together. As a sisterhood; a sisterhood of brave women who stand strong in the promises of who God is and who we are.
- We all are Made for Brave.
- We are made to live for something authentic and brave.
- In living brave, we silence the past, transform the future, and take a front row seat to God’s wild and uncontainable love!
So, I’m inviting you to join this Made for Brave Sisterhood, each Monday as we share our stories and allow God to bring hope and healing. Let’s commit to being authentic and brave, one step at a time, side by side, holding each other up and nudging each other toward our true selves. And let’s claim the victory waiting on the other side of brave; for ourselves and our sisterhood.
Let’s celebrate our tears and our struggles as we peel away the layers of fear to reveal the beauty of brave.
Let’s risk everything that brave requires for everything that brave has to offer…
Becoming who we were created to be!
In living brave, we silence the past, transform the future, and take a front row seat to God’s wild and uncontainable love! #MadeforBrave #Hope Click To TweetDo you have a Made for Brave story to share? Get the writing guidelines and submit your stories HERE!
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