I Am Blessed with a Lack of Self Confidence


Jeremiah 17:7
But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. 

I lack self confidence.  

For so many years I considered that to be a flaw; something to overcome.  When I couldn't overcome it, I’d dress it up in worldly success so that people around me wouldn't see how insecure I really was. 

In the last 2 years, I've let some heartbreaking and life changing circumstances be the magnifying glass I viewed myself through, increasing my self-doubt and lack of confidence. 

The costumes of success I had masqueraded in for so many years were suddenly ripped from me and I was left exposed.

As a result, I pulled back and found places to hide.  My computer and even this blog have been some favorite retreating spots. 

Before long, those hiding places began to feel like home; a safe place to be. 

Problem is, we are not created to hide but to shine with His light.   
Ephesians 2:10 ~For we are God’s handiwork, 
created in Christ Jesus to do good works, 
which God prepared in advance for us to do

So while I felt safe hiding out, my soul grew increasingly restless.  Every scripture, every Bible study, every sermon, and even the praise and worship music I let myself get lost in, was calling me out of hiding. 

For the longest time, my response to this tugging on my soul was this:

“If I’m meant to step out and accomplish more for God, 
then someone will ask me
Until then, 
I’ll just stay here.”

Of course, this is exactly what a person lacking self-confidence would do!  It’s putting the power into the hands of people to validate our worth and ability to contribute. 

But God says…
But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. 
~ Jeremiah 17:7

And then I had one of those Ah-Ha moments. 

“Blessed is the man…..whose confidence is in God”

One could even go so far as to say…

“Blessed are those that lack self confidence 
but instead are fully confident in the power and abilities of God." 

For so long I was convinced that my problem was a need to increase my self-confidence, but what I really needed to do was lose all sense of self-confidence. 

Less of me and more of God. 

Even better…none of me and all of God. 
(but I’m a work in progress…so I’ll give myself a break and take it one step at a time!)

So no more waiting around for others to ask me to ‘dance’.  I've been asked to the dance already, I just wasn't listening for the right voice!  

But now I’m curious.  
Am I the only one, 
or does any of this strike a familiar note with others?  

Has anyone else been waiting for permission from people to step out and shine for God?  
If so, what is it that you know God is asking you to do with full confidence in Him and no confidence in yourself? 

I’ll start. 
As a writer, blogger and speaker, I've always watched from the sidelines as other writers / bloggers and speakers shared their experiences after attending conferences of like minded writers / bloggers and speakers. 

I'd watch the announcements go out inviting anyone and everyone to come and join them for a time of education, edification and inspiration.  I’d watch, but I would never respond. 

I’d let my lack of self-confidence fueled by my introverted and shy nature keep me from taking that step to sign up and go, simply because I didn't know a soul that was going. 

It wasn't that I didn't want to go.  In fact, if someone had come up to me and said "Hey Tami, let's go to this conference together"...I'd have gone to one years ago.

But this is the year I decided to stop waiting to be 'asked to dance' by people I don't know and dance because 'God has asked me to dance'! 

Just last week I surrendered my need for self-confidence, drew upon all the confidence of God, and signed up for the Declare Blogging Conference

I don’t know a soul that is attending, but I've already made some virtual connections after drawing on that God Confidence to get the nerve to post on the Declare Community Facebook page

{yes…I stalked the page for days before I typed a word to let anyone know I was there.  Like I said…a work in progress!}

If you are a blogger or have been thinking about starting a blog, it’s not too late to sign up.  
Just CLICK HERE

Not sure?
CLICK HERE to read more about the details
CLICK HERE to read about the session topics
And…
CLICK HERE to read more about the speakers.  
BTW… Mary DeMuth is a key note this year and it was her ‘tweet’ last week that pushed me over the edge and got me to act on what I knew God was asking me to step out and do.  
Can’t wait to hear from her!


Now it’s your turn!  You could just hide behind the screen, but it would bless my socks off if you left a comment.  What is it you are doing or are ready to do with all the God Confidence you've been given and with absolutely no self-confidence to get in the way? 

Before you go though, I'd like to leave you with one of my signature 'soul food' recipe cards!  
CLICK HERE for a printable version

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