When Doubts and Fears Erode Your Confidence

I have a pretty good idea what my strengths are. You probably know yours too. We might never broadcast our talents to the world, but part of knowing ourselves is understanding how we are wired and being confident in our gifts.

Hopefully, we’re not like those tone-deaf people who were convinced they were going to win American Idol because nobody ever had the heart to tell them they couldn’t sing. But we all have skills and abilities that are helpful and useful.

I believe this 100 percent. That’s why, when I heard a sermon about Gideon many years ago, the phrase “go in the strength that you have” struck a deep chord in my heart.

As I shared last week, here are the exact words from Judges 6: “The Lord turned to him and said, ‘Go in the strength you have and deliver Israel from the power of Midian. Am I not sending you?’ ” (verse 14, emphasis mine)

Notice that Gideon wasn’t told to go in the strength that God would give him. There are times when that is needed, of course—occasions when we are weak, when our strength is gone, when we can do absolutely nothing without His moment-by-moment provision.

Other times, though, we’re able to use the gifts that we have—those that are an innate part of our personalities or wiring, along with those that develop in us over time—to accomplish God’s purposes.

We should never glorify ourselves or brag about how good we are at something. But we also shouldn’t minimize our strengths and skills. We shouldn’t discount them, compare them, ignore them, or wish we had different ones.

We should use them, and use them well.

We should go in the strength that we have as we do what God has prepared for us to do. (See Ephesians 2:10)

In 2021, when my word for the year was strength, I often thought of this phrase. It helped me remember that, while I struggle in many areas, I do have certain strengths that God has used and will continue to use in the future.

Many times, though, I’m so busy thinking about my weaknesses and pondering what I lack (skills, experience, opportunity) that I fail to use those strengths.

Can anyone else relate?

We might even have what we feel is a clear-cut assignment from God. And yet, the impossibility of the final outcome keeps us from pushing forward.

I’m not speaking hypothetically here. This is actually where I’ve been for the last few years, to the point where I’ve nearly lost faith in myself on numerous occasions.

Maybe that’s why, when reading the Book of Judges recently, it was God’s response to Gideon that got all up in my heart. As I wrote last week, God didn’t chastise Gideon for his lack of faith when he asked for signs that God would do what He promised.

Instead, time after time, God patiently met Gideon’s requests for more information, more signs, more confirmation. God didn’t get angry or give up on Gideon; He simply waited until he was ready.

In the end, Gideon got on board with God’s plan and led the Israelites to an amazing—albeit incredibly unconventional—victory over their enemies.

There’s hope in this story—for me, and also for you.

Over the last few years, I’ve had a quiet sense about a particular calling. I’ve taken steps to fulfill it, but I’ve also allowed doubts and fears to interfere with my progress.

Unlike Gideon, God hasn’t asked me to go up against an intimidating enemy with an army of only 300 soldiers bearing trumpets, torches and empty pitchers. My assignment doesn’t make any sense on paper, though. The end result seems like a pipe dream.

But God hasn’t given up on me either. Every time I start fretting about how it’s all going to work out, the still, small Voice reminds me that I’m simply responsible for the next step.

Go in the strength that you have, the Spirit whispers to my anxious heart.

When the questions come fast and furious: What if I fail? What if no one wants what I have to offer? What if my best opportunities to use my strengths are behind me, not ahead of me?

Go in the strength that you have.

Maybe you find yourself in a similar spot. You perceive the call—this is the way, walk in it. You’re equipped to move forward, at least to a point, but beyond that, it doesn’t make any sense.

I’ll tell you what I’ve been telling myself. Take the next step.

You might not know where it will lead. The destination may look nothing like you expected or hoped.

Even so, do the next thing. Take the next class. Write the next paragraph. Open the next door.

Keep your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of your faith. Go in the strength that you have and trust that God will see you through.

♥ Lois

P.S. I’m linking up this week with OneWord2022, #tellhisstory, InstaEncouragements, Recharge Wednesday, Let’s Have Coffee and Grace & Truth.

Photo by Jeff Kingma on Unsplash